All Night Long. Anne Mather
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The wine was brought, and their individual meals were ordered, and Ally did her best to relax. It was definitely easier with a glass of Chardonnay in her hand, and she decided it was time he answered a few questions for a change.
‘You don’t live in England, do you?’ she ventured, rather daringly, and his long lashes shaded his eyes.
‘What makes you say that?’
‘Well…’ She could hardly mention his tan. That was too personal. ‘Your accent,’ she exclaimed, with some relief. ‘It doesn’t sound wholly British to me.’
His teeth were very white against his dark skin. ‘You wound me,’ he murmured, but his smile revealed he was only teasing her. ‘I thought I spoke very good English.’
‘You do.’ She hurried to reassure him. ‘Just sometimes—’ She broke off, losing her nerve. ‘I’m sorry. It’s nothing to do with me.’
‘Why not?’ His eyes on her mouth brought a return of the panic she had felt earlier. ‘I don’t mind telling you. My home is almost in the Caribbean and both my father and mother are of Spanish-American descent.’
‘Oh.’ Ally took a nervous sip of her wine, and then added rather recklessly, ‘I’m going to the Caribbean, too. Tomorrow. Well, to Nassau, anyway. I suppose that’s not strictly the Caribbean either, is it?’
‘Not strictly,’ he conceded. ‘But near enough.’ He paused. ‘Are you going on holiday?’
Ally pressed her lips together, wishing she hadn’t been quite so outspoken. But it was too late now, so— ‘Yes,’ she admitted unwillingly. And then, because she felt the need to explain that she wasn’t one of those sad people who holiday alone, ‘I’m going to stay with friends.’
‘In Nassau?’
No, San Cristobál.
But Ally didn’t contradict him. ‘Yes, Nassau,’ she lied, looking down into her glass as she spoke in case her eyes betrayed her. ‘Have you been there?’
‘Oh, yeah.’ He was laconic. ‘I’ve been there. I’ve been all over the Caribbean. My—that is, the company I work for charters sailing craft to travel firms and private individuals. I used to spend holidays crewing on sloops and schooners.’
Ally was intrigued. ‘It sounds fun.’
‘It was.’ He nodded. ‘Hard work, too, particularly if we ran into bad weather.’
‘Hurricanes, you mean?’ Ally’s eyes were wide.
‘Hardly.’ His lips twitched. ‘You don’t try to outrun a hurricane. But, if the barometer’s falling, and you’ve got a party of inexperienced tourists on board, you make for the nearest landfall.’
‘I see.’ Ally felt foolish.
‘That’s not to say we didn’t encounter a squall from time to time,’ he assured her gently. ‘It rains, you know, even in the Caribbean.’
Ally managed a small smile. ‘Not a lot, I hope.’
‘No.’ He shook his head. ‘And not usually at this time of year. I guess you’ll be glad to leave the cold weather behind.’
‘Mmm.’ Ally relaxed again, the anticipation of spending the rest of January and most of February in a warmer climate bringing its own excitement. ‘I’ve never been to the Caribbean before.’
‘You’ll love it,’ he told her, as the waiter arrived with their first course. ‘Plenty of sunshine, warm seas, and some of the best seafood in the world.’
Ally smiled, picking up her spoon to tackle her soup. ‘No place for a vegetarian, then?’ she murmured drily.
‘No.’ His eyes showed his amusement. ‘Do you think I’m biased?’
‘Why wouldn’t you be?’
‘Yeah.’ He forked up a mouthful of his green salad. ‘I have to admit, I’d hate to live anywhere else.’
Ally licked her lips. ‘Have you been on holiday in England?’ she asked, amazed at the ease with which the words slipped off her tongue. But, what the hell? she thought determinedly. She was never likely to see him again, and he was so easy to talk to.
‘Actually, I’ve been in London on business,’ he replied, evidently not offended by her question. ‘I came to visit the Boat Show at Earl’s Court. Do you know it?’
‘Well, I know Earl’s Court,’ said Ally, crumbling the roll the waiter had left on her plate. ‘But I’ve never been to the Boat Show. I don’t live in London, you see. I live in the north of England. That’s why I’m spending the night here. It would have been too much of a gamble to risk connecting with my flight in the morning.’
‘Ah.’ He gave an understanding nod. ‘So your holiday’s begun a day early.’
‘You could say that.’ Ally realised she had finished her soup and felt a moment’s surprise. Talking to Raul, she had completely forgotten the problems she’d been having with eating and she half wished she’d taken a chance and ordered a steak, after all. She replaced her spoon and took a mouthful of her wine before continuing. ‘That was lovely.’
‘I’m glad you enjoyed it.’
‘Oh, I did.’ Ally propped her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her linked hands. Then, feeling quite expansive, she added, ‘As a matter of fact, I haven’t had much of an appetite lately. Not since—not since—well, all the fuss.’
Raul regarded her thoughtfully. ‘The divorce?’ he ventured softly, and she found herself nodding her agreement.
‘It was so—ugly,’ she said, with a shudder, hardly aware that the amount she had drunk was loosening her tongue. ‘We had to sell the house, move into a much smaller semi. And because Sam and Ryan are at college, I’ve had to do most of the organising on my own.’
‘Tough.’ Raul was sympathetic. ‘Why couldn’t your—ex-husband lend a hand?’
‘Jeff?’ Ally grimaced. ‘He wasn’t there. He left for Canada before the decree nisi. He’s always wanted to travel, and if—when—he marries Kelly he’ll probably apply for a Canadian passport.’
Raul frowned. ‘What does your husband do?’
‘Do? As in, for a living?’ She pulled a face. ‘He’s a biology teacher.’
‘Biology?’
Raul grinned and suddenly Ally was grinning, too. ‘Yes. Ironic, isn’t it?’ She stifled a laugh. ‘You show me yours and I’ll show you mine.’
‘So this woman you mentioned, she’s a teacher, too?’
‘Mmm.’ Ally bent her head, aware that she was being far too familiar, and tried to tone the conversation down. ‘She—er—she came to Jeff’s school on one of those exchange schemes. According to him it was love at first sight.’
‘You don’t believe it?’
‘Oh, no.’ Ally looked up, her eyes widening. ‘I believe it. She’s one of those petite blondes that all men seem to find irresistible. Well, men of a certain age anyway.’
‘I don’t,’ said Raul at once, and Ally gave him a retiring look.
‘You’re not as old as Jeff,’ she said. ‘Give it time.’
‘I don’t need to.’ Raul studied her face with disturbing intensity. ‘I wouldn’t leave you for a bleached blonde.’
Ally dimpled. ‘How do you know she was a bleached blonde?’
‘Aren’t they always?’ Raul waited until the waiter had removed their plates before continuing, ‘Desperate women, who can’t get a man