The Secret Doctor by Joanna Neil

wetsuit…and others are soft and look like plants, but if you touch them they break off and die. Then there are the ones that sting…’
    â€˜I think I get the picture,’ she said with a smile.
    â€˜Good.’ He nodded. ‘Look out for the fire coral, especially. It’s called that because of the burning sensation it can cause if you happen to rub up against it. It’s generally a beige colour with a hint of green, and it’s a bit like a stalk with short branches.’
    â€˜Thanks for the warning. I’ll be extra-careful.’
    Finally, they were ready to go into the sea, and when she slid into the water she found it was warm, like silk, on her body. She loved the way it bathed her skin, and after a moment or two of acclimatising herself, she followed Jake’s lead along the line of the reef.
    It was spectacular. Straight away, she saw schools of fish swimming by. There were yellow-headed jaw fish, parrotfish and surgeon fish gliding amongst the coral.
    The coral itself was exquisite. There were soft flowerlike fronds that waved with the motion of the water, and she recognised a type of sea fan with deep purple branches that looked as though it had been woven from lace. Feathery sea plumes were everywhere among the harder, stony species, but the staghorn coral was impressive with its antler-type formations.
    She had been engrossed in her exploration, but Jake caught her attention, waving and pointing to somewhere behind her. She turned, slowly because of the ebb and flow of the water, and as she gazed around, she saw a loggerhead turtle swimming by.
    She mimed her delight, and Jake responded by giving her a thumbs-up sign.
    They swam on until they came across the anchor thatJake had told her about. It was covered with crustaceans, and Lacey was enthralled to see shrimp darting in and out of crevices between the heavy chain and the coral.
    After about three quarters of an hour, Jake signalled to her that they should return to the surface. Their air tanks were running low, and it was essential that they get back to the boat in good time.
    He reached the boat first and waited to give her a hand getting into it. On deck, they removed their diving equipment, and Lacey wrapped herself in a bath towel for a few minutes to dry off. Overhead, the sun was glorious in a startlingly blue sky, and she sat for a while on the bench seat, while Jake went into the galley to prepare drinks for both of them.
    In the distance, where other boats were secured to various mooring buoys, people were enjoying the heat of the day, occasionally diving into the water to cool off. Some were snorkelling, whilst others were wearing scuba equipment.
    â€˜It’s watermelon with a dash of Bacardi,’ Jake said, coming back on deck and handing her a long, frosted glass. Ice cubes floated in the pink-coloured juice, and she sipped gratefully, savouring it as the cool liquid slid down her throat.
    â€˜I don’t know whether you prefer to have lunch out here on deck, or in the cabin,’ he said. ‘It might be quite nice to sit here and dry off for a bit longer.’
    â€˜I’d like that,’ she murmured. She tried not to notice his long, lithe body, bronzed by the sun, encased only in swim trunks that clung to his hips and emphasised hisstrongly muscled thighs. His shoulders were broad, and he had a six-pack that would have done justice to any male, god-like creature.
    â€˜Good. Then I’ll be back in a minute or two.’
    â€˜Can I do anything to help?’
    He shook his head. ‘No, you stay there and dry yourself off. Everything’s all prepared. It just needs to be put out.’
    Lacey did as he suggested, and let the sun bathe her, loving the way it caressed her skin, warming her through and through. She placed her drinking glass in a custom-made drinks holder at the side of the bench, and then tilted her head back so that it rested on the cushioned headrest that had been