The Secret Doctor by Joanna Neil Page A

thoughtfully built in. She stretched out her long legs. For the first time in months she felt truly relaxed, invigorated by the swim but comfortable in mind and body.
    â€˜Food’s coming up,’ Jake said. He was carrying a wicker hamper, which he placed down on the floor beside the bench, and then he went over to the opposite bench, lifted the seat and rummaged in the storage compartment.
    â€˜Foldaway table,’ he said, coming back towards her in triumph. ‘You shall have your meal in comfort.’
    â€˜I’m amazed,’ she said, as he opened up the hamper a moment or two later and set out the dishes of food. ‘You’ve thought of everything.’
    There was a chilled fruit starter, a basket made from the scooped-out rind of a melon and filled with a medley of honeydew melon, star fruit, nectarines, grapes and blueberries.
    Lacey stared at him. ‘I can’t believe you did all this yourself…did you?’
    He smiled and made a play of covering his nose with his hand. ‘Well, if I were Pinocchio, I’d be tempted to say yes, but then I might have to live with the consequences.’ He looked at the beautifully presented basket. ‘Actually, my housekeeper prepared everything. She loves cooking and as you can see, she’s very good at it. Help yourself. Taste it. I think you’ll agree she’s found her place in life.’
    Lacey savoured the food. There was rice and chicken, served with a delicious crisp salad, and there were cubanos , sandwiches made with crusty Cuban-style bread, filled with roast pork, ham, salami, cheese and pickle. The sandwiches had been pressed in a heated device that bound the ingredients together and allowed the flavours to come through. They ate them cold, but it didn’t matter, because they were just as good as the hot version.
    â€˜And key lime pie to follow?’ Lacey rolled her eyes. ‘I think I must be in heaven.’ The creamy yellow pie was topped with whipped cream, and the blend of sweet and tart tastes was incredible. ‘You must thank your housekeeper for me and tell her that her food is delicious. At this rate, I shall be so stuffed you’ll have to carry me home and roll me into bed,’ she complained.
    â€˜Well, that’s definitely an option,’ Jake said with a laugh, and Lacey stared at him blankly until it dawned on her what she had said.
    â€˜No, I mean… I wasn’t suggesting… I meant…’
    â€˜I know what you meant,’ he said, his mouth curving. ‘I just prefer my version, that’s all.’
    He was looking at her, the devil in his eyes, and the atmosphere crackled with electric tension. She felt heat sweep through her from the top of her head right down to her toes. How did he manage to do this to her? He only had to look at her and her nervous system kicked into action, making her heartbeat quicken and sending a rush of sensation to curl along her spine.
    â€˜I’m…uh…really glad that you brought me out here today,’ she managed, searching for a way to defuse the situation. ‘I loved being able to swim around the reef.’
    â€˜Well, it has to beat staying home and painting the walls any day,’ he said with a wry smile. ‘I’ve caught glimpses of you wielding your paint roller in the mornings before you set off for work.’
    She made a soft laugh. ‘I didn’t realise how many walls there were until I started.’
    He nodded. ‘They multiply in the night while you’re sleeping.’ His mouth tilted at the corners. ‘I must say your house looked fresh and clean enough to me when I was there, but I suppose you’re looking to change the colour scheme?’
    â€˜Just a little. I want cool magnolia instead of sunshine yellow. It’s so hot some days that I need the extra help to keep the temperature down, mentally if not physically. And it’s a way of making the house truly