The Secret Doctor by Joanna Neil

no, I haven’t.’ Lacey frowned, trying to work out an alternative getaway strategy. Would she do better to wind her way through the crowded living room, or would that attract even more attention?
    â€˜We can soon remedy that.’ Ben’s hand slid beneathher elbow and he began to gently turn her in the direction of the bar.
    â€˜Well, actually, I was thinking of leaving…’ Lacey started to turn away. ‘I only planned on dropping by for an hour or so.’
    Ben lightly sucked in his breath. ‘I doubt Jake would forgive me if I let you slip away without him being able to see you to your door. You’re his neighbour, aren’t you? I overheard him introducing you to people when I was over by the bar. Besides, you can’t think of leaving until you’ve let me get you a drink.’ He laid a hand lightly in the small of her back.
    â€˜What’s going on here, Ben?’ Jake asked, his tone dry as he walked through the open glass doors and came towards them. ‘Are you making a play for my girl? I might have known you wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation. I can’t leave you alone for five minutes.’
    Lacey caught her breath. My girl? It was difficult enough for her to get herself back on an even keel without him saying things like that. And she certainly hadn’t expected to see him again this evening. Her retreat had been in motion and now all her plans were shot to pieces, thanks to Ben’s intervention.
    As for Jake, he seemed to be back to his normal self and he wasn’t giving a hint as to what had gone on between them either by look or gesture.
    The two men eyed each other like friendly adversaries, and she guessed each of them was well aware of the other’s thoughts and likely moves.
    â€˜Make a play for her? As if I would do that,’ Benretorted with a crooked smile. ‘I was just persuading her to try one of the smugglers’ specials. After all, we can’t have a celebration of our activities without drinking to the felons who used to live on the Keys and ply their illegal trade, can we?’
    Lacey’s eyes widened a little, and Jake commented lightly, ‘See what you’ve done now, Ben? Her mind’s ticking over and she’s beginning to think we’re involved in all sorts of nefarious activities.’
    â€˜Ah, well, there’s the thing…’ Ben gave a wicked grin. ‘I always felt there was a dangerous excitement in diving for treasure. It kind of gets the blood racing, don’t you think?’
    â€˜It’s certainly dangerous.’ Jake’s comment was softly spoken, his blue-grey gaze overcast as a shadow flitted over his usually cheerful expression. Lacey looked from one to the other in bewilderment.
    â€˜I’m lost,’ she said, all thoughts of escape driven from her mind. ‘What are you both talking about?’
    â€˜Come and try a Rum Runner and I’ll explain,’ Jake murmured, shaking off his introspection and ushering her towards the bar.
    The bartender mixed the drink, adding ice to a glass, then pouring over it equal measures of pineapple and orange juice, blackberry liqueur, banana liqueur and topping that with a generous measure of rum. Finally, he added a splash of grenadine and a slice of orange.
    Jake handed Lacey the long glass, inviting her to taste the mixture. ‘This goes way back to the days of prohibition,’ he murmured, ‘when smugglers used tobring in beer and rum from Cuba to the Keys and stash it away in basement hiding places. Of course, your people, the British, weren’t entirely innocent in all this… They helped us out by sending along their own contributions—whisky, rye and Scotch.’
    â€˜I’m not having this slurring of my good name,’ she said, raising a brow. ‘That was way before my time, and I’m sure we’d never do such a thing now.’ She sent him a mischievous look