Read Secret Schemes and Daring Dreams for Free Online Page B

assistant. ‘Just enjoy!’
    Now, trekking down East Street and along the Seafront, thronging with holidaymakers, she was enjoying the warm glow that being charitable always induced in her. She even bought a copy of the
Big Issue
from a guy in a bookshop doorway, just to ensure that the feeling lasted a little longer.
    As they reached the entrance of the Sea Life Centre, she gasped. ‘Eight pounds fifty!’ she muttered, gesturing to the board at the doorway. ‘I’m not paying that just for you to chat up this guy.’
    Clothes spending was one thing. Paying the price of a lip liner to gaze at jellyfish? No way. She turned to go.
    â€˜We won’t have to pay,’ Harriet said proudly, fumbling in her bag and pulling out a plastic pass. ‘They gave me a free pass – consolation for not getting the job. It’s valid till tomorrow and it admits two people. So come on!’
    Emma followed her into the vaulted Victorian aquarium.
    â€˜There he is! That’s him – over there. Isn’t he gorgeous?’
    Emma blinked, her eyes adjusting to the dim lighting, and glanced across the concourse to where a crowd of children were peering into a huge Touch Pool. A stockily built guy wearing a fluorescent yellow jacket was holding a rather angry-looking lobster in one hand and a very prickly starfish in the other. Since there was no one else over the age of ten in sight, Emma assumed that he must be Harriet’s idea of fit.
    â€˜Hi, Rob!’ Emma cringed as Harriet waved frantically in an attempt to attract his attention. For a second, Rob looked up, coloured and turned away.
    â€˜He didn’t see me,’ Harriet began.
    â€˜I think he did,’ Emma said, grabbing her arm before she could wave again. ‘He’s working. Come on, let’s go.’
    Sadly, at that very moment, the cluster of children began to disperse and Rob, having put the lobster and starfish gently back into the pool, spoke briefly to a tall man with a clipboard and then turned and beckoned surreptitiously to Harriet.
    â€˜Coming!’ Harriet broke into a run and dashed over to him.
    Emma hung back but, when she realised she couldn’t hear a word they were saying, she began to drift towards them, feigning huge interest in a tank of stingrays and an exhibit marked
The Romance of the Rock Pool.
    â€˜I can’t, Harriet, not now, I’ll get into trouble,’ she heard Rob say.
    Harriet looked as if she was about to burst into tears. Emma watched as Rob glanced at his watch.
    â€˜But next Thursday – I’ve got a day off . . .’ he began.
    She caught the words ‘job’ and ‘Donwell with Emma’from Harriet, and edged nearer. She wondered just what it was that her friend found attractive about the guy: he was only an inch or so taller than Harriet, had the sort of nose that looked as if it had lost out to the All Blacks, and, whereas Harriet had a very attractive voice, Rob’s accent was very definitely South London.
    â€˜This is my friend, Emma,’ Harriet told him. ‘She’s the one who got me the job.’
    â€˜Hey, that’s cool,’ Rob replied, smiling broadly at Emma. ‘So you’re the one to get Harry time off on Thursday, right?’
    â€˜Wrong,’ Emma cut in quickly, wincing at the nickname while smiling sweetly through clenched teeth. ‘It’s a really full-on job; there won’t be any time off for at least a week.’
    And by then, I’ll have made sure that Harriet has far more exciting things to do than spend time with a guy who wears cords and smells of gone-off herring, she thought.
    â€˜No probs,’ he shrugged, turning back to Harriet. ‘Tell you what, babe, I’ll call you, OK? Got to go – the big boss says I can have a go at the penguin feeding.’
    â€˜Really?’ Emma murmured, trying for Harriet’s sake to sound interested.
    â€˜Oh yes, it’s