Ellen sat, the busy airport passing her by, and weighed up the options. What did she really have to go home to? The aftermath of the wedding? She’d returned all the gifts, at least now she had enough money to pay her credit card bill, so that was all dealt with. Her family? Well they’d hardly been supportive, and she’d spent so long doing what they wanted, trying to please them. She’d lost Rebecca too, and her job. She’d frowned at Jan’s frivolity, living here, away from the real world, no career, no direction, but now it appealed to her. She could stay at the apartment; she’d pay rent though, then look for a job? There were lots of resorts on the island; surely a bar somewhere needed a worker? So I’ll stay? She wondered, and then knew it was the only option.

So she took her bags and walked back out into the Majorcan sun. The weight lifted from her shoulders, she suddenly felt happy, calm and even optimistic. Grabbing a cab she reeled off the address to Jan’s apartment. Jan. She had to decide what to do about him, she really liked him, but the lawyer thing....it bugged her, and she needed to work that out in her head. He wasn’t pushing her though, he was giving her opportunity. She already knew that this was typical of Jan; he was so unselfish in his ways. He was more angry than her about Richard’s behaviour, and his actions did have motivations, but if it was to manipulate her into staying for his own means, he’d be here now making himself part of the conditions wouldn’t he? But instead he was offering up this apartment, losing his own refuge so that she could have one of her own.

“Shit!” she exclaimed loudly as she closed the apartment door behind her. “What the hell have I done?”

Ellen didn’t have his phone number, they’d never needed to call, and due to the animosity of their spilt they’d not exchanged addresses or anything then. So she called the hotel, glad that the number was on her checking out receipt.

“Is it possible to leave a message for Jan...” she suddenly froze, she didn’t know his surname! How self-centred did that sound? So she verbally stumbled, “...from the Animacion team please?”

“Ah Jan Zeigler! Yes I can take message.”

Zeigler? How had that never cropped up in conversation? “Thanks. Could you just tell him that Ellen thanks him for the accommodation?”

“Ok!” the receptionist’s voice was bright and cheery as she hung up on Ellen.

It was a Sunday, and for the first time in as long as she could remember she had no agenda. No work, no family commitments, nothing, and it felt liberating. The first thing she did was change into clothing suitable for the sun, plaster on the sunscreen then go investigating. She really needed to find an internet cafe, once she’d cleared her credit card and sorted out her finances she’d know how desperately she’d need to find work. She also needed groceries, she had to eat. With a smile on her face and a spring in her step she headed out into the sunshine.

Three hours later Ellen was opening the apartment door with bags full of goodies. She’d emailed her father, told him she was staying on, that she’d contact him with an address once she knew what she was doing, internet banked, then searched for local jobs. She’d lined up three bar/waitress interviews for the following day, had enough food to last a few days. It was what she termed a very productive afternoon!

Sighing in pleasure, contentment, she made for the open plan kitchen and opened a bottle of red wine, pouring a good glug into a glass. There was food for all occasions, but suddenly she wanted to explain her actions to Jan. She’d thought he’d turn up this afternoon, be waiting for her, and whilst she missed him more than anything, she also respected him more for being true to his word.

Ellen slept in one of the spare rooms that night, the Master bedroom was a Ziegler family zone, and she didn’t need more signs of Jan as she tried to sleep. The next morning she was eating toast and supping her coffee, wondering what to do that day when there was a knock at the door.

Ellen practically skipped to the door, pulling it back with a smile, expecting to see Jan stood there. Instead she saw an elderly lady holding an envelope.

“Pour toi!” She announced handing it over with a smile, before leaving. Ellen knew little French, but knew that this was ‘for her’! Smiling she closed the door, clutching the envelope to her chest.

With a fresh cup of coffee in front of her, she slid her breakfast knife under the flap of the envelope and sliced it open, pulling the folded paper free. Jan was the only person who knew she was there, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise to see his scrawling handwriting across the page.

“I’m so glad you stayed. If you need anything let me know, I’ve got lots of contacts! Still sorry, Jan,xxx”

It was accompanied by a phone number, for a local mobile phone.

Taking out her phone she punched in the number and got his answer phone.

“Jan...It’s me. I want to discuss rent with you, I’m not living here for free.....and I’d...err....like to see you. If that’s ok with you?”

With that she left her number and hung up. She had two interviews that morning, so she needed to get her backside into gear. Finally dressed, she left the apartment for the prospective job appointments, wondering what else the day would bring.

All the jobs were long hours giving her very little time off, lunchtime til the early hours six or seven days a week. She wanted to live as well as work. That was when she saw the small advert for a job in a shop near the apartment. A Spanish man who introduced himself as Pedro spoke to her; he was very keen to have a natural English speaker working at the shop as the patrons were of mixed nationality. The shifts varied in length and time, but the shop closed between eight and ten every evening. So she’d have time for her. Perfect!

Back at the apartment Ellen showered, washing the hot day from her body; she was more invigorated as she emerged wrapped in a towel, her wet hair fingered back off her face. Water, she thought as she headed for the kitchen, a cold glass of water is just what I need! Lifting her eyes she froze, there stood between her and the kitchen, was Jan. Dark hair dragged back into that familiar soft Mohawk, his dark eyes, his harsh angular features all turned on her, tension bubbled and she heard herself release a moan of longing involuntarily. It was the spark of hope that he needed, and as his face broke into a smile of relief, he crossed the room in four large strides pulling her into his arms.

Ellen melted into him, lifting her face to his as his lips swooped down to kiss her.

“I’ve missed you SO much!” He breathed against her lips, before desire washed over them both. The kiss was so familiar, so earth shattering that Ellen felt her knees weaken. He smiled against her lips as she finally managed a reply.

“Me too. Sorry for over reacting!”

He pulled back to look at her, a smile creeping on to his face, “I believe that apology is mine. It wasn’t my decision to make, but I hated seeing you go, back to all that rubbish you’d left behind.”

Ellen laid a hand on his cheek, loving the feel of the stubble, the warm skin, “thank you. I would never have done that. I’m not used to people helping me, that’s why I was so defensive. I’m sorry.”

“You’re here now, and that’s great.”

His words were sincere, but his eyes were burning into her. She was only wearing the towel after her shower, and suddenly they were both aware of that.

“There’s so much we need to discuss, but....”

She chuckled as he scooped her up in his arms, then kicked open the bedroom door.

Ellen stretched luxuriously, her head was curled on to Jan’s shoulder, her body draped half over him, their legs entwined. To Ellen it was perfection. Jan kissed the top of her head, and she reciprocated by flicking out her tongue and swiping at his dark flat nipple.

“You ok?” he asked after an uncontrollable little moan in response.

Smiling she leaned back to look up at him, “better than ok! That was perfect...”

His smile matched hers, craning his neck he reached up and covered her lips with his, a brief yet passionate kiss. “I’ve been unbearable, thinking you may have actually gone home. You took SO long to get in touch with me after...Ernie and the girls threatened to kill me if I didn’t start smiling soon. Then I saw Rosa from reception crossing the terrace to me and I knew...”

Ellen rolled fully over so that she was facing him, lying half over him, “you knew I’d stay?”

He shook his head, “I hoped you would, even if you didn’t want me, I couldn’t bear the thought of you going home, to ‘them’. But until I saw Rosa looking for me I still didn’t know for sure.” He was struggling to continue talking as the hand that wasn’t supporting the weight of her head, ran temptingly over his bare chest. “You are such a tease! I’m here pouring out my insecurities and you...” He closed his eyes as her hand slipped under the cotton sheet, descending his body.

With him enclosed in her hand, she watched the reactions to her touch, and her confidence swelled, “I was all set to go, to hate you and blame you for yet another failed chapter of my life.” He grunted an acknowledgement, his eyes still closed. “But then I realised you were the only person who’s been unselfish, put me first. And I was snubbing you for acting in my best interest.”

“That’s all I want...” he gasped struggling to open his eyes as her hand continued to move. Then he groaned and collapsed back against the pillows as she pulled back the sheet and took him in her mouth.

It was much later that she slipped out of bed, returning to a sleeping Jan with the ice cold bottle of Cava she’d pre-emptively bought hoping they would have some sort of celebration when he arrived. He opened his eyes at the ‘pop’ of the cork taking in the vision of Ellen wrestling with the dripping bottle and two glasses, completely naked, and completely free of any inhibition. This is what he wanted, her accepting him, happy and open...

“Here!” she handed him a flute filled with the sparkling straw coloured liquid. “I couldn’t resist this earlier, the best Cava they had in the shop. The shop I’ve got a job in!”

He sat up accepting the glass, “you’ve got a job? Already?”

She nodded, “five days a week, evenings off...I thought I’d at least have half a chance of seeing you if I did that!”

He grinned, “We’ll need to coordinate our diaries now, hopefully we can now do things together...”

Ellen sipped her cava before replying, “I was hoping you'd say that.”

“I know it’s early days, but most nights I could ride back here, stay with you. If I work late then I’m not due in the next day...I like the thought of waking up with you.”

Ellen didn’t just like that thought, she loved it. The thought of lying like this for hours, talking, getting to know each other too, “I’d like that too.”

She’d intended to cook for him, but instead they snacked on bread and olives and slices of cheese, Jan assured her he didn’t care if they ate nothing, he was enjoying the thought of unlimited time together. The Cava gave way to beer, and eventually they fell asleep wound together and inseparable in bed.

Opening her eyes, Ellen was instantly aware of the smell of bacon, coffee and eggs? Mmmm. She pulled his shirt on, fastening a couple of buttons below her breasts then followed the smell into the kitchen. Jan was stood at the stove singing along to Joyride by Roxette, playing on the radio, “She says hello you fool I love you...C’mon join the joyride!” in just a pair of boxer shorts.

Chuckling she moved up behind him and wrapped her arms around his bare waist, kissing him between the shoulder blades. He jumped a little.

“Didn’t you hear me over your singing?”

He chuckled, turning to reciprocally wrap his arms around her, “We're a part of this together...Could never turn around and run....Don't need no fortune teller....To know where my lucky love belongs!” With that he swirled her around in an elaborate dance. She was laughing with him when he finally pulled her back into his body.

“You are crazy Jan Zeigler!”

He smiled, “crazy for you!”

Swatting his shoulder Ellen turned back to the cooker, “I’m hungry I need some food...someone worked up my appetite last night!”

He saluted, “that’ll be me on both counts ma’am!”

It was probably the best meal of her life as they sat together sharing a single plate of bacon and scrambled egg with toast, and orange juice and strong coffee. Feeding each other, giggling like children, so happy and so romantic. Ellen tried to store as much of the moment as possible, she never wanted to forget it. Laughing she grabbed her camera, snapped a photo of him, then he took it from her and held it at arm’s length to capture a snap of them together. As he pressed the shutter release, he turned to lick her cheek.

Viewing the photo she laughed he was in side profile, his tongue on her cheek, she was cringing, but laughing hysterically at the same time. Perfect!

Jan was working that afternoon, but was due back at midnight, she headed off to her first day at work, smiling at the thought of him joining her in bed that evening. Her work wasn’t taxing, but the heat made it harder, the shop was busy but that only made her day go quicker, and it wasn’t like she had nothing to look forward too!

The snatched time together wasn’t enough for a fledgling relationship, but they both had Friday off, and just had to tolerate three days before waking to a whole day and night together.

“What shall we do today?” Jan asked as they ate breakfast on the large balcony, basking in the early morning sunshine. They were both early risers.

“Can we see more of the town? I’ve been here five days and not seen a thing!”

So they dressed, him in a white sleeveless t-shirt and loose linen trousers, her in a vest and flowing skirt. With shades and a floppy sunhat she was hoping she looked chic, he was stunning in his simple clothes, even the baseball cap and aviator shades suited him...she stored another memory along with the realisation that she was falling for him BIG style.

They shopped, strolled, ate tapas drank coffee, then a couple of beers. It felt so right to stroll hand in hand through the sheltered streets of the City centre, buying themselves all manner of items, from clothes, to food.

After a late lunch in a seafood restaurant that sold THE most divine lobster at Jan’s recommendation, they strolled back to the apartment. His arm was tossed loosely yet protectively across her shoulders, he carried the majority of the bags, pointing out various sites with the hand that was wrapped around her, whispering in her ear about places he’d been, wanted to take her. It was like a running commentary of the best places to see. Turning to look up his enthusiastic face she laughed, he was so vivacious so full of vitality, how had she managed to get this far in life without him?

Dumping their shopping at the apartment, they made for the beach, early evening was the best time to lounge and maybe swim, and neither had any intention of doing more than that.

Strolling in the shallows, arms around each other they shared a blissful evening of people watching, basking in the sun, and each other’s attention.

“Let’s go out tonight!” Jan insisted as they brushed the sand from their feet and headed back to the apartment. “As much as I’d like to spend the next forty eight hours in bed with you, I want us to go out, have fun!”

Nodding she allowed him to guide her along the harbour front to their apartment. As they rounded the corner she stopped dead in her tracks.

Jan hadn’t noticed the polar opposite women walking towards them, yet every other head had turned at the sight of the almost six foot willowy blonde and the petite brunette walking towards them, both were traffic stoppers singularly, but together it was an overwhelming apparition.

He looked down at her questioningly then followed her gaze.

“Is that...?”

She nodded, trying not to shake with anger and anxiety, “my sisters!”