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Okay?”
    I nodded. I could see Ryan doing the same on Jonno’s other side. I tried to move away. Jonno’s hands were like clamps. His grip tightened even further. Then he let go of Ryan and looked straight at me.
    “Second rule. Whatever you were hoping would happen with my daughter while you were out here – forget it. Do not touch her. Do not so much as lay a single finger on her. I will know if you do.”
    What? I stared at him, my heart pounding. Surely he must know Eve and I were going out together? Surely she must’ve told him?
    “Go anywhere near her and you’ll be out of here as fast as I can kick you. Via a hospital, probably. Geddit?”
    Jonno glanced at Ryan, who nodded fervently at him. Then he turned to me. “Lance?” he said.
    I looked down at the floor. “I hear what you’re saying,” I stammered. “Sir.”
    “Good.” Jonno at last released us with a final slap on the back. He strode forwards to greet Eve and Chloe. I caught Ryan’s eye.
    “The man’s a lunatic,” Ryan said, a note of admiration in his voice. “Glad I’m not you, mate.”
    I rubbed my bruised shoulder.
    Jonno kissed Eve and Chloe on both cheeks, then strode over to the reception desk. The girls drifted up to us. Ryan started in on how fabulous Chloe was looking. Eve looked up at me expectantly. I blinked, still trying to make sense of what Jonno had said. There was only one explanation.
    “You didn’t tell him.”
    Eve frowned. “Who? What?”
    “You didn’t tell your dad I was your boyfriend,” I said, my anger mounting. “Why? Are you ashamed of me or something?”
    Eve looked round nervously.
    “We’re going for a walk,” Ryan said. He and Chloe slipped away.
    Eve and I sat down in the squishy chairs.
    “Well?”
    Eve flushed. “He gets so weird about me dating guys. I thought he might not let you come if I told him. I was going to say something once we arrived. I haven’t had a chance yet.”
    I told her what Jonno had said to me and Ryan. “And the way he said he’d know if anyone touched you made it sound like he had hidden cameras everywhere – or spies watching out for you.”
    Her face fell. Then she looked up at me. “It doesn’t need to matter that much, does it?”
    “What?” I gaped at her.
    “I mean we can still hang out together.”
    I couldn’t believe my ears. “But I won’t be able to kiss you, or . . . or anything.”
    “So?” Eve’s eyes narrowed. “Is that all you care about?”
    “Of course not, but . . . but. . .”
    She folded her arms. “But what?”
    “You’re my girlfriend.”
    Eve shrugged and looked away. “I still am. It’s just . . . we have to be careful. That’s all.”
    I sat back in my chair, defeated. I was sure Ryan would have come up with something that would have rescued the situation, but whatever that something was, it was way beyond me.

 
5
La hija del jefe
    Eve stayed in a mood with me until Jonno appeared to usher us all into the dining room for our evening meal. He explained that the hotel had two sittings – one for all the young families at six, and another, at eight, which was a bit more grown-up.
    We went in early for the second sitting, in time to see several hotel staff scurrying about picking up what looked like the remains of a food fight off the floor.
    Eve saw me looking around and sidled up.
    “Never eat at six,” she whispered. “The English kids are disgusting.” She ran her fingers down the inside of my arm. “Though maybe you should – get you in practice for having a baby brother or sister.”
    The touch of her hand was so distracting I walked straight into the back of a chair coated with tomato ketchup. I looked down. A dark red line was smeared messily across my crisp white shirt. Crap.
    “I’ll show you where the bathrooms are,” Eve said quickly.
    I glanced at Jonno, but he was deep in a football conversation with Ryan. We slipped out, but instead of heading to the door marked Servicios/Toilets , Eve doubled back