thick cotton socks. The third handful looked more like a pile of colored string than anything to wear. After a few moments, Mandy sorted everything into three bikini bottoms and six bikini tops. That answered the question of what she was expected to wear with the khaki shorts.
Further rummaging yielded several plain white blouses, a slinky sarong skirt and wrap top that would serve for covering up at the beach or for dressing up anywhere else, a pair of slip-on beach thongs and a pair of delicate leather sandals. Then there were various cosmetics, a hairbrush, toothbrush, comb, soap, heavy-duty sunscreen, feminine items and a small box of…
“Ohmygod.“
For a moment of stark disbelief, Mandy stared at the trade name and happy couple that covered one side of the box. She opened it quickly, still unable to believe that the contents were as advertised. As small, neatly wrapped packets fell into her palm, she laughed helplessly. Anthea hadn’t been joking when she had urged an affair with an Australian, and she had included just the thing to make sure Mandy would have an affair to remember rather than one to regret Almost afraid to continue, Mandy went back to emptying out the backpack. Nothing else unexpected turned up until the very bottom. There was an envelope with her name written across it in Anthea’s clear, distinctive handwriting. Inside was six hundred dollars Australian, plus a note.
Mandy,
I sent your scuba gear ahead so you wouldn’t have to worry about it. If something is missing or doesn’t fit, buy a replacement with the enclosed. Otherwise, spend it all on something that makes you smile.
Diving gear?
For an instant Mandy was utterly motionless, torn in opposite directions, helpless. Part of her ached to know again the beauty and freedom of diving in the blue infinity of the sea. And part of her froze in terror at the thought. With hands that weren’t quite steady, she began repacking the backpack, putting the damning little box in first. She could just imagine what Sutter would think of her if he saw it.
Mandy dressed quickly, stuffed a few of the Australian bills in the pocket of her khaki shorts, grabbed the backpack and a frayed white towel that had been folded neatly at the end of her mattress and headed out of the tent. No matter how rudimentary the accommodations, she was certain they included some kind of bathroom.
Fifty yards away there was a scattering of tents. A hundred yards distant were several small cottages. Two larger buildings were somewhat closer. Mandy headed for them. A few minutes later she was enjoying a freshwater shower, soaping the residue of her trip from hair and skin, loving every instant of it. Feeling as though she had been reborn, she dried off, combed her hair, stepped into her new clothes and set off to find something that would end the rumbling complaints of her stomach.
Her luck held. The first building she tried contained the small bar. Ray was sitting there, flirting with the sun-streaked blonde who was handing him a beer.
“G’day, luv,“ Ray said, smiling when he saw Mandy. “Looks like a day’s sleep was just the thing for you.“
“A day?“
“Near as the same. The afternoon flight just left.“
“Well, that explains my stomach. It’s sure my throat has been cut.“
Ray grinned. “We’ll be serving in twenty minutes. I’ll stand you a beer until then.“
“Thanks, but I’d better not. I’m empty all the way to the soles of my feet.“
Ray’s blue glance moved from Mandy’s sleek wet hair, past the well-filled black bikini top to the low-riding and very brief khaki shorts, down to the narrow feet clad in the plastic beach thongs that were practically part of the Australian national uniform.
“Empty? If all the Sheilas were empty like you, I’d die a young and very happy man.“
Mandy smiled just enough to show Ray that she appreciated the compliment but not enough to encourage him to continue with more of the same. It was
Further rummaging yielded several plain white blouses, a slinky sarong skirt and wrap top that would serve for covering up at the beach or for dressing up anywhere else, a pair of slip-on beach thongs and a pair of delicate leather sandals. Then there were various cosmetics, a hairbrush, toothbrush, comb, soap, heavy-duty sunscreen, feminine items and a small box of…
“Ohmygod.“
For a moment of stark disbelief, Mandy stared at the trade name and happy couple that covered one side of the box. She opened it quickly, still unable to believe that the contents were as advertised. As small, neatly wrapped packets fell into her palm, she laughed helplessly. Anthea hadn’t been joking when she had urged an affair with an Australian, and she had included just the thing to make sure Mandy would have an affair to remember rather than one to regret Almost afraid to continue, Mandy went back to emptying out the backpack. Nothing else unexpected turned up until the very bottom. There was an envelope with her name written across it in Anthea’s clear, distinctive handwriting. Inside was six hundred dollars Australian, plus a note.
Mandy,
I sent your scuba gear ahead so you wouldn’t have to worry about it. If something is missing or doesn’t fit, buy a replacement with the enclosed. Otherwise, spend it all on something that makes you smile.
Diving gear?
For an instant Mandy was utterly motionless, torn in opposite directions, helpless. Part of her ached to know again the beauty and freedom of diving in the blue infinity of the sea. And part of her froze in terror at the thought. With hands that weren’t quite steady, she began repacking the backpack, putting the damning little box in first. She could just imagine what Sutter would think of her if he saw it.
Mandy dressed quickly, stuffed a few of the Australian bills in the pocket of her khaki shorts, grabbed the backpack and a frayed white towel that had been folded neatly at the end of her mattress and headed out of the tent. No matter how rudimentary the accommodations, she was certain they included some kind of bathroom.
Fifty yards away there was a scattering of tents. A hundred yards distant were several small cottages. Two larger buildings were somewhat closer. Mandy headed for them. A few minutes later she was enjoying a freshwater shower, soaping the residue of her trip from hair and skin, loving every instant of it. Feeling as though she had been reborn, she dried off, combed her hair, stepped into her new clothes and set off to find something that would end the rumbling complaints of her stomach.
Her luck held. The first building she tried contained the small bar. Ray was sitting there, flirting with the sun-streaked blonde who was handing him a beer.
“G’day, luv,“ Ray said, smiling when he saw Mandy. “Looks like a day’s sleep was just the thing for you.“
“A day?“
“Near as the same. The afternoon flight just left.“
“Well, that explains my stomach. It’s sure my throat has been cut.“
Ray grinned. “We’ll be serving in twenty minutes. I’ll stand you a beer until then.“
“Thanks, but I’d better not. I’m empty all the way to the soles of my feet.“
Ray’s blue glance moved from Mandy’s sleek wet hair, past the well-filled black bikini top to the low-riding and very brief khaki shorts, down to the narrow feet clad in the plastic beach thongs that were practically part of the Australian national uniform.
“Empty? If all the Sheilas were empty like you, I’d die a young and very happy man.“
Mandy smiled just enough to show Ray that she appreciated the compliment but not enough to encourage him to continue with more of the same. It was
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