we meet in the foyer at, say, seven-thirty? It isn’t that
far from the hotel and afterwards, those who want to can hit the night
clubs.”
Ewan
rubbed his hands together. “Sounds like a plan. Fine food, fine women, who
could ask for more?”
He
ducked as the group threw serviettes and chips at him.
DINNER
THAT EVENING turned out to be just as Michela promised. The finest seafood
Tasmania had to offer, complemented by wines from the Tamar Valley made the
group’s evening a pleasant one.
Michela
spent the meal silently observing the interaction between her comrades. They
all seemed in good spirits, keen to start their journey regardless of the
relative uncertainty that awaited them. As the meal drew to a close, Ewan was
good to his word, pulling the men away, less Rick, for a tour of Hobart’s
seedier hot spots.
Michela
was relieved at Sarah’s suggestion of something a little more sedate, and Sarah
guided them to a coffee shop, well known for its wonderful desserts.
The
coffeehouse’s soft musical tones and muted lighting were a welcome change from
the noise they’d left behind at the restaurant. Michela searched for a seat in
the stained wood booths that lined the walls. Before she could find one, Dianne
pulled back from the group. “I think I’m going to have to take a rain
check. I feel a headache coming on. You lot stay though. I’ll find a cab to
take me back to the hotel.”
Allison
turned to her. “Don’t be silly. You’ve never been to Hobart before and
you’re not feeling well. We’ll take you back to the hotel. We can get a coffee
in the bar upstairs.”
Rick
lightly grabbed Allison’s sleeve. “There’s no need for everyone to miss
out. How about I take Di back to the hotel and you girls have a bit of a night
of it. I’ll be fine. Ewan mentioned where the men were going. I’ll track them
down and keep them honest.”
Michela
internally cringed at Rick’s use of “girl.” Why is it they’re men,
but we’re girls? “Are you sure?”
He
quickly kissed Allison and patted her backside. “It’s fine. Alli, honey,
you hang onto the key and I’ll get a spare one from reception.” He gently
guided Dianne to the door. “You girls have a good night.”
Allison
pointed to a vacant booth along the opposite wall. “I’ll grab us some
menus and meet you over there.”
Sarah
made herself comfortable along the length of one side of the booth. “I
swear to God if he calls me girl again I’m going to flatten him.”
Michela
chuckled. “I thought it was just me. I wonder if he consciously does it?
As for that damn patting on the backside thing, what’s that all about? Anybody
would think Alli’s his property.”
“It’s
so bloody condescending. If he was my partner, he’d have lost his arm by
now.”
Allison
tossed the menus on the table and slid into the booth beside Michela.
“Who’d have lost their arm?”
“That
waiter at the restaurant. If he’d stroked my arm one more time I’d have decked
him,” Sarah replied.
“I
thought he was merely trying to be polite.” Allison smiled at Sarah.
“I think he fancied you.”
Sarah
shifted. “He’s bloody-well not my type.”
Michela
laughed at Sarah and the three took time to peruse their menus. After the
waitress finished taking their orders, Michela glanced up and found her eyes
locked on the blonde headed woman heading toward their table.
The
woman stood head and shoulders above the other patrons, her confident walk
testimony enough to acknowledge the eyes, both male and female, that followed
her. Michela’s body instinctively responded to what she saw and she barely
managed to school her features before the woman stopped in front of them.
“Sarah
Knight, as I live and breathe, don’t you ever get enough of this place?”
Sarah
propelled herself from her seat and into the woman’s outstretched arms.
“Maddi Walker. The things you see when you don’t have a gun. What are you
doing here?”
Maddi
cast an
far from the hotel and afterwards, those who want to can hit the night
clubs.”
Ewan
rubbed his hands together. “Sounds like a plan. Fine food, fine women, who
could ask for more?”
He
ducked as the group threw serviettes and chips at him.
DINNER
THAT EVENING turned out to be just as Michela promised. The finest seafood
Tasmania had to offer, complemented by wines from the Tamar Valley made the
group’s evening a pleasant one.
Michela
spent the meal silently observing the interaction between her comrades. They
all seemed in good spirits, keen to start their journey regardless of the
relative uncertainty that awaited them. As the meal drew to a close, Ewan was
good to his word, pulling the men away, less Rick, for a tour of Hobart’s
seedier hot spots.
Michela
was relieved at Sarah’s suggestion of something a little more sedate, and Sarah
guided them to a coffee shop, well known for its wonderful desserts.
The
coffeehouse’s soft musical tones and muted lighting were a welcome change from
the noise they’d left behind at the restaurant. Michela searched for a seat in
the stained wood booths that lined the walls. Before she could find one, Dianne
pulled back from the group. “I think I’m going to have to take a rain
check. I feel a headache coming on. You lot stay though. I’ll find a cab to
take me back to the hotel.”
Allison
turned to her. “Don’t be silly. You’ve never been to Hobart before and
you’re not feeling well. We’ll take you back to the hotel. We can get a coffee
in the bar upstairs.”
Rick
lightly grabbed Allison’s sleeve. “There’s no need for everyone to miss
out. How about I take Di back to the hotel and you girls have a bit of a night
of it. I’ll be fine. Ewan mentioned where the men were going. I’ll track them
down and keep them honest.”
Michela
internally cringed at Rick’s use of “girl.” Why is it they’re men,
but we’re girls? “Are you sure?”
He
quickly kissed Allison and patted her backside. “It’s fine. Alli, honey,
you hang onto the key and I’ll get a spare one from reception.” He gently
guided Dianne to the door. “You girls have a good night.”
Allison
pointed to a vacant booth along the opposite wall. “I’ll grab us some
menus and meet you over there.”
Sarah
made herself comfortable along the length of one side of the booth. “I
swear to God if he calls me girl again I’m going to flatten him.”
Michela
chuckled. “I thought it was just me. I wonder if he consciously does it?
As for that damn patting on the backside thing, what’s that all about? Anybody
would think Alli’s his property.”
“It’s
so bloody condescending. If he was my partner, he’d have lost his arm by
now.”
Allison
tossed the menus on the table and slid into the booth beside Michela.
“Who’d have lost their arm?”
“That
waiter at the restaurant. If he’d stroked my arm one more time I’d have decked
him,” Sarah replied.
“I
thought he was merely trying to be polite.” Allison smiled at Sarah.
“I think he fancied you.”
Sarah
shifted. “He’s bloody-well not my type.”
Michela
laughed at Sarah and the three took time to peruse their menus. After the
waitress finished taking their orders, Michela glanced up and found her eyes
locked on the blonde headed woman heading toward their table.
The
woman stood head and shoulders above the other patrons, her confident walk
testimony enough to acknowledge the eyes, both male and female, that followed
her. Michela’s body instinctively responded to what she saw and she barely
managed to school her features before the woman stopped in front of them.
“Sarah
Knight, as I live and breathe, don’t you ever get enough of this place?”
Sarah
propelled herself from her seat and into the woman’s outstretched arms.
“Maddi Walker. The things you see when you don’t have a gun. What are you
doing here?”
Maddi
cast an
Similar Books
