“Yes, do that, my friend. I’d like to see how they handle the road trip. Cyril is in for a big surprise. Have you told him what’s happening yet?”
“Yeah, I gave him the birds and the bees talk. I’m sure he got it.”
Lucy laughed at the vision that created in her imagination. “Skeet, you are one-in-a-million, my friend. I love ya to bits.”
Skeet blushed, grinned and headed off to feed Cyril and tuck him in.
* * *
Well, it’s about time. Where have you been and why are you smiling? Hang on, that’s not a smile. Why do you look ill? Are you sick? Not you too. Did you catch it from me? Don’t you dare get sick. How will I look out for you? Talk to me. What is that expression?
“Well Cyril, old mate, you are in for a big surprise in a day or so, but don’t worry, I just know you are gonna love it.”
Surprise? Oh goody, I love surprises. What is it - animal, vegetable or mineral? Do tell. Can I eat it? Can I wear it? Oh, the suspense will kill me. Go on, Skeet, you can’t keep a secret to save yourself. Just a little hint, hmmm, please? Pretty-please?
“Don’t go smooching up to me, you cheeky bugger. You’ll love it. No hints. Now where’s ya book?”
Um, see I was browsing through it and it sorta accidentally fell in my pool. I guess it sorta ruined, huh?
“What the hell? Why is ‘Wind in the Willows’ all wet? How did it get on to the floor? It’s buggered, Cyril. Oh geez, mate, I’ll have to try and get ya another copy. Now what in blazes am I gonna read ya before bed?”
Heh-heh, I am a wicked, wicked crocodile. I just couldn’t stand to hear it one more time. Mole schmole. I want ya to get a copy of 'The Godfather'. You didn’t tell me it was a book. I overheard someone talking about it. Sheesh, you been keeping me in the dark. News flash, buddy, I am all grown up. Now hug me and give me my Pooh Bear, I’m sleepy.
* * *
Charlie awoke and quickly checked the time. Phew! He thought he may have overslept and was relieved to find it was still only 6:00 a.m. He had a quick shower and shave, made himself a hot coffee and toast, and wandered outside to the balcony to watch the sunrise. He had to acknowledge that he was hooked on Lucy. He had barely slept all night. Thoughts of her and the time spent together played with his mind and his heart all night long. She was a rare and precious jewel, this woman. How the hell would he ever convince her he meant what he said?
Hoping to find a right time and place when they were together today, he watched the ball of flame rise higher in the sky and tried to curb his impatience.
* * *
Jack Starr gave his neighbor a wave and continued to sit. He’d had no sleep and was weary but determined to help Lana understand he was deadly serious about them as a couple. This was no holiday fling.
She was gonna be a hard sell. Dammit, he missed her already. They had made no concrete plans for today and that worried him. He needed to talk to her before she talked herself out of this relationship. He was in love with her. He had been for a long time.
He wasn’t at all certain loving her would ever be enough.
* * *
The truck from Australia Zoo arrived in the mainland city and its two female occupants were boarded onto the large catamaran for the trip out to Dudes resort. The keepers were looking forward to visiting the place that everyone was talking about.
Bluey wasn’t curious. He already knew exactly what to expect. Lucy deserved to be paid back for dismissing him the way she had.
He was looking forward to seeing her.
* * *
Lucy was dressed and waiting out front for Charlie, her face lighting up at the sight of him.
“G’morning, beautiful,” said Charlie, grabbing her in a warm hug and a kiss on the mouth that had taunted him all night long.
“Morning yourself, Charlie. Are we ready to rock and roll?”
“Yep, and it’s the perfect day for it. Do you have all the gear on board the small catamaran?”
“Always prepared, that’s me. I would have made a great boy scout.”
Charlie gave her his best lecherous smirk. “Boy scout? I don’t think so. You looked in the mirror lately?”
“You, my friend, are incorrigible.”
“Abso-bloody-lutely!” That set them both off laughing,
Lucy clambered in front. Their day had begun.
* * *
Jack knocked again at Lana’s door. She opened it and smiled. “Well hello, you. Come in.”
Jack was on edge, and needed to talk. Lana was on edge and wanted to avoid talking. Not the best combination for a happy conversation.
“Coffee?” she asked.
“Yeah, hon, I guess. No, it’s lunchtime. I’ll have a JD neat, if you have it.”
“Okay.”
She retreated to the bar area and poured his drink. “Ice, Jack?”
“Thanks, yeah.”
Lana decided to mix herself a little gin and tonic while she was at it. She made them both and carried them over to where he sat. “What’s the matter, Jack? You don’t look happy.”
“Me? Oh I’m fine, just feelin’ a little out on a limb here, and I’m not used to feelin’ that way, m’lady, not used to it at all.”
“How about we go and find us a bite to eat, and we talk serious shit later. Would that be good for you?”
He knew she was stalling for time but, hell, if it meant she was still thinking about the two of them, it worked fine by him. “Sounds like a plan, m’lady. What do you fancy for lunch?”
“Chinese. I haven’t had Chinese in so long and the little restaurant sure looks and smells good.”
“Deal, I love the stuff. I’ll need to change, though. I don’t know about wearing shorts.”
“I don’t think it matters, Jack. I think the dress rules are very relaxed, except for the Palm Room.”
“I haven’t tried that yet. Is it good?”
“I haven’t either but Izzy says it’s stunning.”
“She’s just the lady to know about stunning. Tris is a lucky man.”
“Yep, he surely is. So go as we are and see what we see?”
“Let’s go.” He smiled his devastating smile and Lana felt her bones turn to jelly. He was so potently male - damn him.
Chapter 23
“Skeet to reception area, please. Skeet to reception.”
The disembodied voice of Ginny carried on the speakers throughout the resort.
“Well, Cyril mate, I think your surprise may have arrived.”
Oh goody! I can’t wait. Is it the book of 'The Godfather'? Oh, I do hope so. But, no matter, anything will cheer me up right now, Skeet. I just don’t understand why I feel such a grumpy-bum at the moment. Oh, I need a beer before you go. Better yet, why don’t I come with you?
“May as well get you dressed and you can come with me, Cyril, but you can’t actually have ya surprise till tomorrow.”
What? Oh, that’s so unfair. I am being such a good boy. Well, except for the little accident with the book, and tearing the bottom bunk to bits. I don’t know what came over me. I already apologized. I won't do it again, I promise.
“Nyah, second thoughts, after what ya did to the bunk, maybe it’s better if ya stay here and wait. Oh, c’mon mate, don’t roll over and do the tantrum thing again. Please, Cyril. You are turning blue, ya drongo. Are ya holdin’ your breath, or what? Stop it right now, Cyril, ya hear me? I will have to punish ya if ya naughty. Right. I’ll count to three. One … two … and th… That’s more like it. Alright, you can come, but ya gotta be a good boy, understood?”
Oh, I promise, I promise I’ll be on my very best behavior. Now, what does a croc wear to get a surprise? Um, yellow ... yes, yellow ... and the red sun hat.
“Cyril, those colors you’ve selected are nice, mate, but a bit loud, y’know … LOUD.”
I'm not deaf, or color blind. I see colors perfectly, in fact. Well, better than Doc does anyway. I think red and yellow go perfectly together. It’s my body, my choice - so
there.
“Bloody hell, you are so difficult lately. I hope this surprise puts ya in a better frame of mind, mate.”
* * *
The catamaran sailed under power for the moment, Lucy and Charlie taking turns at the controls. They were crossing the shipping lanes and the swell had picked up, so had the wind. “This wasn’t in the damned forecast,” said Lucy. “It’s gonna churn the water over the coral, dammit. It’s so much better on a still day.”
“We can dive another day, Lucy. The sea air is just great and we have company as well.” Lucy followed where he pointed and laughed at the pod of dolphins playing in the bow wave. “Aren’t they the most beautiful things? Have you ever swum with them, Charlie?”
“In the wild? No, never. Not even in the parks that do that with the tame ones. Just haven’t had the chance.”
“Well, you do now. This pod regularly comes and seeks me out when I’m in the small ‘cat’. You are in for an amazing experience. I’m so thrilled you have never done this before.” Lucy cut the engines and allowed the boat to drift, before rigging her under sail and heading closer to the shoreline of the tiny pine-topped island.
“Just a couple of things to remember, okay. These are bottle-nosed dolphins. They don’t like their beaks handled too much or the area around their blow-hole. It’s very sensitive to touch. So basically you let them swim with you. They love to have their skin scratched, as they shed all the time. They can get a little pushy but it’s only when they all want to get scratched at once. Oh, and watch the mums if they have babies nearby. They are very protective but sometimes they will bring the baby over to be introduced.”
“My God, how long have you been swimming with them?”
“Since before I could talk. Pop had me swimming before I could walk - the benefits of living on an island, huh?”
“No wonder you love this place.”
“Yeah, I can’t imagine ever living anywhere else.”
Lucy missed the look of sadness that crossed Charlie’s handsome face. She was busy shedding her shirt and sandals ready for her swim.
The anchor was dropped and they held hands and jumped into the turquoise water.
* * *
“That was delicious. I haven’t had crab-claw before,” Lana said happily as she dipped her fingers into the lemon and water mix.
“Yeah, I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s so good to see a woman enjoy her food and not pick at it like a little bird or something.”
“Oh, you won’t ever find me doing that. I enjoy the whole rigmarole of eating. It’s a whole experience, not just satisfying hunger.”
Jack sat back with another glass of wine and enjoyed watching the expressions chase themselves across her face. She was something else, this woman.
“So, let’s go for a walk and we can talk. Just grab some more vino and some glasses. How about we head on down to the quiet spot near the lagoon?”
“Sounds good.”
“Great, let’s go.” Lana grabbed her sunglasses and took off her shoes, leaving them to be picked up on their way back.
Jack had the staff fetch a couple bottles of chilled Chablis and glasses, plus opener, and they headed off on foot.
They walked in silence along the footpath that wound its way around the edge of the lagoon until they found a lovely spot on the lawn under the palms. They sat comfortably, leaning their backs against the trees. Jack poured them each a glass of wine and raised his in a toast, “Here’s lookin’ at you, kid.”
Lana smiled at him. “Casablanca was always one of my favorites.”
“I have been asked to play Rick in the remake, did you know?”
“What? That’s marvelous, Jack, I hadn’t heard. Who is doing it, Warners’?”
“No, Tristan, Izzy and myself, plus a few others, have decided to form our own company so we have tighter controls on the work we do.” Jack almost laughed at her expression. “What’s wrong? It has been kept very quiet, Lana. Nobody but the participants knows anything about it.”
“Oh, no it’s not that. Where will you be filming it?”
“Paris and the surrounding countryside. We haven’t chosen a location yet.”
“It sounds wonderful, Jack. Just marvelous. Who is going to play Ilsa?”
“Jury's still out on that one. It’s kinda like the search for Scarlett, you know. Nobody wants to compete with Bergman. She made that role hers. But there are a few who are up for the challenge. Do you have any ideas?”
“Only one springs to mind. I can see her doing it, Charlie Theroux. She would be stunning.”
“Yep, Tristan and I have both begged and pleaded. She won’t do it. She feels the part will be always associated with Bergman, so she just doesn’t want to risk it.”
“Oh, she is so stubborn. I can talk to her if you like. She and I are very good friends.”
“Hey, that would be terrific. Thanks, m’lady.”
“I can see you doing Rick, plus you are so much better looking than Bogart.”
“Yeah, sure I know that. No false modesty. But man, he had that screen presence, the x-factor in truckloads, didn’t he? So it’s a gamble. But it’s a part I have always wanted to play.”
Lana looked at him and grinned. “So your career is very important to you, yes?”
“Hell, yes. You’ll get no argument from me on that one, m’lady.”
“Good. I am glad. That makes this so very much easier.”
Jack realized too late that he had given her the perfect opening, dammit. He readied himself for what was coming.
“I was worried that you may not understand about the career thing. I’m glad you do. I enjoy being with you, more than I have ever enjoyed being with anyone. I’d like us to continue for as long as it lasts, with the understanding beforehand that it will not be easy to be together often owing to other commitments.”
“You want to continue?”
“Oh yes. I’d be a damned fool not to. We are good together, so very, very good.”
Jack was temporarily at a loss for words. This was not what he was expecting, in fact, it was more than he’d dared hope for. “Well I’ll be damned.”
“Probably.” Lana scooted across to where he was sitting and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“M’lady, if I am damned, I will be glad of the journey. So what are your plans, career-wise?”
“Well, as you asked so nicely, I have huge plans for the future. Relocating is one of them.”
“Really? Where to?”
“Oh, a lovely white building on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C.”
“HOLY SHIT! That is some plan.”
“Kinda thought you might say that, but as I said, it’s my long term plan. The current incumbent is doing himself and our country proud. So I would wait until 2016 to make my move.”
“You don’t mess around, do you?”
“Nope.”
“Phew! So whoever you are with would have to get used to being, what, the First Gentleman?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Holy shit!”
“Kiss me and stop repeating yourself.”
“Gladly.”
* * *
Skeet headed into reception, leaving Cyril outside under an umbrella with a large bowl of beer. ”What’s up, Ginny? Why was I called?”
“Oh, Skeet, the delivery for Cyril. It’s here.”
“Terrific. They made good time. Where are the handlers?”
“Um, that’s what I paged you for. One of them is ... well one of them is not good,” said Ginny.
“What, sick you mean?”
“Um, not exactly.”
“All right, Ginny love, take a deep breath and tell me nice and slow,” said Skeet
Ginny took a deep breath and almost split her low cut top even lower. “Um, one of the handlers is Bluey.”
“You’re joking?”
Doc had just hurried in with a look of concern on his face. “Skeet, you’ll never guess who is sitting in the Swamp getting pisse
d?”
“Bluey?”
“Damn, you knew already. Yeah, Bluey. What are we gonna do? Where is Lucy?”
“What we are not gonna do is bother Lucy while she’s havin’ a rest. I’ll see to Bluey. Ginny, where is the other handler?”
“Right behind you. Name's Rebecca.”
Skeet turned around in surprise. A woman? The woman was dainty and very feminine to look at.
She extended her hand. “Rebecca. Pleased to meet ya, Skeet. I heard a lot about you. All good.”
“G’day. Well, uh, thanks. You are a croc handler? I mean you are so tiny and all.”
“Size don’t matter, mate. It’s all in the attitude. Besides, I was trained by the best in the business, God rest him.”
“Steve trained you?” asked Skeet in an awed and reverent tone.
“Sure did, but I have to admit that I’m more used to handling the girls than any of the wild mob.”
“The hand-raised girls?”
“Yep.”
“Yeah, me too. Only, well, Cyril’s a boy and all.”
“Yep, noticed that on me way in. He’s a big boy. What is he, twenty-six … twenty-seven feet?”
“Twenty-eight. Well, an inch or so under, but I haven’t told him that.”
“Of course not. Ya wouldn’t wanna hurt his feelings,” said Rebecca.
Skeet smiled. “Exactly. Can you excuse me a sec, um, Rebecca? I gotta go see Bluey.”
“He’s cruisin’ for a fight, Skeet. Been drinking all bloody day too. Keeps on about Lucy somebody and how he’s gonna fix her. I don’t know what he’s got in mind, but if I was this Lucy sheila, I’d steer clear of him for a day or so. We will be taking whichever of the girls that Cyril doesn’t fancy back down to the Zoo when we leave, but that might be a coupla days, depending on Cyril, of course.”
“Righto. Thanks for the heads up. Bluey hates Lucy 'cause she fired his arse.”
“Righto. Gotcha. He’s gonna get his arse fired from this job too if he doesn’t smarten up his bloody attitude. Anyway, I leave that for you boys to take care of. I wanna cold beer and a shower.”
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