Skinny Dipping
Page 34
“Shall we get out of here?” She moved her gaze, seeing a crowd of people huddled over the rail of the boat, her whole work watching them. Jessica wore a wicked smile on her face and gave her two thumbs up.
“Not soon enough,” he said, resting his head on her forehead. “Miss Mermaid Sophie Smart, I’m coming home with you. Or you’re coming home with me.”
Sophie smiled. There was absolutely, no doubt about it.
“I don’t have to call you a mermaid,” he said, “if you would like me to call you something else, a lioness or something?”
Sophie laughed. “Mermaid is just fine thank you, Mr Matthew Dolphin Silver, and here I was thinking you only liked me in the water?”
“Did you know dolphins like humans, can participate in lengthy foreplay?”
“To think if I knew that before, I would have started swimming earlier.”
***
Sophie found she liked learning further dolphin facts, first-hand. She was especially delighted to discover, her incredible Mr Matthew Dolphin Silver was friendly, attentive and extremely good in bed. There was no choice, when he asked her, nuzzling into her neck. No feasible option, but to simply agree – of course she would move in with him. The sooner, the better.
***
Sophie looked round the flat, walking through the rooms, saying goodbye the each one. Her bedroom floor was lined with packed cardboard boxes, just like the way she’d moved in, all full to the brim with belongings. The triple tower of tea cartons containing books. The suitcases of shoes and crate of sporting equipment she needed to sell online. The boxes all waiting to be moved into her little red Volkswagen Beetle.
Her breathing quickened, she hoped she was doing the right thing, leaving Carol whilst her friend was riding the wave of stardom. Sophie traced the steps back to the kitchen, taking the recent postcard she’d received from her parents on the Mediterranean. Placing the postcard in her cluttered handbag, she knew it was only a matter of time. They would come out of the recession just fine.
The doorbell rang. She took one last look around the house, feeling incredible warmth. She ran to the front door, pulling it open.
“I can’t wait to move out...,” she began, then stopped talking, seeing the same portly policeman she had met once before, although on very different circumstances. Her back stiffened, and she held her breath, wondering what he would say.
“Miss Sophie Smart.”
Oh no, she closed her eyes. “Yes. That’s me.” She opened her eyes, supporting herself on the doorframe, wondering what his news was this time; hoping it wouldn’t be something chaotic.
“I thought it was you. You look a lot different than the last time I saw you. You’re blonde now.”
She flattened the front of her dress. The fabric flowed down beneath her breasts, so much so she could have a Marilyn Monroe moment if a gust of wind blew by. She gave the policeman a sidelong glance, wondering why he was standing there.
“I thought I would drop by as soon as I heard. I saw some excellent news pass my desk.”
She leaned forward, gripping the doorframe. “What’s that?”
“I heard your Dad got a job. I saw the official paperwork. He got the sign off. I came to tell you, just in case, you know, he was holding out on the truth.”
A smile lit up her face, and she leapt from the step and hugged the policeman. “Yes, I know. Thank you, I thought you were going to tell me something bad like last time.” She stepped back, realising she’d overstepped the boundary, again.
The policeman’s cheeks reddened, tipping his hat, waving slightly as he stepped backward toward the street. “Well, good luck with the move Miss Smart.”
“Thanks again,” she said, watching the policeman walk to his car. “Good day to you.”
Standing on the street, she knew she would miss this house in Highbury and Islington.
A figure approached from the very end of the street. Matthew. She wondered how long it would take to get her boxes packed and then in their new house. His car was probably parked a mile up the street.
She ran to meet him, waving to get his attention, then saw she already had it, his gaze fixed on her, his blue eyes brilliant and shining. She threw her arms around his neck. She’d miss the house, but she’d miss Matthew more if she didn’t go.
Hugging him, she kissed his face, knowing they’d already shared one adventure together, learning to swim. Holding his hand, she was ready to start, something new, together, and wondered whether she could possibly teach him something? She furrowed her brow, contemplating the possibilities. Anything was possible with Matthew. She’d even learned that trusting a man was possible.
“Ever been trekking in the jungle, Soph?” he asked.
She gazed into his face, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
No. She’d never been trekking in the jungle and her chest constricted as she thought of tarantulas falling off fronds, and spider webs caught in her hair. God. She also had arachnophobia - a fear of spiders. And she’d just faced her fear of drowning.
Was it possible that she was one of those scaredy cat kind of girls. Scared of life and living? But Matthew didn’t seem scared of anything at all. And she trusted him. And she’d take him up on his challenge because she was safe with him. And her heart was safe with him.
With trust they’d do something she would never dream of, something exciting, something memorable, or something unimaginable. They’d do something. Together. Daring and non-prudish. Something like skinny dipping.
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS
There have been many special people who have helped and shown enthusiasm when writing this book. If I have forgotten anyone, I am sincerely sorry and please accept my gratitude.
Thank you to Lyn Worthen from Camden Park Press for your words of encouragement and your support.
Thank you to Peach and Julie, for sticking with me and reading iterations and more iterations of this book. It has been a journey. Thanks for listening to my concerns and continually providing support, enthusiasm, and friendship.
Thanks to Margaret for your advice and words of wisdom when writing this novel.
Thanks to wonderful Dana. You’re a true star! I am appreciative of all your help. You are one of my oldest friends and supporters (since high school). You are always absolutely encouraging. Your honest, reliable feedback has helped me make this the best book possible.
Thanks to Mum for being a true cheerleader. I feel incredibly lucky to have a Mum like you. Thank you a million times for your encouragement, support and lending me a hand in whatever way you can. Thank you for your patience and for being so gentle with your feedback. You have provided invaluable suggestions, and comments throughout the iterations of this book.
Thanks to Ginny Harrison at Swimming for Life.Com for your invaluable help. You generously gave me your time and knowledge explaining the intricate details about adults learning how to swim. I wish you all the best in setting up a foundation to provide swimming assistance for the underprivileged, including swimming scholarships for both adults and children teaching them water safety and of course, how to swim. Your commitment to helping people is so inspirational.
Thanks to the most wonderful man in the world, James to whom this book is dedicated to. You have been there all the way through, from the conceptualization to publication. Thank you for being there with me on the journey; and it truly has been a rollercoaster. I couldn’t have done it without your support. Thank you for believing in me, encouraging me and seeing the positive in every situation. I am thrilled to have found you, my greatest companion. I’m so blessed to be on the seat right next to you, and how lucky to be on such an amazing adventure together with you. I love how we roll.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alicia M Kaye is a writer of romantic fiction. She grew up in Australia, in sunny Queensland on a canal side property with her family. She also lived walking distance from Surfers Paradise, and the nearby beautiful beaches of the Gold Coast. Although Alicia is most probably
and most certainly biased, she makes no secret in her belief that the Gold Coast is one the most breathtaking places in the world (where the beaches have real waves). However, by no means is Alicia a real surfer, although learning how to surf is definitely on her bucket list.
When she was twenty-four, Alicia realised she was curious about the world and she jumped on a plane and relocated to London. The move was only supposed to be for two years, but seven and a half years later, she was still living there with her husband. Together they explored England, Europe and the world as much as possible.
Although writing has always been a passion for Alicia it was in London where she began to write furiously. Writing is indeed a lonely occupation but luckily Alicia is not just a writer, she’s also an animal lover. She desperately would love a pet but her nomad life will not permit one. So, Alicia wrote this book with the company of a fostered cat (from the RSPCA) named Buttons (who is now called Clarence by his new adopted owners). When Buttons found his new parents she tried to encourage and attempt the stray cats of Highbury and Islington to take his place – to no avail. They would not join the party.
Over the last two years Alicia and her husband started on their journey back home to Australia. There’s been a little bit of side-tracking, with both the beach and the snow beckoned from different parts of the world. Together they’ve explored and lived in amazing countries including Thailand, Mexico, Austria and Malta.
For more about the author please visit www.aliciamkaye.com and look out for her new books.
Next in the Skinny companion adventures is a story about Michelle Vermont (her nickname Mickey), in the novel Skinny Cappuccino. Please email Alicia or look out for its release in the Kindle store in May 2014.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS