Will Nick pull Larissa (safely back to Thomson Bay)? Will he whip out his monkey wrench back at her place, so he can fix her cotter pin? What about his girfriend and/or secretary Ashleigh Kane: will she be waiting at Larissa's place, ready to brain her with a stale bakery baguette?
It all rushes to a climax today on Rotto Bloggo. After this there are only seven chapters to go!
--
Another incline loomed before them. She could feel his strength as it was transmitted through the taut rope. Again his legs pumped up and down, and again she nervously concentrated on steering and ensuring she didn’t stare at his strong legs for too long.
At last they glided down a gently-sloping hill, with salt lakes on either side of the road ahead of them. They were nearly there. She was impressed at his stamina – they hadn’t stopped since she had careered off the road earlier.
She called out in an encouraging tone. “Not much further to go now!”
“That’s good to hear,” he replied in a voice that sounded a bit winded. As strong as he seemed, he obviously wasn’t quite Superman, she thought.
As they came into the settlement she felt rather regal as she was towed along. The curious looks from various pedestrians didn’t bother as much this time.
Suddenly he raised his arms and called out. “Ashleigh!” He put on his brakes, and Larissa hurriedly did the same.
Ashleigh Kane walked over to them. She had a tote bag on her shoulder, and zinc cream on her nose.
“How was the beach?” Nick asked.
“What is going on?” she asked.
“Larissa had a spot of trouble with her bike, so I towed her back,” he explained.
“Oh. Why did you have to do that?”
“Ashleigh!” he said, rather sternly.
Larissa felt awkward. It must look a bit suspicious, she supposed – certainly if she was Nick’s girlfriend she would feel inclined to ask a few questions.
“Sorry,” Ashleigh muttered, “it didn’t mean to come out like that. Are you coming back to the Lodge soon, Nick?”
“Yes,” he replied, “I’ll just take Larissa to her cottage…”
She was hastily getting off her bike. “No need for that,” she piped up, rather breathlessly, “I can walk the rest of the way.”
She didn’t want to cause any trouble between them.
He smiled at her. “OK,” he said. “I’m pretty bushed anyway.” He bent down and untied the rope between their bikes.
“I’m not surprised, after all your huffing and puffing over me.” She winced – it sounded terrible, and might cause Ashleigh to be even more suspicious of her. She noticed the other woman looking at her dubiously – it was time to beat a retreat to her own door.
“Thanks very much, Nick – see you both later,” she said, and started wheeling her bike rapidly away from them. She could feel Ashleigh’s eyes on her back as she walked, and gave a small shiver despite the hot sun.
Ashleigh’s sultry, heaving bosom seems to have missed your literary attention. She smoulders like the brake rubbers on a Rottnest bike coming downhill from the main lighthouse on a dry afternoon. Perhaps you need to keep an eye out for some more succulent details? :)
ReplyDeletebrilliant piece of prose that....
ReplyDelete