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the attraction of a marathon, instead of lots of hundred meter dashes. The greater sense
of satisfaction.
Will wondered what had changed since yesterday.  So how are you going to put off
your latest two conquests? As I recall, you have an inability to say no.
Stefan rolled the bottle over his forehead.  If you re not coming, I could take Rachel
out on the boat tomorrow. There s nothing on shore that can t wait. Maybe she d like a
day out of the office, and there s little doubt that Miss Doom and Gloom will provide an
effective dampener. He sank a slug of beer.  You joining us for the karaoke tonight?
 I d rather have my cock pierced.
 Ooh, can I come? Imo asked.
Will spun around at the sound of her voice. She was back in her bikini, her hair tied
in a loose knot at the back of her head. The pull in his gut was immediate. She smiled
for him, tucked herself next to him and Will put his arm over her shoulder. Mine. Will
didn t care how chauvinistic that sounded. He was only saying it to himself, anyway.
 To watch or participate? Stefan asked.
Her eyes sparkled.  I d love to see how much pain you can withstand, though I
think you ought to go to someone who s an expert with needles.
Will laughed.
 I could help you choose which piercing to get. Or maybe you should have more
than one. The frenum ladder looks great or maybe just go for a PA. If you re really
brave, you could have an hafada or a guiche piercing as well. She beamed.
 W-what s a PA? Stefan asked.
 A Prince Albert. Goes in through the urethra and out again, Imo said.
Beer spurted from Stefan s mouth.
 I hate to ask, but an hafada and a guiche? Will said.
 Anywhere on your scrotum. A guiche is on the strip between your anus and 
 Oh Christ. Will swallowed hard.
 You could both have piercings. You d probably get a discount for two.
 An even better discount if you came too, Stefan said.
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Barbara Elsborg
 No way, Imo said.  I m never having anything pierced. I just think blood
poisoning, gangrene, amputation.
 Come here, you. Will pulled her onto his lap.  How do you know so much about
body piercing?
 A gay guy told me.
 Do you want to come to the karaoke tonight? Stefan asked.
 No, she doesn t. I m cooking us a meal, Will said.
 You are? Imo asked.
 Anything you can t eat?
 No, well apart from things with bones. I can eat them after they ve had the bones
taken out but don t feed me those tiny fish whitebait. I m the only person in the world
who has to fillet them. It once took me an entire evening to eat my starter. The waiter
was mesmerized and videoed me on his phone. I think it s on YouTube.
Will laughed and pushed her to her feet.  My brother 
 What?
 He doesn t like bony fish either. Want to come shopping or go back and have a
shower?
 Shower. I ll see you later. She picked up her bag and moved over the top of the
boat.
 A woman who doesn t want to go shopping? Stefan whispered.
Will shrugged. There was something he needed to remember but he couldn t
 Help, Imo shouted.
Fuck. That was it. Will and Stefan raced for the front. Bows to, it was a matter of
hauling on the mooring line to bring the yacht near enough to step or jump down onto
the quay. Of course, that hadn t occurred to Imo who hung by her fingertips from the
guard rail above the prow, one leg hooked on the side, the toes of the other resting on
the quay.
They hauled her back on board, Stefan almost paralytic with laughter. She d not
been in any danger, but if Stefan laughed any harder, Will thought he might have to
thump him.
 Watch, Stefan said and tugged on the rope to bring the boat close to the quay.
Then he jumped down.  You do it. I ll catch you if you look as though you re going to
fall.
 I don t think so, Will said and jumped down to stand beside him.  She s mine.
As she stepped safely onto the quay, Will wrapped his arms around her, his hands
sliding to her backside, and Imo kissed him. A chorus of wolf-whistles erupted one
after the other from the line of yachts.
 Thank God for that, shouted Mick.
Will flipped him the bird, then took Imo s hand and tugged her along the quay.
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Finding the Right One
 Thank God for what? she asked.
 Do you really want to know?
She nodded. He tightened his hold on her fingers.
 They ve been trying to pair me off since I arrived. You re the first well& 
 Fabulously irresistible woman you ve met?
Will laughed. She was a breath of fresh air.
* * * * *
Imo skipped back to the villa. When Will had taken her hand on the quayside, she
felt so happy she thought her heart would burst. She loved holding hands with a guy
and Leo had never no.
She d almost been tempted to go shopping so Will would hold her hand a little
longer, but she was desperate for a shower. The tepid sprinkle on the boat had done
very little and the fun that followed undid most of it. Imo smiled. She wanted to wash
her hair and put on a pretty dress before Will returned.
Her good mood lasted through her shower and dealing with her hair using her
pathetic travel drier, right up until she opened her suitcase. Then the reality of her life
crashed onto her like a landslide. She picked up her mobile phone and hesitated. Imo
had thought about throwing the phone away before she got on the plane but decided
screening her calls would make more sense. She switched it on, then tossed it on the
bed to sort itself out and make the link to the local network while she pulled out a dress,
shoes and underwear. The dress was a short and slinky black number with spaghetti
straps. One of her favorites. The shoes were pink stilettos with little stars on the sides.
More favorites. She d only been able to carry the things she most loved.
Once she d dressed, Imo sat on the bed and picked up her mobile.
Thirty voice mails. Probably the maximum she could store.
Twenty-two text messages.
All but one voice mail was from Leo. The odd one out was from her Uncle James,
her grandpa s son. Imo deleted everything except that. The texts were all from Leo. She
looked at a few. Most were one word. Bitch. Or two words. Fucking bitch. She deleted
those, then listened to her uncle s message.
 Call me at once.
It wouldn t be anything important. He always expected people to run when he
whistled.
Someone banged on the door and Will shouted,  Imo?
She threw the phone down and stepped into the hall. Will had plastic bags in both
hands. His eyes opened wide when he saw her.
 Wow. You look gorgeous. His gaze fell to her feet.  Oh Jesus.
 Problem?
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Barbara Elsborg
 No walk along the beach in the moonlight, then.
 They do come off.
Will frowned.  Don t you dare.
Imo laughed.
 Does give me another problem though. I failed to pack my tux. And don t take this
as criticism but why the hell did you pack a cocktail dress for a yachting holiday?
 Ah, well I didn t know I was going to be on a boat.
Will opened his mouth and closed it again.
Imo s fist curled behind her back.  The only thing he said was,  two weeks luxury
in Greece .
 Why isn t he here with you?
 It s over, finished, dead, dusted. But I was the one who paid. I didn t want to lose
my holiday and I m so glad I came.
 Not as glad as me. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]