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“I’ll be at Aaron’s parents’ place tomorrow.” She glanced at Dan for help. He supplied the name of the suburb and Shocky’s eyes widened. “Half your luck. Though I’d probably take near the ocean if I won Lotto. Not much surf on the river. Anyway, gotta go. Nice to meet you Flicky.”
“Felicity,” she corrected.
Shocky winked. “Shortening your name makes you an honorary Aussie.”
With that, he jogged over to the shed, brought out a yellow surfboard and shoved it inside the van and hopped in. With a cheery wave he was gone.
“Flicky.” Dan smirked as the Shaggin’ Wagon disappeared down the street. “Kind of suits you.”
She waggled a finger at him. “Don’t you dare…”
“Okay, I won’t. Sorry about Shocky, by the way. If the surf’s pumping, he’s gone.”
“I don’t mind, it’s all part of the holiday. Thanks for bringing me.”
Dan cocked his head. “Fancy a drink?”
Felicity hoped this was merely a friendly gesture. But when she looked at him, he had that if-you-throw-it-I-will-catch-it look on his face which told her it was probably more than that.
“That’s really sweet of you, but the bridesmaids have a low-key hen’s night tonight.”
Dan’s face fell, then as if he’d had a brain wave, he added, “How about tomorrow night?”
Oh dear, he wasn’t giving up. “I have to move tomorrow, and then Shocky’s bringing the van over for me to test drive, remember.”
Dan whistled through his teeth. “Okay, brekky on the river tomorrow morning. I know this great little café.”
It seemed her excuses weren’t enough. She’d really have to call him out on this. Felicity turned and gave him her best kindy teacher frown. “Dan, are you asking me on a date?”
“What? No! Oh, sort of—maybe.”
She pulled at a strand of her hair. “It’s just, you know, two rangas, it’s really not a good look,” and bit down on her smile as Dan groaned.
“I wish I’d never called you that.”
Curling her fingers into a light fist, she cuffed his bicep. “I really don’t mind. It’s just that I’m not up for a holiday romance. So, it’s probably best if we keep it to just friends.”
“Fair enough.”
“Great. That’s fixed then. Let’s shake on it.”
Dan put out a big paw, grinning sheepishly. “I was warned not to chat up the bridesmaids, but the rest are taken.”
“Which only left the ranga, right?”
“Fuck, no, I didn’t mean…” He pumped her hand up and down until her fingers twinged. “I think you’re really pretty. And a really ace person.”
“Thank you.” She guessed he wasn’t bad looking himself, with his infectious grin, and a nose that beat hers in the freckle stakes. But there was zero chemistry on her part, and besides, she had absolutely no intention of having a holiday romance.
Truly, that was the last thing on her mind…
* * *
Yet again Oliverwas barricaded in his study. He’d finished his MC notes and was working—or more accurately,procrastinating—on the first page of the first chapter of his third book, a financial intelligence workbook for school kids that still didn’t have a title. His editor was breathing down his neck for something—anything—to take a look at. But since Leonie left, his brain cells seemed to have reconfigured in a way that made writing books or running seminars as hard as trying to decipher the double-edged helix of DNA.
So when he’d heard the sound of voices he’d almost shouted “Hallelujah!” A second later he could make out Andrea’s voice echoing through the stairwell. Then another, rising and falling with exclamations of delight, and a light-as-air laugh. A peculiarly pleasurable sensation massaged its way around Oliver’s chest like warm oil.
He saved the five words he’d written in the last half hour and closed his laptop. Put the pen back in the pen holder and shuffled his papers into a neat pile, placing a sticky note to show where he’d got to in his highlighted written notes.
