AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Before long, after removing the sweater from around her neck and putting it and the helmet on, Cleo was settled on the pillion, her hands around Will’s waist, and they were heading out of town. It wasn’t what she’d expected, but she was learning that nothing about this man was what she expected.
While not as exciting as being on a bike, it was exhilarating to be whisked through the familiar streets and to the outskirts of town, then along the coast road. This part of the coast was unfamiliar to Cleo, and she was awestruck by the wide stretches of beach falling off from the side of the road and by the ferocity of the ocean.
‘Here we are.’ Will pulled to a halt and removed his helmet, gesturing to the bay below.
Cleo removed her helmet, too, and shook out her hair which she’d bundled under it – no flying locks for her today.
They were parked at the top of a grassy slope which stretched down to a perfect expance of white sand. The bay was enclosed by two hornlike promontories and the water sparkled and glistened in the sun. The beach was deserted, and the silence was only broken by the raucous cries of seagulls. Unlike the scenery they had driven past on their way here, the waves in this bay were lapping gently onto the shore. A steep, narrow pathway appeared to be the only means of accessing the beach.
‘Wow!’ Cleo was stunned. ‘Where is this?’
‘It’s called Dolphin Beach.’
Cleo drew her eyes away from the view to face Will. ‘Dolphin Beach? Is this where…?’
‘Where the planned development is to be – yes.’
‘But it’s so perfect. They can’t…’
‘That’s why we’re fighting it.’ Will was silent for a moment, gazing out to sea, then said, ‘I brought a picnic. Let’s go down to the beach.’ He unloaded a bag which Cleo hadn’t noticed. It had been hanging from a hook at the front of the scooter. He also pulled a towel out of the top box at the rear of the scooter.
Cleo’s eyes widened. Will had surprised her yet again. ‘I could have brought something.’
‘No need.The Greedy Geckodo these picnic packs. They’re designed for the tourists. They may not be up to Pandanus standard, but…’ He grinned.
‘They’re a good café. Bev and I sometimes drop in to compare their offerings – and get ideas.’ Her stomach was doing cartwheels, and she needed to keep talking to hide the sudden flash of nerves at the thought of being alone with Will on this deserted beach.
Will tossed the towel over one arm and held out his hand to Cleo.
Bemused, and too surprised to do anything else, Cleo took it and allowed herself to be led down the pathway to the beach.
*
It was such a glorious day, Cleo wanted it to last for ever. They talked, laughed, ate the delicious chicken sandwiches and mini quiches washed down with sparkling wine, then feasted on strawberries and peaches. Cleo couldn’t believe a swarm of developers wanted to turn this peaceful spot into a playground for wealthy holidaymakers from overseas and interstate.
‘Tell me about this proposed development,’ she said, when they were lying back on the sand.
Will sat up and clasped his hands around his knees. He gazed out at the ocean as he spoke. ‘It’s only in the proposal stage at the moment, so we hope we can stop it before it goes any further, but the plan is to turn the bay into an enormous water park with a mega hotel, beach club and restaurants – and tourist villas stretching back to the road. Then there’s some talk of an artificial wave pool.’ He snorted. ‘A wave pool – as if we didn’t have the ocean right here.’
‘And that’s what Hannah and the others were protesting about? I hadn’t realised. It would be sacrilege to spoil a peaceful spot like this. Who’s behind it?’
‘An interstate conglomerate of tourism operators. People like that are always keen to make more money, regardless of the damage to the environment. Several local businesses are all for it and there are some surfers who like the idea of a wave pool where they can be guaranteed of waves whenever they want them. Takes all the fun out of the sport, if you ask me. It’s sickening.’
Cleo, who had been picking up handfuls of sand and letting it trickle through her fingers, put a hand on Will’s shoulder, marvelling at how smooth his skin was. ‘I’m sorry I asked about it. I didn’t mean to upset you.’
Will put his hand on top of Cleo’s and turned to face her. ‘No worries. It’s best you know what we’re up against. I can see we have a battle ahead of us. But we’ll win. We must.’
He lay down on his side facing Cleo and stroked her hair. ‘But don’t let thoughts of what might happen spoil our day. I should have told you to bring a swimsuit.’
Cleo looked out at the water, shimmering in the sunlight and sighed. She could imagine the water lapping around her thighs, the refreshing buzz as she dived into its cooling depths. She sat up, and Will’s hand moved to stroke her neck.
‘We’re the only ones here. We don’t need swimmers.’ He put a finger under her chin and gazed into her eyes.
Cleo shivered, but not with cold. She was hot. Her body was tingling with a sensation she hadn’t felt for years, not since…Was Will suggesting…?She hesitated, her whole body throbbing.
‘We could strip down to our underwear,’ he said, seeming to understand her reluctance. ‘I wasn’t suggesting we skinny dip.’ He chuckled, his eyes twinkling wickedly.
How did he know what she was thinking? And why did the thought of seeing Will naked make her feel even hotter and fill her with the urge to throw off all her clothes and leap into the sea with him?Cleo stifled the impulse and pretended to consider his suggestion, before saying, ‘We’ll be too wet to ride back.’
