studying Durban’s hand. It was like it belonged to a hobbit – gnarled and hairy, and fat, to match the rest of him. She couldn’t take it any longer. Lucy feigned a sneeze to get away from his grip.
‘Bless you,’ Durban smiled.
He put his hands in his pockets, which was a relief, and then he gazed at Lucy for several seconds, which made her worried again.
‘It’s been so nice getting to know you, Lucy Yang reporting,’ Durban said eventually. The junk was docked up at the marina and the other guests were starting to leave the boat. ‘This is the best time I’ve had since … I split up with my wife. And I think you’ve even cured my seasickness! I normally get quite queasy on a boat, which is a shame because I love sailing.’
‘Yeah, it’s been really great to meet you, too,’ Lucy smiled, edging backwards. ‘Glad I could help with your queasiness.’
Durban stepped towards her. ‘So, see you tonight, then. Do you need a lift home?’
Lucy shook her head. ‘I’m good. Thanks anyway.’
Lucy would have been very happy for a ride home, but not with Durban. She needed time to herself to contact Byron and explain her reason for bailing on the date. She was pretty sure he’d understand the importance of cocktails at Yu’s place, but it still seemed rude to cancel at the last minute – the sooner she had a chance to call him the better. Lucy wondered if they might meet up tomorrow. She had a Sunday off, which wasn’t always the way, so maybe they could head over to Stanley for lunch or even a have a picnic at Big Wave Bay.
‘Farewell, then,’ Durban grinned, shaking Lucy’s hand. She offered her cheek as he leant in for a kiss, but he planted one directly on her lips. Lucy cringed. His lips were wet and clammy: it was a bit like being hit in the mouth with a dead squid.
‘See you tonight. You got my address, right?’
She nodded. Durban had given Lucy his business card and his personal details as soon as they met. ‘See you later.’
With a deep sense of relief, Lucy watched Durban leave the boat. It was like she’d been trapped in a lift for the past five hours and finally had a chance to walk free. She checked the time. She had two hours before she was due at Durban’s. Two hours of freedom , she thought to herself, before she’d be locked up again. But it would be worthwhile if she had the chance to get to Yu.
Lucy pulled out her phone to call Byron. She got as far as pulling up his number and then chickened out and decided on a text. It seemed a lot less complicated to just feign sunstroke and suggest catching up tomorrow. But as she started the message, Byron’s lopsided grin came back to her, his serious eyes, his cute accent. She really wanted to see him tonight. And the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to meet him at Vue and the less she wanted to be spending the evening with Durban – even if it did come with an introduction to Yu. Lucy sighed. Yu would have to wait. So, instead of texting Byron, she composed a message to Durban.
Sorry I can’t make it tonight after all.
A touch of sunstroke.
Have fun. Lucy.
She took a long, deep breath, willing herself to press the send button. But then she faltered. I can’t , she thought. I have a career to think about. I have to go to Yu’s place, even if it means putting up with another five hours of Durban – his opinions and his anecdotes about his ex-wife. I have to do it for my career.
She was about to delete the message to Durban when Charlotte appeared beside her, a cheeky grin on her face.
‘Looks like someone made an impression. I’ve just been on the phone to Durban.’
‘What do you mean?’ Lucy asked. ‘He just walked off the boat. Why would he be calling you?’
Charlotte shrugged. ‘I can’t say.’
Lucy frowned. She hated the way Charlotte could be so discreet about her clients. She was happy to share the trivia, but never the important stuff.
‘He asked me to a party at Yu’s house, you
‘Bless you,’ Durban smiled.
He put his hands in his pockets, which was a relief, and then he gazed at Lucy for several seconds, which made her worried again.
‘It’s been so nice getting to know you, Lucy Yang reporting,’ Durban said eventually. The junk was docked up at the marina and the other guests were starting to leave the boat. ‘This is the best time I’ve had since … I split up with my wife. And I think you’ve even cured my seasickness! I normally get quite queasy on a boat, which is a shame because I love sailing.’
‘Yeah, it’s been really great to meet you, too,’ Lucy smiled, edging backwards. ‘Glad I could help with your queasiness.’
Durban stepped towards her. ‘So, see you tonight, then. Do you need a lift home?’
Lucy shook her head. ‘I’m good. Thanks anyway.’
Lucy would have been very happy for a ride home, but not with Durban. She needed time to herself to contact Byron and explain her reason for bailing on the date. She was pretty sure he’d understand the importance of cocktails at Yu’s place, but it still seemed rude to cancel at the last minute – the sooner she had a chance to call him the better. Lucy wondered if they might meet up tomorrow. She had a Sunday off, which wasn’t always the way, so maybe they could head over to Stanley for lunch or even a have a picnic at Big Wave Bay.
‘Farewell, then,’ Durban grinned, shaking Lucy’s hand. She offered her cheek as he leant in for a kiss, but he planted one directly on her lips. Lucy cringed. His lips were wet and clammy: it was a bit like being hit in the mouth with a dead squid.
‘See you tonight. You got my address, right?’
She nodded. Durban had given Lucy his business card and his personal details as soon as they met. ‘See you later.’
With a deep sense of relief, Lucy watched Durban leave the boat. It was like she’d been trapped in a lift for the past five hours and finally had a chance to walk free. She checked the time. She had two hours before she was due at Durban’s. Two hours of freedom , she thought to herself, before she’d be locked up again. But it would be worthwhile if she had the chance to get to Yu.
Lucy pulled out her phone to call Byron. She got as far as pulling up his number and then chickened out and decided on a text. It seemed a lot less complicated to just feign sunstroke and suggest catching up tomorrow. But as she started the message, Byron’s lopsided grin came back to her, his serious eyes, his cute accent. She really wanted to see him tonight. And the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to meet him at Vue and the less she wanted to be spending the evening with Durban – even if it did come with an introduction to Yu. Lucy sighed. Yu would have to wait. So, instead of texting Byron, she composed a message to Durban.
Sorry I can’t make it tonight after all.
A touch of sunstroke.
Have fun. Lucy.
She took a long, deep breath, willing herself to press the send button. But then she faltered. I can’t , she thought. I have a career to think about. I have to go to Yu’s place, even if it means putting up with another five hours of Durban – his opinions and his anecdotes about his ex-wife. I have to do it for my career.
She was about to delete the message to Durban when Charlotte appeared beside her, a cheeky grin on her face.
‘Looks like someone made an impression. I’ve just been on the phone to Durban.’
‘What do you mean?’ Lucy asked. ‘He just walked off the boat. Why would he be calling you?’
Charlotte shrugged. ‘I can’t say.’
Lucy frowned. She hated the way Charlotte could be so discreet about her clients. She was happy to share the trivia, but never the important stuff.
‘He asked me to a party at Yu’s house, you
Similar Books
