Page 22 of Tempt Me

I stopped at the surf club and sat on a park bench that’d been made from old surfboards. As my body ebbed with exhaustion, the young men around me provided a lovely distraction. Based on their bodies, it was obvious surfing was the consummate workout. These men had muscles in all the right places. They were trim, toned, and tanned, and all wore genuine smiles. People-watching had become my new hobby, and I was in voyeuristic heaven.

A woman joined the group in a colorful bikini that showed off her sexy figure. She slotted in amongst the men as if she were meant to be there. I envied her. Over the years, my friends had dwindled away to just one—Lolita. But she was married with a family, so we rarely shared any social time together. Not that I’d be able to anyway. With my permanent night shift, how was a woman like me supposed to find fun?

Henry. . . My Suave Silver Fox.

His image popped into my head, and my thoughts spun.

I slipped off my shoes and socks and headed down to the water. As I walked knee-deep in the surging waves, the water crashed into my lower legs as I made my way back home.

Before I was even halfway back, I decided I’d take Henry up on his offer. It wasn’t until I left the beach that I decided to meet him as me, Plain Jane, and not Memphis.

The idea both horrified and thrilled me at the same time.

I showered, ate a couple of pieces of toast with peanut butter, and crawled into bed.

As I counted the waves crashing into the shore below, I drifted off to sleep.

Five o’clock came around very quickly, and as I rolled to my side and turned off my alarm, my fingers brushed my little black and white cow ornament that my Aunty Ann had given me. ‘Time to look for greener pastures,’she’d said after I’d unwrapped the cute little gift.

On impulse, I picked up my mobile and dialed her. Aunty Ann was my mother’s sister, and while my mom and dad’s never-ending attention was on my brother and his successful football career, Aunty Ann focused on me.

It was so wrong that I hadn’t spoken to her since Christmas.

The phone rang just once before it clicked. “Jane! It’s so nice of you to ring.”

“How are you, Aunty Ann?”

“Much better for hearing your voice. How are you?” I imagined her sitting in her favorite chair, with her enormous boobs resting on her lap as she sipped on her first or second beer of the day.

“I’m great.”

“Tell me you have a new man.”

My mind flipped as I debated what to say. I’d never lied to her before. “Actually, I have a few on the go at the moment.”

She laughed until she coughed, and I waited out the noise. “Good for you, darling. I bet they’re all spunky.”

“Yes, yes, they are.”

“I’m so glad you gave Alexander the boot. He was an ass.”

“It took me long enough.” We’d dated for three years before I found out he was cheating on me. It took me a further three months to work out he’d had sex with nearly every woman in Mildura. Despite all that, I’d still been heartbroken when I broke off our engagement.

Not anymore, though.

“At least you did it. Hey, I went to their wedding, you know?”

“Did you?” Alexander had married my ex-best friend six weeks ago. I still couldn’t believe she did that to me. “Did you throw up on their wedding cake?”

Aunty Ann broke up into fits of laughter again, and I chuckled along with her. “Oh, that would’ve been perfect. No, I behaved myself, but I tell you what—they’ve both got nice and chubby since you last saw them.”

“Really?”

“Yep. Chelsea-Lee doesn’t have that sparkle like she used to.”

“Good. There is justice in the world.” I was always the chubby kid growing up, and I’d suffered more than my share of torment over it from both boys and girls, Chelsea-Lea included.

“Anyway, Aunty Ann, I have to go. I’ve got a hot date.”

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