Page 4 of Between Two Shores

The wind tousled her bangs, and from where he stood, he could now appreciate the full effect of this firecracker of a lady. Cute, khaki shorts stopped just above her knee, matching his Navy colors. But not one of his female colleagues had Beth’s figure. The Navy women were usually stocky, tall, and broad-shouldered. Beth had slender legs and a feminine frame. He averted his gaze from her attractive features and focused on the zip dangling from her bag. He wouldn’t repeat the mistake of an overseas attachment. It just didn’t work. No point starting something he couldn’t finish. His contract had another two years before he could consider settling down.

When Beth took the backpack, her smile reached her eyes for the first time. “Thanks.” She swung it over her shoulder and glanced around them, the crowds moving on. “Where’s Waldo?”

He grinned at the phrase. His sidekick may not be wearing a striped red and white shirt like the cartoon character, but with his height and uniform, they wouldn’t have trouble finding Wally. Asian tourists mingled nearby, adjusting hats, and one held an umbrella despite the blue sky and bright sunshine. Perhaps their skin darkened easily.

Farther down the jetty’s wooden planks, Wally positioned for a selfie with two female tourists. Lachlan shook his head. Not even five minutes had passed. Wally sure had a way with the ladies and used his uniform to full advantage. A day on the island may not be as relaxing as Lachlan had hoped. He strode toward the scene, leaving Beth to follow.

A giant Quokka cut-out, the size of a person, stood at the end of the jetty. Wally and a blonde huddled around the fake Quokka while the other woman snapped photos.

“Hey, buddy. We gotta go.” Lachlan called a few feet away.

The lady with the camera turned and gawked at him. She puckered her red-painted lips, said something in Swedish, and took some snaps of him. He froze, not sure if he should smile or protest. Someone ploughed into his back. A soft yelp behind him. Beth.

He turned. Beth rubbed her button nose, her thin eyebrows angled inward.

“Sorry about that.” He offered a puppy-eyed apology.

She craned her neck, peeked past him, and scowled with a huff. Wally lived up to her first impressions. Hopefully, Beth saw that Lachlan wasn’t cut from the same cloth.

Wally spoke in broken English. “My friend. Lachlan. He found woman on boat already.” He pointed to Beth then to his chest. “Me not taken. Me single.”

Lachlan cringed as Beth’s eyes went wide. Red flashed across her face, and the lines on her forehead deepened.

“What?” She growled under her breath.

“Don’t listen to him,” he whispered. Lachlan turned to Wally and glared. “Cut it out, Wally. You’re with me today. Let’s make a move.”

“I am.” He grinned at the Swedish blondes. “Can they come with us?”

“No.” Lachlan and Beth spoke at the same time. A double “no.” Beth might help with keeping Wally in line today.

“Double standards.” Wally’s accent drawled.

“You know why. Do I have to spell it out for you? Embarrass you in front of your new friends?”

“The ladies don’t understand English well, anyway.” He smirked, then frowned. “Okay, I’ll go with you.” He had no choice.

Wally’s shoulders slumped as he faced the women. “Mean boss. Say I must go. No fun.”

The blondes sighed. “Ohhh.” They stared at Lachlan with a scowl and muttered gibberish. Next, the ladies threw their arms around Wally and kissed his cheeks. Boy—women all over the guy. Didn’t they see right through him? At least Beth had. He dared not look at her expression about now. She’d be ticked.

Wally sauntered over like a sulky overgrown toddler sent to the naughty mat. How had he gotten into the Navy? Everything seemed like a game to him. For Lachlan, serving his country gripped his focus and gave him purpose. Yes, he needed a break now and then, and he would enjoy the time at port. But they certainly had different ideas on how to go about that.

He patted Wally on the back. “Cheer up, buddy. We’ll have some safe fun that won’t get you deeper in trouble with the Sergeant. I’ll give an accurate report when we get back regarding your behavior. I won’t lie to save your butt. You need to get back in favor with your team captain, or Simmons will make things harder for you back on the ship.”

The twenty-three-year-old sailor gave a half-grin, half-frown. “He’ll have a long list of jobs for me as it is. Can’t a guy have fun for once?”

“Getting into brawls isn’t the kind of entertainment the sergeant approves. The Aussie men don’t like us sailors. They think we’re just after their women.”

“Darn right, we are.”

“Not this sailor.” He moved his backpack from his left to his right hand.Shut up, Wally. Beth already despises you.

Wally huffed. “And you promise you’re not—”

“I’m not. Just because I have morals and respect women, doesn’t mean I don’t like them—” He lowered his voice, aware Beth stood beside him now. “In that way.” He cleared his throat. “Now, our guide here—” He gestured to Beth. “—has a mission for us today.” He turned to face her. “What’re our orders?”

Her smile returned but didn’t light up her aqua blue eyes this time. “There’s a Dome café on the island. Let’s grab a coffee, and I’ll go over my plan.”

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