Dudes Down Under (10 page)

I swear I’ve gone to heaven ... sniff. Isn’t that the most ... hic ... beautiful song … sniff? Skeet, Skeet where are ya? Oh, there you are. I can go home to bed now, Skeet. Skeet, Skeet! Whadya doin’?
Who is that female? Is that the one who was tickling my belly? Ohhh, Skeet … she’s beautiful, ain’t she? Skeet, whatsa matter with you? Why are you grinning like a bloody idiot? Skeet?

“
Like, you have got to be kidding me, right? That’s his favorite song? Man, you guys are soooo different. But I love the big guy. Can I buy him?” asked Sidney.

“
Buy him a what, mate?” asked Skeet.

“
Um, no. Buy him. You know, the um, ‘buy him and take him home with me’ type of buy him.”

“
Buy him? No way, mate. He’s my bloody family!”

“
Oh, pity. Well maybe you will change your mind. What are you going to do with him now?”

Skeet was still shocked at the thought of actually selling Cyril. Geez, these Yanks were a weird mob. This little blondie was cute as a button, though, and she didn’t seem the least bit afraid of Cyril. Skeet decided he liked that. He liked that a lot.

It took a few moments for him to realize that Cyril was draped across his feet, snoring.

“
Aaww, Cyril, me mate. C’mon buddy, it’s home to bed for you.”

Cyril raised his head, flashed Skeet a big toothy smile, winked at Sidney and promptly went back to sleep. It took Skeet a good ten minutes of encouragement to get the big guy mobile, then Sidney surprised him. “Can I come too and, like, watch while you put him to bed?”

Skeet blushed. He looked around for Lucy but she was nowhere to be seen. Oh well, no harm in it. “Yeah, sure you can, but it’s no big deal. I read him his bedtime story and that’s it.”

“
You read him a bedtime story?”

“
Course I do, why?”

“
I, er, oh, no reason. It just sounded, you know, like, strange or something.”

“
Really, why’s that?”

“
He’s, like, a crocodile!”

“
He ain’t
like
a crocodile, he is a crocodile!”

“
No, I know that. Like, it’s an expression.”

“
What's like an expression?”

“
Shit, are you for real?”

“
Yeah, I heard that one. C’mon if you’re comin’. I got to get him off to bed.”

Lucy was not all that surprised to see Skeet and Cyril heading off. She was stunned, however, when she realized that Sidney Sheridan was with them.
Well, that’s one for the books! I’m not sure about this. She had better not hurt him. None of my damned business. But, dammit, I wasn’t expecting that to happen. Oh well, Skeet’s a big boy. He knows how to watch his arse, I hope.

Chapter 10

Lucy was on duty today and sat comfortably in a deck chair out by the pool, closest to the large reception and ballroom complex, going over in her mind some of the events since the tug-o-war and the dance.

Cyril laid quietly watching Skeet and Sidney.

Wonder why they are both in the same bunk. There’s plenty of room on the other one. I will have to wake Skeet up. I gotta have my breakfast. Hmm, I wonder why he slept with the tummy tickler? Maybe she tickled his tummy as well. That would sure make it hard to sleep. Poor Skeet. But hungry is hungry, and I have been a very patient boy. Now I want my breakfast.

Cyril moved on across to the bunks and laid his head on the pillow next to Skeet’s. He grunted as loud as he could.
C’mon, Skeet. Wake up, ya lazy bugger. I’m hungry.

Skeet’s eyes flew open and he looked straight into Cyril’s face. “Whoa, Cyril, your breath stinks. It must be later than I thought.”

It took a moment or two before he realized that a warm sensation came from behind him. He turned his head and gazed down at the beautiful blonde girl curled into his back. The memory of last night and Sidney came screaming back into his head. He’d had a few drinks too many. He wasn’t used to females being quite that forward. He grinned to himself; he would be lying if he didn’t admit that he had enjoyed himself a whole lot. He could only hope like hell that she didn’t want to make a big deal about it. He was, after all, a gentleman.

He sighed and gently stroked her hair back from her face. She opened her eyes and smiled at him. “Morning,” she mumbled.

“
Mornin’. Would you like some breakfast?”

“
Breakfast? No, not for me. Coffee would be good.”

“
Comin’ right up.” Skeet untangled himself and climbed out of the bunk, almost standing on Cyril’s head as he did so.

Hey, dummy, watch it. Why aren’t you wearing your satin shorts? What in hell is THAT THING? When did ya grow that? Man that’s ugly. Ug-lee! Does it hurt? I want my breakfast.

“
Oops, sorry, Cyril. I almost stood on ya. Breakfast is comin' right up.” Skeet grabbed his jeans and threw them on. He opened Cyril’s exit door to the rear enclosure and gave the big fella his morning hug.

Cyril made his way outside, but not before he’d spotted Sidney Sheridan’s cute self heading for the bathroom.
Whoa, what is this? She’s naked as well. Geez, I wonder why? Oh well, that’s not my problem. At least she looks a darn sight better naked than Skeet does. Thank God she didn’t grow one of those ugly things. On the other hand, maybe hers fell off. Wonder why she didn’t go back to her own place last night? Ah well, I don’t care. Now the most important thing is where in hell is my breakfast?

Skeet, hurriedly prepared Cyril’s feed of raw chicken and venison. He fed his large hungry friend and then made coffee. Sidney came out of the bathroom, wet and wearing only a towel. She added cream, sugar, and lots of it, to her coffee, then asked, “So, like, you don’t have a problem with what we talked about last night?”

“
Um, what exactly did we, um, discuss?” Skeet asked honestly. He had no clue what they had talked about. Conversation had been the last thing on his mind. Now he was worried.

“
Take that look off your face! It’s all good. Like, I just didn’t want you getting all hung up, okay? It was great sex - I enjoyed it a lot - but that’s all it was. Just, you know, a one-nighter.”

Skeet was stunned. He had never heard a woman say that, not even hint that. He had to admit to himself that he was relieved.

He wasn’t certain how to respond. “Well, okay that’s fine. No problems. If you’re sure you’re okay with it ….”

“
Like, it’s my rule, you know. No messy relationships, just great sex.”

“
All right. So I just carry on as if it never happened?” Skeet asked.

“
Exactly. Well, I’ll put my clothes back on. I need to get to my bungalow and change out of the party things. I’ll see you later.”

“
Yeah … yeah, sure. Later.”

Skeet sat for quite a while after she’d gone, running over things in his head. He walked outside and sat down next to Cyril. “Cyril, my friend, I just got used as a sex object. At least I think that’s what it was. Well, no, I guess we both just did the same thing. Shit, I don’t know how women handle it when that happens. It’s never happened to me before and I’m buggered if I know what to think about it.”

Sex object, hmmm? Geez, that’s too bad, Skeet. Um, er, so what is this sex thing? Does it have somethin’ to do with you flashin’ that ugly thingy this mornin’? You looked pleased with yaself, so what happened? Moreover, where did my tummy-tickler go? Skeet, Skeet, Skeet! Aww, you are so backward. So I feel bad about the sex object thing. Did it get broken? Is that why it’s so damned ugly? Maybe Doc can put it in plaster for ya, like he did when your leg got busted. Don’t worry, Skeet, I’m sure the Doc can fix it up so it’s not so bad to look at anymore. Maybe he could even cut it off. Then you would be almost the same as the tummy-tickler, oh, exceptin’ you don’t have those squishy bits. They don’t look as ugly as your dingly-dangly bit. What are they for? I have been trying to figure that out since the tug-of-war.

“
Be glad that you’re a crocodile, mate. Life and sex for you is much simpler.”

Back up a second. Are you telling me I have this sex thingy too? Why wasn’t I informed? Where is it hidden? Or do I have to buy one and attach it? Why would I need something that ugly, and how the heck would I be able to wear my swimsuit? It would just hang there. Eeeww, how gross. I would probably have to learn to walk upright, then what would I do with my tail? I think I’m depressed. Yes, yes, I am sure of it. I am officially depressed. I must need a drink. Perhaps we can negotiate a deal, after a few drinks of course. Maybe I don’t need to be bothered with one of those dingly-danglies. I mean, what for? It’s not decorative, it would match none of my t-shirts, and it would make lying on my tummy a bit awkward. Does it have any positive uses? Dammit, Skeet, why can’t you read my thoughts? I need to know about this sex thing. Well, maybe not. I'm all upset now and it’s your fault. Is it drinky time yet?

Chapter 11

Lana Peters awoke and stretched. Her bed was empty and it felt great.

She made a coffee, and ventured out onto the large balcony. She was utterly content to sit quietly and plan her day. It felt strange, this lack of pressure.

Taking a deep breath, she realized it had been far too long since she’d felt that way.

She liked it.

*  *  *

Ginny was having the time of her young life and who could blame her? She was in paradise, playing in a huge swimming pool with one of the most desirable men in Hollywood.

She had bruises on her arms from pinching herself.

Jack Starr looked at her laughing face and smiled. She sure was a nice kid. His thoughts were strictly big brother, though. He was attracted to another lady, and she had no idea, thank God.

He wasn’t insecure about his abilities as an actor or his looks, but he tended to wear his heart on his sleeve and just couldn't handle being hurt again. So, for now, he would gaze from afar and that would have to do. Meantime he and little girl were having one hell of a lot of fun.

*  *  *

Kylie Andrews answered the knock on her door and looked into the angry eyes of her rescuer of two nights before. “Hey, Tony, please come on in. Can I get you a coffee?” she asked in her best little girl voice.

“
Yeah, thanks, Kylie. Cream and sugar. Can we have it on the balcony?”

“
No problem. I was gonna come around and see you a little later to say thanks and apologize for the other evening.”

“
Can we talk about it over coffee, please?”

“
Sure, sure. Go out and make yourself comfortable. I won’t be long.”

Tony opened the glass door and walked out onto the wide balcony, amazed at the different perspective of the view. Each bungalow had been positioned cleverly to face the sunrise, yet they all seemed to overlook a different vista. Kylie’s took in the horizon, yet, if you positioned yourself facing north, the tropical rain forest also seemed close enough to touch. He made himself at home and lit up another forbidden cigarette.

Kylie came out and placed his steaming coffee down. She glanced at the cigarette and smiled. She went back inside and came out smoking one herself. “Seems as if I’m not the only one hiding the fact that I still indulge myself now and then.”

“
Yeah, I don’t give a rat’s ass at the moment who sees me, or what the hell they think.”

“
So, talk to me, Tony. What’s up?”

“
Karen’s temper is what’s up. Did you miss what she did to Vanessa at the tug-o-war? Oh yeah, you were kinda busy undressing Izzy, weren’t you? Do you have any damned idea what repercussions your stupid damned behavior has caused, Kylie?”

“
I have a feeling you are about to fill me in on that.”

“
Damned straight I am. Somebody has to, and I want you to listen and listen well, okay?”

“
I owe you, so you got five minutes. Go for it.” Kylie shrugged and lit another, not terribly troubled. She had already had a lecture from Lana and Vanessa.

“
I went back to my bungalow the other night and Karen was waiting up. Picture it, Kylie, I walked in and my wife is sitting in the dark, waiting. I was not wearing anything but my jocks, my hair was still wet, and I smelled like my ex-wife’s favorite brand of shower scrub. Karen wouldn’t believe me. She still doesn’t. I was in that situation because you were disgustingly drunk, so drunk that you threw up all over me and passed out. Does that ring a bell with you, Kylie, hmmm? I couldn’t leave you passed out close to the lagoon, you stupid woman. Skeet made it clear that that would not be a smart thing to do at night, or were you too busy plotting Izzy’s demise to even bother listening?”