Dudes Down Under by Suzannah Burke Read Free Book Online

followed in a tight clinch by his ex-wife who didn’t have the rules quite right as she was hanging onto his waist, or close by, instead of the rope.
    “ Hey, Lucy, take a look at this. Whoo-hoo, mate. This is gonna get real interestin’. Seems like them girls got a whole other form of tugging in mind.”
    “ Skeet, you are dreadful but, yeah, now that could get very interesting, very interesting indeed.”
    Lucy watched as the women began teaming up on either side. The current wives of two of the men didn’t seem overly concerned, at least not on the surface. Lucy thought it would be illuminating to be a fly on the wall when these partners were again in private.
    Didi could see this was getting out of hand - well, sort of. “Okay, everyone’s got the idea. Too hard a surface to play here, folks. Skeet will be waiting outside the Swamp bar tomorrow arvo. He’ll show you where we will be playing the real deal. I would love to see you all participate. I think it will be fun. So, five-thirty P.M. tomorrow, folks. I hope to see you then.”
     
     

Chapter 5
     
    Lana Peters hurried to catch up with Kylie Andrews. “Hey, girlfriend, wait up! What the hell was that in there? You gotta get a grip, girl, and I don’t mean the kind of grip you were getting. I thought you and Tristan were over all that divorce stuff,” Lana said.
    Kylie Andrews was clearly not in a mood to be discreet. “I am going to get him back, Lana, whatever it takes.”
    “ Aww, c’mon now, be sensible. He has well and truly moved on, girl. Dammit, Kylie, you’ve seen him with those kids. He’s happy, very happy. Can’t you see that?”
    “ He’s infatuated with that plastic piece of garbage. I am going to get him back, you mark my words, Lana. You heard it here first.”
    Kylie Andrews flounced off, flinging her heavy shoulder-length hair back from her flushed face.
    “ That doesn’t sound too promising, does it?”
    Lana turned around and gave Vanessa Dayton a grin. “Phew, girl, I’m so pleased you and, er, Tony are so civilized about your bust-up.   You and Karen get along together well, huh?”
    “ Karen? Oh … yes, of course, Karen. She seems so young. Yes we seem to be able to maintain a cordial relationship, thus far.”
    Lana Peters caught the edge of ice in Vanessa Dayton’s voice but decided that it was, after all, her manner; she always appeared elegant and unruffled on the surface. Oh yes indeed, this little holiday down under was already proving to be well worth the money.
    Lucy and Didi, together with Doc and Skeet, were sitting chatting after everyone had left the Grand Ballroom.
    “ Doc, you might need to hang around during the tug-o-war tomorrow. I’m thinking it could get mighty bloody interestin' - or  just bloody. You get my drift, mate?” said Skeet seriously.
    “ Well, Skeet ol’ pal, that’s what I’m paid for. A bit of testosterone hanging around, hey, mate?”
    “ You can call it any bloody thing ya like, mate. I reckon it’s just full on back-biting females with green eyes and long claws. Should be lots of fun. I’m lookin' forward to hosin’ em down after the games.” Skeet had a dreamy wet t-shirt look in his eyes.
    “ Whadya reckon, Didi? Gonna be a bit heated, yeah?”
    “ Hmmm? Oh sorry, Skeet, did you say somethin’?”
    “ Where’s your head at, Didi? Well now, every damned female in this place seems to have a bit of that hot-flush stuff happenin’. Maybe Doc here can give ya somethin’ for it!”
    Didi grinned good-naturedly at her friends. “Hey, you lot, a girl can dream, can’t she?”
    “ Speaking of dreamland, has anyone spotted Ginny since this morning?” Lucy asked.
    Skeet shook his head, as did Doc. Didi shrugged her shoulders. “You worry too much about Ginny, Luce. She’s a big girl. Besides, she’s not due to start work till late tonight, is she?”
    “ No, you’re right, Didi. I guess I do worry about her. She’s been so sheltered, you know. These folks live