Heart of Ice by Gl Corbin Read Free Book Online Page B

never contact you again.”
    “I don't know.”
    “Please.”
    “Okay.” She didn't have the strength to argue any more.
     
     
*******
     
    “I don't know why I bother!” Jody was close to tears. “Half of them don't reply, and those that do say 'no thanks'. I can't get an interview never mind a job.
    Jody's initial enthusiasm for job seeking had all but evaporated. Even her shiny new CV wasn't getting her over the first hurdle.
    “I'm not even going to bother trying,” Kathy said. “The state can look after me. I reckon I've paid enough taxes – it's time I got some back.”
    “We're going to lose the house.” Jody was in tears – not for the first time that week. “I wouldn't mind if it was just me and Eddy. It's the kids...”
    “It will be okay.” Sarah put her arm around Jody. “It's a numbers game. If you keep sending out your CV, you'll strike lucky eventually.”
    “Everyone at Milners is sending their CV to the same companies. We can't all get jobs.”
    There was nothing Sarah could say to make things right. In her heart, she knew Jody was right. For most of the employees at Milners, the future looked grim. The likelihood was that most would spend months or years out of work – some might never work again.
     
    Jody had cried herself out. She and Kathy were sharing a chocolate bar which Geoff had bought for them from the vending machine. Sarah wondered if he somehow felt guilty at having landed a job.
     
    “Anyway – enough of all this doom and gloom. Who is coming to my party on Saturday night?” Kathy licked the chocolate from the corner of her mouth as she spoke.
    “What's the party in aid of?” Geoff asked.
    “It's my birthday.”
    “Your birthday is in June.” Jody managed a smile.
    “If the Queen can have two, why can't I? This is my official birthday. So who's coming?”
    “Me and Eddy will come if we can get sitters.”
    “Count me in” Geoff was never one to refuse free drinks.
    “What about you Sarah?”
    “Sorry. I can't.”
    “Are you seeing your mystery man?” Kathy said.
    Sarah nodded.
    “Bring him along.”
    “We're going away for the weekend.”
    “It must be serious. When do we get to meet this guy?”

 
     
    Chapter 11
     
    “Why did you bring that?”
    Sarah had purchased the swimming costume especially for the weekend.
    “Don't you like it?” She did a twirl for him.
    “I thought we were going skinny dipping.”
    “Race you to the other end.” Sarah dived in. She had been a county standard swimmer in her youth, but that was a long time ago. She wasn't nearly as fit as she had been back then.
    Andrew hesitated for a few seconds, admiring the lines of her body as she cut through the water. But he was competitive by nature, and not about to let her win. Two metres from the other end of the pool, they were neck and neck. Sarah kicked on, and stretched out with her hand to touch the wall.
    “You lose.” Andrew laughed.
    “Never. I touched first.”
    “We'll call it a draw.”
    “I still think I won.” She feigned a sulk.
     
    For the next thirty minutes, they exchanged challenges. Neither of them liked to lose, so there was a certain amount of gamesmanship on both sides.
     
    “What are you waiting for?” Andrew said after he had climbed out of the pool.
    “I'm just admiring the view.” Sarah was treading water while staring at his dripping wet body.
    “Come on.” He bent down and offered her a hand.
    After pulling her from the pool, he took her in his arms.
     
    “What is it about you and water?” Sarah said as he pulled the straps off her shoulder. Her hand found the bulge in his swimming trunks.
    “Let's get you out of this.” Their eyes locked as he pulled her costume down.
    “Can't we go to bed?”
    “You're so conventional.” He laughed as he swept her into his arms, and began to carry her up the stairs.
    “You'll do yourself an injury.”
     
    Once in the bedroom, he set her down onto her feet. She watched as he peeled off his