Murfey's Law by Bec Johnson Read Free Book Online Page B

and body that makes knicker elastic melt at one glance, but he’s a complete asshole. I mean, really, he’s very very, oh what’s the word...’ Lori rubbed her eyes unable to think straight as the jet lag debilitated her mind.
    ‘Sexy? Stimulating? Electrifying?’ Sara chimed in.
    ‘NO! Well, yes, but no. You know what I mean Sara.’
    ‘I do, but I also know you Birdy and I know that you haven’t had sex for over a year. If you don’t fix that up soon you’ll dry up!’
    ‘You’re getting completely off point. What I need, is your help with this dump.’ Lori picked the laptop up and spun it slowly round the room. ‘See?’
    ‘Eww, yes, ok, I do see.’ Sara crinkled her nose as though she could actually smell the rotten wood aroma that filled every room in the place. ‘The shop isn’t making money I take it?’
    ‘From what I’ve seen, I’d say no. Not a cent.’ Lori sighed. She’d just have to sell for perhaps its land value, which could be worth something, after all its position within the village was as good as it gets. From anywhere in the garden and the back of the house the view out to sea was uninterrupted. Surely waterfront land in Murfey’s Beach could be considered ideal holiday home potential.
    ‘What’s up?’ Sara asked.
    ‘Oh nothing, just feel a little odd that’s all. I shouldn’t give a damn I know, but I do think it’d be a sad day for the village if whoever I sold to bulldozed the place to make way for a glass fronted mansion.’
    ‘I understand completely.’ Sara frowned in sympathy.
    ‘Don’t get me wrong,’ Lori took a sip of her tea which was now only lukewarm, ‘I don’t give a damn about my father’s legacy.’
    ‘Well, that’s good to hear!’ Sara mocked. ‘Look, I’m going to let you sleep, you look like shit. I’ll have a talk with Max today and do some research for you, see what I can come up with.’
    ‘You don’t have to do that.’ Lori yawned again. She could hardly keep her eyes open.
    ‘No, but I want to. Now go to sleep.’ Sara kissed the screen and logged off.
     
    Woof!
    Woof! Woof!
    Woof!
    Lori sat bolt upright sending her laptop flying. Thankfully its fall was cushioned by the clothes she’d not yet picked up from unpacking. She must have fallen asleep the second she’d closed the lid. Her arms were numb with pins and needles where she’d slept in the same position all night.
    Woof!
    Woof! Woof!
    Picking her way through the minefield of belongings on the floor she made her way downstairs and out the back, following the barking to the bottom of the garden. The sun was just peeping over the horizon, casting a bright orange glow into the water.
    Sat at the top of the grassy staircase staring out to sea was Zeb’s dog. It turned, startled, as Lori approached, stooped low so as not to intimidate and potentially cause it to attack in fear.
    ‘It’s ok buddy, what’s wrong? Why all the noise?’
    Woof!
    Woof! Woof! Woo…
    ‘Ok ok I get it! Shhh. Shhh.’ She cautiously placed her hands on its ears stroking downwards towards its neck and collar.
    Woof!
    Before she could get a grip of the collar it twisted its head away from her hands and took off down the steps, across the rocks, and launched itself into the waves.
    Vaguely aware she was dressed only in a vest and her underwear Lori followed it as far as the edge of the platform. As it had done yesterday, the dog popped back up amongst the bubbles a few seconds later and swam into shore continuing where it’d left off.
    Woof!
    Woof!
    For god’s sake, what is wrong with the thing? Lori looked amongst the waves for Zeb. Nothing. He was nowhere to be seen.
    Woof!
    Shit. Lori searched up and down the line of surf for several minutes. Still nothing.
    Shit, shit, shit. She jiggled up and down on the spot feeling like she needed to do something, and do it quickly.
    ‘Arrrghh!’ Without thinking Lori let out a guttural cry and took a running leap off the platform.
    The force of the fall