when he saw Jennifer. She held out her hand to shake his. “Hello, Charles. How very lovely to meet you.”
He took her hand. “Nice to meet you, too.” He glanced at Pet. “It’s Weston, if you want to know.”
“I do want to know.” Pet went to get Jennifer a cocktail. “Jen, Charlie has a poster in his cabin with a woman who looks like you. You’ll see it tomorrow night.”
“That’s quite a coincidence. Who is she?”
Still holding Jennifer’s hand, Charlie replied, “Don’t know who she is. I call her Yooralla.”
Pet added, “Charlie knew someone named Yooralla. It’s Aboriginal.”
“I know the word. My mother is an Aborigine.”
Charlie smiled broadly. “I knew you had to be! If you don’t mind my asking, are you mixed?”
“My father is British.”
“By God, that is a coincidence! Yooralla had the same mix. She was nearly as beautiful as you are.” Jennifer’s uncanny resemblance to Yooralla held Charlie spellbound. She had the same dark eyes, tawny skin and full lips. Except for Jen being several inches taller and having longer hair than Yooralla, Charlie would have had trouble telling them apart.
“Why, thank you. That’s very kind.”
Pet brought Jennifer a glass. Charlie reluctantly let her hand go. “Let’s sit down and talk. The sandwiches should be here soon.” Pet poked Charlie in the side as she walked by. “I knew you’d fancy Jen.” Pet had no idea how much.
Pet sat down on an armchair, leaving the sofa free for Charlie and Jennifer. Directing her question to Charlie, Jen asked, “How did you meet Pet? I’ve been trying to get to know a few of the crew members for ages, and can’t seem to manage it.”
Charlie glanced at Pet, and Pet nodded. Charlie understood he could trust Jennifer. “I saw Pet at the pool and asked my friend Morgy to keep an eye out for her at the Monkey Bar.”
Petula offered, “And I saw Charlie inspecting the lifeboats, and made it a point to find him.”
Charlie continued, “One thing led to another, and here we are.”
Jennifer studied them. “So you two have…” She trailed off, but her question was understood.
“Have we, Charlie?”
“We’ve shagged, if that’s what you’re asking me.”
“Brilliant!” Jennifer raised her glass to both of them in a toast. “Here’s to shagging. Cheers!” She belted back a healthy swallow of her G and T. Charlie and Pet echoed her sentiment with their drinks.
“We’re having a party in my cabin tomorrow night. You’re invited if you’d care to come,” Charlie offered.
“But I understood we’re not allowed in the crew’s part of the ship.”
“We’re not, Jen. But Charlie has found a way to smuggle us in.”
“Splendid! Will there be other men there?”
“I expect a few of my mates will come.”
“Dear Pet, you’ve found yourself a diamond in the rough.”
“I know I have.” Pet gave Jennifer a pointed look. “And I’m sharing my treasure.” The two women seemed to speak without words for a moment. “Are you in?”
“You know I am!” Turning back to Charlie, Jennifer smiled. “This will be delightful!”
“Pet here says you two help each other out when pickings are scarce?”
Jennifer appeared confused. “I don’t understand.”
“Jen, I told Charles we’ve had to depend on each other when there isn’t a man around.”
“Oh!” Jennifer put her hand on Charlie’s leg. A surge of heat moved in his groin. “Pet and I have known each other forever. We have what could be called an ‘intimate friendship.’”
“I figured that much out.”
“I expect you did.” Jennifer slid her hand a bit farther up Charlie’s thigh, enough to make him involuntarily shift his position. He wanted her to touch his business, and had to force himself to sit still. If Jennifer noticed his discomfort, she didn’t let on.
He pulled his attention away from Jennifer and glanced at Pet. It took him aback when he saw her staring directly at his crotch. Jennifer might not have realized what she did to him, but Pet sure as shit did!
Not that he minded two gorgeous sheilas eyeing him like a couple of hungry Tasmanian devils, but he knew they had real food coming any minute. No doubt one of Morgy’s mates would be delivering it. He removed Jennifer’s hand from his leg and stood up. “Ladies, lunch is on the way. This is dessert.”
Petula also stood. She wrapped her arms around Charlie’s neck and deliberately rubbed her pelvis against him. “What do you think of him, Jen?”
“You tell me, Pet. Did he make you happy?”
“He made me quite happy. I’m still smiling.”
“Then I think he’ll do the same for me, won’t you, Charles?”
Charlie never once backed down from a fight, no matter what the odds. In this case, he knew these two sheilas could kill him. He smiled, figuring what a way to go. Without responding to Pet’s advances or Jennifer’s question, he matter-of-factly asked, “Where do I hide when the food comes?”
“What?” He could tell Pet had forgotten about being peckish.
“Remember, you ordered sandwiches and beer? The steward will wheel the cart in here. He can’t see me.”
Pet stepped back and looked around. “Yes, of course. I suppose you have your choice of the loo or the closet.”
“I’ll take the loo.” He stopped for a moment and listened. “Do you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
“Whistling in the corridor. It’s Joey. Let me know when he’s gone.” Charlie went to the toilet and closed the door.
He listened at the door. Within seconds, he heard the knock, and then heard Pet answer. Sure enough, he recognized Joey’s voice.
While Pet took care of receiving the delivery, Charlie splashed some cold water on his face. While drying off, he noted with some amusement Pet also had a bathtub. He couldn’t remember the last time he soaked in a tub. The crew only had shower stalls.
He had calmed himself enough to be able to have a piss while he had the chance. The old saying “when it rains, it pours” really applied to this one. He had two gorgeous sheilas waiting for him. As attractive as he found Pet, it was Jennifer who really had him by the knackers. She had the same exotic features as
