A Gentle seduction

Many thanks for the lovely reviews. I lovereading them especially when you're trying to predict what's going to happen! But my lips are sealed! By the way, AL, no, I don't dive and some of the stuff I've used came from a friend who did at one time and a bit of my imagination, so don't expect precision! lol. The 'flippers' bit was purely my bit of humour! S&L xx

Chapter 7

Joey Collins turned onto her side and slid her arm under the cool pillow. She sighed as she tried to sleep. She closed her eyes, but all she could see was Charlie Buckton's beautiful face. She moaned to herself as she rolled over onto her back and looked up at the ceiling. If she was to be successful, she had to control herself.

***

"Hey! Rubber suits you!" Hugo said, leering at Charlie who was clad in a diving suit.

"Very funny, Hugo." Charlie said, raising her eyes to the sky.

"Well, come on! Let's give it a go."

Charlie followed Hugo down to the beach for the final stage of her diving course.

"Now, the idea of this is, if you get into trouble under water, you can take all your equipment off and put it back on again. It might be a case where you're diving with somebody else and if their equipment malfunctions, you'll be able to help them or visa-versa. You'll also see how our breathing exercises work – if you breathe in too deeply, you'll rise too quickly and your ears will hurt. Your breathing must be slow and shallow."

Charlie nodded and followed Hugo into the shallow water.

***

Joey looked at her mobile phone. She checked the message box again; why had Charlie sent her a message with no text? Ok, she may have sent it in error, but if not, surely she would have realised and sent another message by now? It was days ago!

***

"Well, congratulations,Charlie! You've completed your dive course and here's your certificate. Now..." Hugo said, moving closer to Charlie, "If you give me the pleasure of taking you out for a real dive, and your ear's get blocked, I know a fine way to pop them!" He said with a wink.

"Thank you Hugo. I'll bear that in mind." Charlie smiled, accepting her certificate.

"So, Joey Collins. Are you two close?"

Charlie was taken by surprise at the question Hugo posed. She shifted slightly and fiddled with her certificate.

"Well, I wouldn't say close. We hardly know each other really."

"So, there's nothing between you two, then?" He asked with a smirk.

Charlie frowned.

"No, of course there isn't Hugo! You told me yourself she's... gay."

"Just like to make sure!" Hugo grinned and wandered off.

Charlie breathed heavily for a few moments. Oh God! Why did he have to ask me that?

***

"Well, now you're certified, so to speak, what are you going to do with it?" Ruby asked as Charlie flashed the certificate in front of her eyes.

"Well, if time allows, it may come in useful one day." Charlie mused.

"When do you take the time to do anything, Charlie? You couldn't even go the full term of a four day break without coming home early!"

"Okay, okay, I know. I'll use it one day, I expect." Charlie said as her mind drifted off to a blue ocean and a boat called the Ars Amatoria.

***

Three weeks later, Leah was clearing plates in the diner.

"Excuse me."

Leah looked around to see a dark haired girl standing in front of her.

"Can I help?"

"I hope so. I'm looking for Charlie Buckton. I believe she's a Police Officer?"

"Senior Constable to be precise!" Colleen Smart said, butting in on the conversation.

"Yeah, thanks Colleen for that." Leah said, guiding the dark haired woman away from the till. "She's at work at the moment. You might be able to catch her at YabbieCreek Police Station if you want? Other than that, if you give me a message, I'll see she gets it."

"That's okay, thanks. I'm sure I'll bump into her somewhere." The stranger said, and with that, turned and left the diner.

***

Charlie and Ruby were washing up when Leah walked into the kitchen.

"Hey! Guys."

"Hey!" The girls replied in unison.

"My God! I'm gonna strangle Colleen one of these days! I'm sure she's doing it to provoke me!" Leah moaned as she plonked her bags on the table.

"What's she been up to now?" Ruby asked, with a grin.

"Oh, usual stuff. Advising customers to change their minds about certain meals and suggesting alternatives, then preaching her high morals to every teenager who walks into the joint, butting in conversations when she isn't invited...shall I go on?"

"No! I think we get the general picture. Want some coffee? I've just made it?" Charlie asked, holding up a mug.

"You're a treasure!" Leah said, sitting down at the table. "Hey, Charlie! Someone came in asking for you earlier."

"Yeah? Who?"

"No idea. A girl in her twenties. Long dark hair, quite pretty. Said she would catch up with you at some time. She wouldn't leave a message." Leah said, sipping her coffee.

Charlie's heart stood still for a moment. Surely it couldn't be, could it?

"Are you helping with the washing up or not, Charlie?" Ruby chastised.

"Sorry Rubes." Charlie apologised and picked up a plate from the drainer.

***

Ruby and Charlie were sitting in the lounge watching a film on the television. Ruby glanced at her sister whose mind was obviously not on the film but far away, in the corner of the room where she was staring.

"You okay, Charlz?"

"Yeah. Sorry, I've just remembered something I should have done at work. I think I'll pop back." Charlie said, jumping to her feet.

Ruby watched as her sister left the room.

***

Charlie checked her watch. It was eight fifteen. She took a walk down to the diner and had a quick look around and then left. Next, she walked to the Surf Club and entered. She scanned the room and was about to leave when Alf Roberts called her over.

"G'day love. You looking for someone?"

"Yeah, but I don't think they're here. Has anyone been asking for me, Alf?"

"No, not as far as I know. I can ask Martha, if you like? She was here working earlier." Alf said, picking up the telephone.

"No! Please don't worry. I'm sure they'll find me, if they want to. See you later."

Charlie stood outside; the night was drawing in. She had little chance of finding anyone now. She walked down towards the wharf and stepped slowly along the metal walk way. She leaned on the chrome rail and listened to the water lapping against the edge of the wharf.

Why am I doing this to myself? Why am I so obsessed with her? Why is it I ache to see her again? If it was her and she is looking for me, wouldn't she have called me or sent a text by now?

Charlie sighed and closed her eyes.

"I knew you'd find me, Senior Constable!"