The Northern Lights Lodge by Julie Caplin

Author:Julie Caplin
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008323660
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2019-01-30T05:00:00+00:00

‘Oh bum,’ said Lucy when Alex leaned forward as far as he dared trying to scoop Dolly towards the edge so that she could grab the sheep. It was worse than bobbing for apples. No sooner did he try to reach the animal’s back end, the stupid creature dipped and swung out of reach floating towards the other side of the long rectangular hot tub. But he refused to be beaten. Stupid bloody animal. Didn’t it realise he was trying to help it? And why was he doing this?

For what felt like the umpteenth time, he stalked around the end of the hot tub to the other side with Lucy following him. It was ridiculous. They both must look ridiculous. But he wasn’t giving in. Not when Lucy was looking at him like he was some kind of hero. Now, the sheep was bobbing right in the centre of the pool just out of reach. If he could stretch that extra inch. For a moment he floundered on the edge, a rush of adrenaline pumping when he almost fell in.

What was he trying to prove?

‘Let me have a go,’ said Lucy, with another glance over her shoulder. He could tell she was anxious that someone might spot their antics. They’d been at this for twenty minutes.

‘What? You think you can do better?’ he said a touch grouchily. OK, he was being childish, but it was bloody annoying. How hard could it be to round the damn thing up? The sheep’s glassy eyes seemed to be sharp with malevolent glee as if it were enjoying the chase. He narrowed his eyes and glared back at it. Lucky sheep was toasty in there while he was starting to get seriously cold where the splashes of water had soaked his clothes. He jabbed the net into the water, trying to make waves to get the sheep to drift back to the other side.

‘No,’ she pursed her lips as if trying to hold back laughter.

‘Are you laughing at me?’ he asked rounding on her.

Immediately her eyes widened in a guileless expression that wouldn’t fool anyone. She pressed her lips tighter. ‘Not laughing. No. N-not…’ Her eyes twinkled a little. ‘But it,’ she sniggered, ‘it’s a bit like man versus beast. You are determined not to be beaten.’

Straightening up, he glared at the sheep and then her. He was about to throw the net at her with a childish, ‘well, you try then,’ when he realised how ridiculous the whole situation was.

‘You should see me playing Fifa on the Xbox,’ he said with a sudden grin.

‘Competitive, much?’ she asked, a giggle escaping as she looked up at him.

‘Hell, yes. And, I am determined to get this sheep out.’ With another push he reached out towards the sheep aware of the small smile playing at her lips. The net swished through the water and he leaned further forward. Steady Alex, he told himself. He didn’t want to fall in, in front of her but it felt as if Lucy had challenged him and he wasn’t about to concede defeat.

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