Free Irrepressible You by Georgina Penney

waves.
    ‘Oh?’ Ben regarded her with a faint frown. ‘Tell me about it. Or better yet, don’t. Wait and we’ll have a little bit of social lubrication first so I can fully enjoy all the gory details. I’m all ears. And teeth.’
    ‘Seriously?’
    ‘Never more so. I have lots of teeth.’ He shrugged. ‘Pointy ones. But you might be a little more interesting.’
    Amy laughed, giving in and deciding to enjoy herself. She’d find a way to resuscitate her credit card later. ‘Alright, then. Lead the way.’

Chapter 4
    ‘You know, I think any man who isn’t an Olympic athlete or a lifeguard should be banned from wearing those. They’re an abomination.’
    Amy followed Ben’s gaze out the restaurant window, taking a moment to focus. The fading red sunset over the sea and white sand of Cottesloe Beach was spectacular tonight. She chuckled when she saw the object of his criticism, an intrepid senior citizen walking towards the water wearing a pair of faded red Speedos that left nothing to the imagination. Not that there was much to see, given how cold it was outside.
    ‘What? You mean you don’t have a pair?’
    ‘Perish the thought.’
    Amy grinned and reached for a wonderfully warm bread roll, slathering it with butter. ‘You know what they call Speedos here?’
    ‘No. Do tell?’ Ben raised an eyebrow.
    ‘Budgie smugglers.’
    ‘What?’ Ben guffawed. ‘Budgie smugglers? As in a small parakeet?’
    ‘Something like that,’ Amy replied. ‘And I’ve got some friends from Sydney who call them banana hammocks.’
    ‘Banana hammocks,’ Ben mused. ‘Disturbing.’ He feigned a shudder. ‘If this conversation goes any further I’m going to need alcohol. Care to choose?’ To Amy’s complete surprise, he pushed the wine list towards her.
    She internally grimaced. Her tried-and-tested technique in choosing wine was usually to order the second cheapest bottle on the menu. ‘You know, it’s probably better you pick. I’m pretty clueless about wine, which is a bit silly since I grew up on a winery.’
    ‘A winery? You become more and more interesting.’ Ben tilted his head to the side, studying her features in the soft light cast by the lone candle at their small table.
    ‘Yeah. I do.’ Amy couldn’t help a cheeky grin.
    Ben waved a waitress over and ordered an Abbey Vale Chardonnay before turning back to Amy.
    ‘Which winery and where?’
    ‘Evangeline’s Rest. It’s only a short distance from Abbey Vale, actually,’ Amy supplied. ‘I don’t know if you’ve heard of it.’
    ‘I have.’ Ben raised his eyebrows. ‘Does your family own it?’
    ‘Funny you should mention that.’ Amy took a bite out of her bread roll. ‘My sister is now engaged to a member of the family that owns it, but when we were kids my dad just worked there, so we lived on the property.’
    ‘Oh? You don’t look like any country lass I’ve ever met. Not enough beefy muscles, and I checked–your knuckles don’t drag on the ground.’
    Amy eyed off the basket of bread rolls, wondering what one would look like when it connected to the side of his head. ‘You better behave, or I’m gonna be clumsy the next time you come in for a shave.’
    ‘Ah.’ Ben’s his lips curved into a satisfied grin. ‘So you want my repeat business. I’m growing on you, aren’t I? Admit it.’
    ‘Maybe. Like a fungus.’ Amy screwed up her nose. She opened her menu, saw the prices and experienced genuine heart palpitations.
    ‘Fungus, eh? Well, I’ve always thought mushrooms were one of the tastiest foods in existence. Think of me as a rare truffle.’ Ben perused his own menu, then glanced up. ‘Although we can’t all be truffle lovers. You look concerned. Nothing on the menu to suit your tastes? You have an explosive allergy to seafood?’ In a completely unexpected gesture, he leaned forward and placed his much larger hand over hers to gain her attention.
    Amy’s whole body felt electric as an unexpected jolt of pure lust