Free The Reluctant Wag by Mary Costello Page A

She’d looked so young . . .
    She was a total rookie as a model, he knew that – no phony poses, no practised pouts. But was she just another newshound? Was that why she’d agreed to go with him tonight? Did she feel even a fraction of the attraction he felt for her? Either way, he’d better keep his distance and remember that Merise Merrick was a budding journalist. She might just be a very calculating operator, another would-be celeb on the lookout for her next photo opportunity. One thing he knew, she was well able to resist him, and maybe it was for the best.
    Just then he heard the roar of a male lion from the zoo at the heart of the park. ‘Yeah, mate,’ he muttered, ‘I know exactly how you feel.’

Chapter 6
    Merise was getting ready for bed on Monday night when the phone went. It was Bev.
    ‘Sorry to ring you at this hour, but I just got a call from SMO. They want to do a very quick shoot tomorrow morning at seven a.m.’
    ‘Tomorrow?’
    ‘I know it’s late notice, but they’ve just wangled a spot on the front cover of the Footy Quarterly and it goes to print this week. They want a shot of you and McCoy in front of the MCG.’
    ‘At seven a.m?’
    ‘It’s the only time McCoy can do it. We’re lucky he can fit it in at all.’
    Merise felt her jaw tighten. Did half of Melbourne dance to this man’s tune?
    ‘The money’s good, Merise, and the exposure would be well worth it. Can you manage it?’
    ‘I suppose so . . .’
    ‘Terrific! Now I’m going to run before you change your mind. Go straight to bed. We don’t want rings under your eyes in the morning. And by the way, you’ll need to be at Gate Two at five a.m.’
    ‘Five a.m!’
    ‘Got to organise your gear and make-up – have you looking beautiful.’
    Merise felt anything but beautiful the following morning as she stood in silence with Bev and the photographer outside Gate Two. She hadn’t been able to sleep. She’d been worrying about the shoot, she’d been worrying about waking up on time, and above all, she’d been worrying about seeing him again. She’d resolved to be the total professional. This was just another job. She wasn’t going to start parrying words with him. She was going to be totally cool, detached, composed, and she was absolutely determined that she wouldn’t let him rile her.
    But he did, and without even trying, because he failed to put in an appearance. The little group had been waiting for almost an hour when the photographer began to get restless.
    ‘This should have been done and dusted by now,’ he said, checking his watch for the tenth time. ‘It’s almost eight o’clock. I’ve got to get down to Mount Martha for my next gig.’
    Bev had been trying to ring Paige with no success. ‘I’ll try again,’ she said, taking out her mobile and moving away from them.
    Merise stood tapping her feet impatiently. She wanted her breakfast. She hadn’t had time to eat anything before rushing out this morning. She was fuming at Cal for keeping her waiting. It was like that book launch. He must make a habit of being completely selfish and inconsiderate. Just then Bev came marching back, her face set hard.
    ‘He’s not coming.’
    ‘Not coming?’ Merise and the photographer chorused together.
    ‘No. Paige says he has a slight calf strain. It happened when he was running early this morning.’
    ‘A slight calf strain? Oh my! I’ll alert the media,’ said Merise with bitter sarcasm.
    ‘Don’t bother,’ said the photographer. ‘They’ll be all over it already. I’m off then.’ And he packed up his gear and left.
    ‘Sorry about this, Merise,’ Bev apologised, ‘but you’ll still get paid, of course. It’s a pity McCoy couldn’t have given us a ring.’
    ‘I don’t see why he couldn’t have turned up,’ said Merise hotly. ‘There’s nothing very strenuous about having a photo taken. Don’t know what harm it could have done to his precious calf.’
    ‘Paige says he’s in the