Beach Combing Read Online Free

sod. I don’t know what gets into him sometimes. Now come on, let’s get going. There’s a row of lockers on the other side of the shack. You can dump all your stuff there.’
    After hearing Ollie mouth off at Ed, Lara was surprised to find that he was actually a very good teacher. Far more patient than she’d expected and quick to praise her when she occasionally got something right. They started out on the sand, where Ollie taught her how to make the transition from lying on the board to standing on it. Then, once he was satisfied she’d cracked the manoeuvre, they progressed into the sea.
    Urged on by Ollie, Lara waded ten yards into the water, lowered herself on to her board and waited for the perfect wave to propel her back to the shore. It came faster than she anticipated and, feeling a bit like a beached whale, she hurled herself clumsily on to her board.
    ‘Paddle harder,’ yelled Ollie and before she knew it she was paddling as hard as she could. When she began to pick up speed she flipped her feet on to her board and stood aloft in triumph, flinging her arms out wide to balance her body. Amazingly, she maintained the stance for a triumphant ten seconds, then toppled sideways into the water with a huge splash.
    When Lara came up for air her mouth was full of seawater and a slimy piece of seaweed had wound itself alluringly round her neck. Not a good look, but she didn’t care. It was the most exhilarating experience she’d had in years.
    By the time the two hours were up Lara was managing to stay upright on her board for longer each time.
    ‘You’re a natural, Lara,’ shouted Ollie as he watched her surf her biggest wave yet. ‘And I tell you what…’
    ‘What?’ beamed Lara.
    ‘You’re my last booking of the day so why don’t we treat ourselves to a celebratory beer? Do you know the Turtle – the bar by the harbour wall? We can carry on the session for a while longer there…’
    Ed watched in fury as Ollie dumped the surfing boards outside the shack and disappeared round the back to change out of his wetsuit. He returned a minute later in a dazzling white T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops, looking like he didn’t have a care in the world. Then he strolled across the sand, deep in conversation with Lara.
    Ed seethed with indignation. While he’d spent a tedious afternoon trawling through Ollie’s chaotic accounts, trying to match the scruffy pile of booking sheets with payments, Ollie was up to his old tricks. There was nothing he liked better than chatting up a beautiful girl and showing off his surfing prowess while someone else picked up the pieces. Not that Ed usually minded. Only he’d thought that a girl like Lara would be oblivious to Ollie’s charms.

 
    Chapter Five
     
    It was only half past four in the afternoon but the Turtle was already packed to the rafters. The tiny bar sold drinks at happy hour prices between four and six pm and holidaymakers soon got to hear about it. Today the place was so full that hordes of thirsty customers had spilled on to the pavement outside.
    ‘What can I get you?’ asked Ollie.
    ‘Er, just an orange juice please,’ replied Lara, all too conscious that Jago was expecting her back to look after Alfie. She was desperate to take a long shower before going back on duty too. She’d changed out of her wetsuit after her surfing lesson and flung her jeans and T-shirt back on but she was covered in sand and her hair felt like rats’ tails.
    Lara sat on the harbour wall and waited for Ollie to return. St Grace was so idyllic, she thought. No wonder artists travelled from far and wide to paint the place. The harbour was packed with fishermen’s boats, sailing dinghies and posh yachts, each with their own story to tell. Two bronzed women in minuscule bikinis were sunning themselves on the deck of a yacht called Minerva while on a shabby ketch next to them an old man was cooking his supper in the open air.
    Lara’s thoughts turned to Ollie. He was far