Irrepressible You Read Online Free Page A

offshore oil rigs, Jo was able to reach up and easily wrap her hands around Amy’s waist, supporting her as she placed her feet back on the second-from-top rung, ready to climb down.
    ‘Hey.’ Amy grinned, ignoring her sister’s fierce frown. ‘If you could just hold me steady for a few more seconds, I’ll finish, then make you a hot chocolate.’
    ‘You’re insane. You know that, right?’ Jo tightened her grip as Amy leaned backwards to survey her handiwork. ‘High heels on a bloody ladder. Don’t you own a proper pair of boots? What idiot wears heels on a ladder? No. Don’t say anything. The answer’s right in front of me.’
    Ignoring Jo, Amy calmly capped the sealant, dropped it into the front pocket of her cheerful, daisy-printed apron and climbed down.
    ‘Thanks,’ she chirped as her feet touched the ground. She spun and pulled her sister’s head down for a kiss on the cheek. ‘I was fine, but I love you for caring.’
    Jo ran her fingers through her short, bright red hair in obvious exasperation. ‘At least find yourself some decent work boots like mine. Or get in a pro.’ She looked from Amy’s two-inch-heeled ankle boots to Harvey. ‘Why don’t you just tear this thing down and put a toilet inside like a normal person?’
    Amy drew herself up to her full five feet and one inch. ‘You and Scott are just as bad as each other. He was having a go this morning too. What did I tell you about hurting Harvey’s feelings?’
    ‘Settle, petal. I take it back.’ Jo lifted up her hands in feigned surrender. ‘You want me to put the ladder away?’
    ‘Yes please,’ Amy said pertly. She walked across the courtyard and opened the kitchen door, pulling off her boots and sliding her feet into the slippers waiting just inside. She took the time to untie her apron and hang it on the back door. The heavy screwdrivers and various other tools in its pockets made a satisfying thunk as they bumped against the wood.
    While Jo stopped at the back door to unlace her old beaten steel-capped boots, Amy began heating milk on the stove, breaking in chunks of Lindt chocolate and adding honey, a cinnamon stick and a tiny pinch of salt for flavour.
    Jo was silent as she wandered into the kitchen and took a seat at the table, stretching out her Levi-covered legs in a pose that echoed Scott’s from earlier. She began idly playing with the pages of a French cookbook Amy had left on the table.
    Normally Amy would be chattering away happily, but she knew her sister wouldn’t be visiting today if Scott hadn’t squealed. So instead of talking, she settled for stirring the hot chocolate into a satisfyingly rich brown sludge, and braced herself.
    ‘Want to tell me what’s got you so upset that you cried buckets last night?’ Jo asked eventually.
    Amy stifled a sigh and finished pouring her luxuriously thick brew into Jo’s special blue and white striped mug before filling up her own. ‘I knew I should have poisoned Scott’s coffee this morning.’ She placed both drinks on a bamboo tray, added two generous slices of just-iced chocolate cake, then made herself comfortable at the table.
    Jo laughed softly, accepting her hot chocolate, running it under her nose and sniffing appreciatively. ‘Ta. Wouldn’t have worked. One look at you and I knew you were feeling flat.’
    Amy frowned.
    ‘You only wear those old jeans when you’re pissed off or have PMS.’ Jo shrugged. ‘The rest of the outfit gave you away too.’
    ‘What?’ Amy looked down at her bright yellow hoodie with a smiling Tweety Bird on the front. ‘How?’
    ‘It doesn’t go with your lippy or nail polish. It’s a sad, sad day when Amy Blaine isn’t colour coordinated.’ Jo shook her head with mock gravity, pursing her lips to hold back a smile.
    Amy scowled down at her nails, which were painted a bright coral. Damn, Jo was right.
    ‘I bet you’re wearing black undies too. You only wear those when you’re really pissy.’
    ‘Am not.’ Amy checked