Page 13 of Taking the Heat

‘And I’m Loris! We are happy to meet you!’

Both guys had pure white hair and honey-coloured skin; they looked like an ad for mineral water or apricot facial scrub or something equally as wholesome. The similarity between them was almost scary.

‘Clearly, you’re twins,’ I said. ‘But who’s older?’

‘Me!’ said Lars, on the left. ‘By almost two hours!’

‘But I am the smarter brother, don’t make a mistake!’ Loris grinned and I smiled back. Their enthusiasm and adorable accents made them downright gorgeous. If I landed in a fantasy cabin with either brother, I wouldn’t complain.

‘That must be cool, being here together.’

Sounding only a little like Chef from the Muppets, Loris said, ‘You are here with someone also?’

‘What? No, just me.’

‘Oh, sorry,’ said Lars. ‘We see Chris and he is always looking at you. He stares at you right now. You are both from Australia, ja?’

‘Ja, I mean, yes. I mean, yes, we’re both from Australia, but no, we’re not together.’ The brothers had flustered me. Now they’d mentioned it, I could actually feel Chris watching me, his gaze like an invisible tether between us. Trying to shake it off, I asked, ‘Have you guys ever been to Australia?’

Their eyes lit up. ‘Not yet, but we would be loving to go. When we win our money, we want to go around the world, then set up our own IT company.’

‘IT? What field?’ I peppered them with enough questions to keep them talking while I scoffed down my breakfast. They were both equally lovely and fun to look at, but I was glad I didn’t feel any romantic twitches for them: how on earth could I choose between them?

‘We are going to get ready for the first challenge,’ said Lars as I finished up. ‘We will see you there, ja?’

‘Ja. Thanks guys.’

They strolled off as I scraped the last of my hash browns up with my fork. Sudden tingles shot down my left side. Chris was the cause, leaning over me and placing a tea beside my plate, then disappearing before I could react.

It was an Earl Grey. Opposite urges clashed within me. Part of me loved the fact he’d remembered my favourite tea, the other half of me wanted to knock it over. I was grateful he’d brought me a drink and annoyed he presumed I would want him too.

But the smell of the bergamot drew my hands to the cup and I raised it to my lips, breathing it in before taking a long swallow.Mmmm …

‘I’d fucking slit somebody’s throat for a decent cappuccino,’ said a bitchy voice from behind me. I turned to see a gorgeous Japanese girl sneering at the buffet. ‘And for fuck’s sake, where is the carb-free option? If I have to spend the next three fucking weeks in a swimsuit, I don’t want to look like I’m fucking pregnant.’

I stared in wonder as her tiny heart-shaped mouth dropped obscenities with casual disdain. Her black hair shone in the morning light, swinging around her tan bikini top. She plonked down across from me and said, ‘I’m Clara. Who the fuck are you?’

Well, she managed one sentence without saying fuck, even if it was only two words.‘I’m Tara, I’m—’

‘Oh my god, I don’t even fucking care.’ She flapped a hand at me, her fake nails sharpened to a point, like talons. ‘Do you know when this fucking thing gets underway?’

I shook my head, a grin spreading across my face at her insane attitude.She’ll make terrific TV—even if they do have to bleep every second word.‘I think we’ve got about half an hour.’

‘Fuck me. It’s bad enough I’m stuck on this fucking island with my ex-fiancé and no quality java, now I’m here early? Clara doesn’t do fucking early!’

‘Your fiancé? Really?’ I could only imagine the poor guy this pocket dynamo had left broken in her wake.

‘Ex!’ she yelled, her face in fury. ‘My fucking ex! He’s got tons of fucking money, he’s just here to get in my way.’

‘That sucks,’ I said, actually sympathising with her problem. ‘I’ve got a similar issue with a guy here.’

‘You do?’ Clara’s eyes locked on me suspiciously.

‘Yeah. What’s your ex’s name?’

‘Toshi. We broke up a fucking year ago and now he’s here! Just when things are going my fucking way. This show is my big break—I’m actually a singer.’

‘That’s cool.’

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