January 23, 2007
I don't read much contemporary romance and I cringe when I read my attempts at it but still, they can be amusing...
This is an old piece of writing I stumbled across that I wrote back in the summer of 2002. I submitted it to a round robin writing contest.
The premise: Twins - one a flirt and one a brain, are switching places.
Enjoy!
BIKINI SWITCH
CHAPTER THREE - Written 05/20/2002
“Jeez, Jessie, you’re as hairy as a gorilla!” exclaimed Tiffani as she savagely ripped away some bikini wax, prompting a strangled snarl from Jesse.
Sabrina smirked. “She sounds like one, too.”
“Just call me Koko,” Jesse growled through clenched teeth.
“Huh?”
Sabrina couldn’t help but snicker at the blank look on Tiffani’s face. “I think she means Koko, the talking gorilla.”
“Oh…” Tiffani shrugged, refocusing on Jesse’s hair.
A moment later, Sabrina stepped back to admire her work.
Jesse grimaced and rubbed her thigh. “It hurts to be beautiful.”
“Ain’t that the truth.” Sabrina agreed.
Jesse glared at her sister. “You’re certainly a pain.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” quipped Sabrina.
“You take everything as a compliment,” grumbled Jesse.
Jesse's Citizen ProMaster? dive watch beeped, interrupting the bickering twins.
“I gotta feed Coco!” exclaimed Jesse, struggling to stand up from amidst the tangle of curling irons and blow-dryers.
Tiffani looked confused. “The talking gorilla?”
Sabrina chuckled. “I think she means the whale, Tiff.”
“Guys, I really need to feed Coco. I’ll be right back,” promised Jesse.
“Oh, no, you don’t!” Sabrina exclaimed. “I’ve spent too much time getting you ready. You'll ruin all my hard work feeding that spoiled fish.”
Jesse looked indignant. “Whales aren’t fish, they’re mammals!”
Sabrina ignored her. “Whatever! There isn’t time! Listen, just finish getting dressed and we’ll feed Coco. And Jesse… don’t mess up your hair, you’re on in fifteen minutes!”
“But…”
“No buts, Jesse,” broke in Tiffani. “SeaLife Park is depending on you. I’m not taking any more chances today.”
Sabrina wrinkled her nose as she unfastened the giant watch from her sister’s wrist.
“Jess always did know how to accessorize.”
Sabrina wriggled into Jesse’s red SeaLife? Park windbreaker and matching pants. She looked in the mirror and frowned. The word ‘STAFF’ was written across her butt in bold, white letters.
“You do work your backside off, Jesse. Everything is going to work out.” Sabrina smiled reassuringly and quickly refastened the watch onto her own wrist.
Tiffani and Sabrina hurried off, and Jesse listened as their chatter faded away.
“So, what do you think?” asked Sabrina.
“About the talking gorilla?”
“Girl, you’re at least a thigh shy of a chicken pot pie. I was talking about the fashion show,” laughed Sabrina
“Oh, that reminds me!” grinned Tiffani, “Let’s stop by the bar. I ordered some kickin’ hors d'oeuvres for this shindig.”
***
Tiffani and Sabrina arrived at the tank several minutes later to find Coco, SeaLife? Park’s biggest attraction, swimming in lazy circles. Tiffani splashed her hand into the water, catching Coco’s attention.
“It’s really pretty easy. I’ve helped Jesse a zillion times,” Tiffani babbled as she dragged a plastic canister to the edge of the tank. “You just have to remember to use the big live stuff instead of the frozen stuff we feed the sea lions.”
Coco approached the tank side and bobbed expectantly. Sabrina watched in undisguised disgust as Tiffani shoveled squid and mackerel into Coco’s eager mouth.
Loud static interrupted Coco’s happy slurping. “Tiffani Huntington, please report to park office immediately,” barked the park loudspeaker.
Tiffani rolled her eyes. “I’ll be back in just a sec,” she called, hurrying off.
Immediately, Coco demonstrated her displeasure at being interrupted by smacking the water with her fin, soaking Sabrina with a sheet of grimy water and fish guts.
“This day can’t get any worse,” muttered Sabrina as she took a deep, fortifying breath and picked up the shovel.
Eric ambled up behind Sabrina and handed her a bottle of Killer Shark Great White Wheat.
“How ya doin', Beautiful? Looks like you could use a drink, or perhaps a towel?”
Sabrina turned and gave him a black stare.
Eric jumped back, laughing. “Damn, girl! You did get some sun!”
Sabrina continued to scowl as she fed Coco the shrimp cocktail in short, angry scoops. She was soggy, itchy and irritated. Not to mention that she couldn’t even enjoy the cold beer since her newest personal trainer, Antoine, had forbidden all such hedonistic pleasures.
Eric stood quietly by her side, sipping his beer and watching her work.
“Where’s Jesse?” he inquired softly.
Sabrina whirled and gave him an incredulous look.
Eric held up a hand and met her gaze straight on. “Don’t bother. I can tell it’s you, Sabrina. I’ve known you guys for too long. So why don’t you just tell me why you, of all people, are out here feeding Miss Coco.”
Sabrina sighed in defeat. “I got poison ivy hiking this morning,” she moaned, leaving out the unflattering details. “I can’t do the show looking like this, so Jesse and I switched, just for today. So please don’t tell anyone – my reputation in the biz will be ruined, not to mention the fact that Jesse will be heartbroken if SeaLife? doesn’t get this funding.”
A slow smile spread across Eric’s handsome, tanned face. His sharp business intellect told him that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity -- he had both of the Larson vixen right where he wanted them.
Sabrina didn’t bother to disguise her annoyance. “Your dimple is showing, Eric. You ’re obviously planning to take advantage of this.”
“I’ll make you a deal.”
“Here it comes…”
“I won’t say a word about your little, ” Eric made a fluttery gesture with his hand, “accident. You won’t tell Jesse that I know what’s up.”
Sabrina smiled conspiratorially. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Eric grinned and planted a quick kiss on Sabrina’s forehead.
“Scoundrel.”
Eric grinned wickedly and turned to leave. “Don’t itch, you might scar.”
Sabrina suddenly looked panicked. “Eric, wait!”
Eric paused, a brow arched inquisitively.
“How did you... you know, know?”
Eric laughed. “I’m not stupid. Like I said, I know you guys too well. Not that it was difficult. There’s no love lost between you and Coco here, and besides, your watch is on upside down.”
Eric winked devilishly.
Sabrina glanced down at her wrist with a mixture of surprise and disgust. “Damn.”
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