Just My Luck (47 page)

stickybeak:  nosy person, busybody

stonkered:  drunk—a bit stonkered—or exhausted

stoush:  bar fight, fight

straight away:  right away

strength of it:  the truth, the facts. “What's the strength of that?” = “What's the true story on that?”

stroppy:  prickly, taking offense easily

stuffed up:  messed up

Super 15:  Top rugby competition: five teams each from NZ, Australia, South Africa

supporter:  fan (Do NOT say “root for.” “To root” is to have (rude) sex!)

suss out:  figure out

sweet:  dessert

sweet as:  great. (also:   choice as, angry as, lame as . . . Meaning “very” whatever. “Mum was angry as that we ate up all the pudding before tea with Nana.”)

takahe:  ground-dwelling native bird. Like a giant parrot.

takeaway:  takeout (food)

tall poppy:  arrogant person who puts himself forward or sets himself above others. It is every Kiwi's duty to cut down tall poppies, a job they undertake enthusiastically.

Tangata Whenua:  Maori (people of the land)

tapu:  sacred (Maori)

Te Papa:  the National Museum, in Wellington

tea:  dinner (casual meal at home)

tea towel:  dishtowel

test match:  international rugby match (e.g., an All Blacks game)

throw a wobbly:  have a tantrum

tick off:  cross off (tick off a list)

ticker:  heart. “The boys showed a lot of ticker out there today.”

togs:  swimsuit (male or female)

torch:  flashlight

touch wood:  knock on wood (for luck)

track:  trail

trainers:  athletic shoes

tramping:  hiking

transtasman:  Australia/New Zealand (the Bledisloe Cup is a transtasman rivalry)

trolley:  shopping cart

tucker:  food

tui:  Native bird

turn to custard:  go south, deteriorate

turps, go on the turps:  get drunk

Uni:  University—or school uniform

up the duff: pregnant. A bit vulgar (like “knocked up”)

ute:  pickup or SUV

vet:  check out

waiata:  Maori song

waka:  canoe (Maori)

Wallabies:  Australian national rugby team

Warrant of Fitness:  certificate of a car's fitness to drive

Weet-Bix:  ubiquitous breakfast cereal

whaddarya?:  I am dubious about your masculinity (meaning “Whaddarya . . . pussy?”)

whakapapa:  genealogy (Maori). A critical concept.

whanau:  family (Maori). Big whanau: extended family. Small whanau: nuclear family.

wheelie bin:  rubbish bin (garbage can) with wheels.

whinge:  whine. Contemptuous! Kiwis dislike whingeing. Harden up!

White Ribbon:  campaign against domestic violence

wind up:  upset (perhaps purposefully). “Their comments were bound to wind him up.”

wing:  rugby position (back)

Yank:  American. Not pejorative.

yellow card:  A penalty for dangerous play that sends a player off for 15 minutes to the sin bin. The team plays with 14 men during that time.

yonks:  ages. “It's been going on for yonks.”

Links

Hear the songs, explore the places, and find out what’s new at the
Rosalind James website
.

Also by Rosalind James:

The
ESCAPE TO NEW ZEALAND
series:

Book One (Hannah and Drew’s story):
JUST THIS ONCE

Book Two (Kate and Koti’s story):
JUST GOOD FRIENDS

Book Three (Jenna and Finn’s story):
JUST FOR NOW

Book Four (Emma and Nic’s story):
JUST FOR FUN

Book Five (Ally and Nate/Kristen and Liam’s stories):
JUST MY LUCK

THE KINCAIDS
series:

Book One (Mira and Gabe’s story):
WELCOME TO PARADISE

Read on for a sample of
WELCOME TO PARADISE: The Kincaids, Book One

Welcome to Paradise--Chapter 1

“We are in the middle of friggin’ nowhere.”

Gabe Kincaid looked across at his brother in amusement. Alec had one hand on the steering wheel, the fingers of the other drumming on the leg of his Levi’s as he gazed disgustedly through the windshield at the rolling hills that extended into the distance, the long stalks of green— grass?—wheat?—Well, some kind of crops, anyway, undulating in the wind like waves across a limitless sea.

“That’s the idea,” Gabe said mildly. “It’s the Palouse. It’s not supposed to be Silicon Valley.”

His twin grabbed for the water bottle in the cupholder between them and took a long swig. “At least find another radio station,” he complained. “I swear, this is the same song we just heard.”

“The trouble with you,” Gabe said with a grin, “is that you aren’t sufficiently open to new experiences. And that you don’t pay attention. This guy is leaving his tears on the jukebox. The last guy was falling in love.”

“Well, it all sounds the same to me,” Alec grumbled. “And I thought there were supposed to be cows in the country. I haven’t seen another living thing for an hour.”

“The change is going to do you good,” Gabe promised. “And pay attention. We’re about to get into Pullman.”

“Thanks for warning me. I might have gotten all flustered by the traffic lights. We could have ended up in Canada.”

Gabe laughed. “You need to learn to focus on one thing at a time. This is a perfect chance to start.”

“I focus just fine.” Alec slowed as they entered the small university town, took the turns that led him past Washington State University and onto the highway that led to the neighboring town of Moscow. “Nobody who’s spent as many hours in front of a computer screen and drunk as much Dr. Pepper as I have in my life can be accused of not being able to focus.”

“You need to focus on what matters,” Gabe said quietly, serious now. “Your inner life.”

“Thank you, Deepak Chopra,” Alec said tersely. “I don’t have a whole lot of desire right now to look at my inner life.”

“Which is why you need to do it.” Gabe knew that, for all his brother’s protests, on some level he recognized the truth of what Gabe was saying. In fact, they both needed a break, a chance to take the deep breath they’d been unable to find time for amidst the hectic pace of their lives.

“Stop it,” Alec said now.

“What?”

“Your Spidey Sense. Knock it off. Quit looking inside me. I’m fine. I said I’d do this with you, and I’m doing it. And we just crossed the state line. Welcome to Idaho.”

“That’s it ahead,” Gabe pointed out a few minutes later, as Alec pulled to a stop at yet another red light in the sparse evening traffic. “The University Inn.”

“Right across from the field full of cows. The booming metropolis.”

Gabe smiled, then ran his tongue across his teeth. “Well, I’ll be glad to get there, myself. This bonding road trip has got me stiff. And I need to brush my teeth.”

“Damn.”

“What?” Gabe asked in alarm.

“I left my toothbrush back at the motel.”

“Well, you’re not borrowing mine.”

“Right. We’re going to the mall.” Alec belatedly put on his left blinker, waited for the two oncoming cars to proceed through the intersection. Heard a loud blast on the horn from the car behind him before the driver swerved around and passed on the right with a screech of tires and a parting one-fingered salute out the driver’s window.

“Asshole,” Alec muttered as he turned into the lot. “So much for country values.”

Ten minutes later, toothbrush duly purchased, they pulled into the University Inn parking lot and gratefully emerged from the car. Driving all day was never going to feel good, not even in a Mercedes. Alec went inside for the keycard, while Gabe began to haul out suitcases, then stopped in his tracks.

A couple spaces beyond, a young woman stood next to a glossy black BMW with its door open, her gaze turned up to the eastern skyline. Gabe could see why. The view was tinted a rose pink that lay softly over the mountains, giving them an almost ethereal glow.

She sensed his presence behind him, turned with a warm smile that was a perfect complement to the light bathing the landscape behind her. Her soft pink mouth curving, a sudden image of his teeth sinking into that plump lower lip flashing straight through him, waking his body up fast. Her smile rising all the way to the wide-set eyes that shone with happiness beneath dark winged brows.

“Alpenglow,” she told him.

“What?” he asked stupidly.

“That’s what they call that pink thing. Alpenglow. Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Yeah,” he smiled slowly. “It sure is.”

She nodded, looked back at the mountains with a sigh, leaving Gabe free to take in the view that interested him most. She wasn’t especially slim—in fact, she was downright . . . rounded. Arms, breasts, hips, it was all there, all the good stuff. A nicely defined waist, too, in a slightly crumpled short-sleeved summer dress that flared out at the hem, fluttered a little in the breeze. Long, shiny brown hair caught on the side of her head in a simple braid that reached nearly to her hips, ended in a curly tail. All right, she was attractive. A pretty face, nice hair, a beautiful smile. But she wasn’t gorgeous. Why was he staring at her?

“Cute,” Alec said quietly beside him.

“Yeah.” Gabe gave himself a shake and began to turn away.

“Hey.” The man was striding quickly across the parking lot. Light brown hair, parted neatly. Slim and tall, somewhere between Gabe’s six foot and Alec’s six-two. And, Gabe realized, the same asshole who’d flipped them off earlier, at the light. Frowning, now, as he came to join the woman. “What are you doing? I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Sorry,” she said. “I was just looking at the view.”

“Did you get the car cleaned out?”

“Not yet.”

He sighed impatiently. “I’ve got all our stuff inside already,
and
unpacked, while you’ve been standing here.  Could you get a move on, please? I want to go to dinner.”

“Sorry,” she said again. “It’s just so beautiful.”

The man smiled tightly, still not acknowledging Gabe or Alec, who had come up to stand beside his brother and watch the pair. “All I’m asking for is a bit of focus here, sweetie. Eyes on the prize, remember? Can you do that for me?”

“Of course,” she said. Gabe could see the flush spreading up her cheeks, her embarrassment at the reproof in front of strangers. Not his business, he reminded himself. None of his business at all.

“Love her, hate him,” Alec said a few minutes later as they watched the young woman head into the motel, loaded down with a trash bag and various odds and ends.

“Yeah.”

Alec shot a look at him. “You OK?”

“Anger management issues.” Gabe looked at his brother wryly. “I was ready to take him out for a minute there. Haven’t felt like that in a long time.”

“You probably just need to get laid,” Alec said practically, pulling his bag across the lot. “How long has it been?”

Gabe smiled. “Too long.”

“Anyone since Crystal?”

“Nope.” Gabe stood back as Alec used the keycard on the motel door, then humped his suitcase and pack inside. “Too busy.”

“Bro, you’re never too busy for sex.”

“All right. Not in the mood, then. Tired of all the drama. I don’t have the energy for it anymore.”

“That’s why I don’t do the drama.” Alec lifted his suitcase onto the bed, eyeing the dark green quilted synthetic spread with distaste. “Keep it light. You don’t have to get involved, you know. As long as you’re upfront about what you want, where’s the harm?”

“Maybe I’m just not a damn rabbit, like some people. And by the way,” Gabe said seriously, pulling a luggage rack from the closet and lifting his own suitcase onto it before unzipping it. “Be careful, while we’re here. These are close quarters we’re going to be in. Strings are most definitely going to be attached. You do your player stuff, and we’re going to find ourselves out on our asses.”

Alec laid a hand over his heart. His mouth was solemn, but his dark blue eyes, the only feature identical to Gabe’s, laughed at his twin. “I solemnly swear that I will keep it in my pants for the duration. Now all we have to worry about is your Sir Galahad impulses.”

“No problem. I’m tired of rescuing,” Gabe assured him. “I’ve lost the desire to solve anybody else’s problems. I’m not even all that confident anymore that I have the solutions. I just want someone . . . happy, I guess. Happy and fun, to hang out with. Are there any women like that?”

“Not for an ugly bastard like you,” Alec said cheerfully.

Welcome to Paradise--Chapter 2

“Aren’t you ready yet?”

Mira started at the demand, uttered so abruptly from behind her, almost burned herself with the iron she’d borrowed from the front desk.

“Just getting the wrinkles out,” she promised, setting the iron down on the bedside table and picking the dress up from the bed. “Five minutes.”

Scott looked at his watch. “You know I hate being rushed. We have to be in the ballroom to meet everyone at ten. Why couldn’t you have done it last night when we got in?”

“Sorry. Five minutes, I promise.” He was in a bad mood because he was nervous, she knew. Once they got through the initial orientation and he knew what to expect, he’d do better. Until then, she’d just keep from annoying him further. She’d had plenty of practice at that after years of bouncing between her parents’ various households. If there was one thing she was good at, it was not making waves.

Ten minutes later, Scott was shifting impatiently from foot to foot at the hostess stand of the motel restaurant. A busy waitress glanced across at him as she filled coffee mugs. “Be right with you folks,” she called. Bustled over and grabbed menus.

“Good morning,” she said cheerfully, leading them to a table by the window, with its uninspiring view of the parking lot and the field of cattle across the highway. “Coffee?”

“Please,” Mira said.

“A cappuccino for me,” Scott corrected.

“Sorry,” the waitress said. “We don’t serve espresso drinks.”

“Coffee, then,” he sighed.

When the waitress came back with their coffee, she brought something else too. The two men from the evening before, whom she was clearly planning to seat next to Mira and Scott. They both smiled at her in recognition as they approached, and she found herself smiling right back. It wasn’t hard to do. Both men were dressed in worn Levi’s that clung in all the right places, and T-shirts that stretched across broad chests. Both had dark brown hair, though the shorter one’s was darker, almost black, and wavier than his—brother’s? It must be, she decided. They looked too much alike to be anything else, though the taller one was leaner, not as deep through the chest or as wide across the shoulders. More handsome, too, his features a little more finely hewn, brow ridge and cheekbones a little less harsh, and a straight, strong nose instead of something that looked as if it had been broken, once upon a time. She wouldn’t kick either of them out of bed for eating crackers, though. There was so much warmth, too, in both sets of dark blue eyes, the generous, well-formed mouths. They were a double dose of hot, that was for sure. Was this what Idaho men looked like?