The water temperature was just right, enveloping us in its crystal clear, blue shallows, flippers flapped haphazardly in the water as we each donned goggles and snorkel to meet the coral fish, turtles and lots of other pretty animals that dashed around just under the surface.

"I wish my camera would go under the water" Linda had been snapping away the entire trip promising us all holiday photos for Christmas.

"Those fish will think the paparazzi have turned up" Olivia was cleaning her googles to get ready to go around again.

"Look at them" As we floated over the reef, I happened to look back over at the boat. John, Paul George and Richie appeared to be having 'problems' learning how to snorkel. Two of the staff, pretty twenty somethings in small bright red bikinis, were all too helpful and eager, animated and chatting, smiling, adjusting googles, snorkels and flippers much to the men's delight, so it seemed. "Those girls are all over them!"

"Yep!" Barbara swam over and started watching the show.

"You see Sam" Linda put a hand on my shoulder "our boys were once Gods, walking among the people of the world taking and pillaging all females that they fancied. Dropping down from the heavens has made them crash, surviving with (hopefully) one female and a gaggle of babies" Linda was laughing but I was a bit miffed and she could see it. "They have a little fun but they always come home, we are the ones they come home to every night"

"That's alright for you married ones or if your in a stable relationship but how are you supposed to react when you don't even know where you stand in the first place" As we watched on, the guys were now in the water, both girls on bended knee leaning way over adjusting googles again.

"Well perhaps its about time to fix all that young lady" Linda smiled a sneaky sly smile.

******************

"I don't see how short skirts and boob tubes can fix a situation or compete with twenty something girls." I was standing in front of the mirror trying to pull my skirt down; borrowed from Olivia the skirt was tan in colour with motifs sewn on it with a fringed hem, it was also doctored by Linda having turned over the waist to shorten it even more, "it's barely a mini skirt now" My white shirt was unbuttoned quite low and the bottom was tied to show off my, well I think of it as, flabby gut. "Now I look like a two-dollar hooker"

"Two! Wow Sammy, I was thinking one at the most" Linda laughed while I glared then giggled in the mirror, she quickly got started on my eyeliner.

It was now 9pm at night; Our usually evening meant sitting around drinking, watching the guys play pool, snooker or billiards. Being an island the same staff from the snorkelling 'incident' would be serving drinks probably tonight too. Olivia looked hot and exotic, Barbara looked like a Greek goddess, Linda, in her own words, was channelling trampy cowgirl, we didn't ask why. My fake tan I got in NY was now becoming a real one from the days spent swimming and sunbaking, I still hadn't been brazen enough to put my second set of swimwear on yet though.

As we wandered up to the bar area through the palms and bougainvillaea, we all got a little quieter the closer we got. Linda stopped and gathered us for a last-minute pep talk "Right, if we are doing this we need to own it girls. Heads high, no slouching. Sam we want to make them drool, make them stop and watch you walk the whole way across to the bar."

"You know, I bet they will want a game of pool with us tonight" Barbara giggled and popped a couple of hibiscus flowers in her and my hair.

Linda made the trip first, the two staff members had a giggle behind their hands but stopped when they saw the attention Linda got from Paul. Linda also went first so she could maintain eye contact with me and Olivia, this wasn't Olivia's most natural element either. 

Olivia started off across the room, casting her eyes around but made the stools without incident and smiled back at Barbara and I.

"You" Barbara shoved gently me forward. She was the backstop, if I faltered she was to swoop in and push me the rest of the way. "You'll be fine, confidence hun"

I climbed up the last couple of steps and nearly fell, great start. Stopping on the threshold, I paused and took a deep breath. 

Here goes nothing.

Stepping through the doorway I spotted Linda, with a sly smile on her face. I started across the expanse, looping around the big sea blue lounge that sat in the centre of the room. I suddenly felt strong and sure of myself and added a bit more hip swing to my step. The only peek I got of the boys was a fleeting one, I saw Paul staring and Richie smiling, turning my attention back to the stools I made them without falling on my face.

"That was bloody brill luvy, you owned the room! Here comes Babs, she knows the drill models Inc." Linda laughed and pointed to Richie he had been standing but was now leaning over the table, tongue hanging out it seemed.

"Right Barbara's here, smile, and turn to the bar lasses" we followed Linda's weird instructions, we were not to look at the guys "Lets reel 'em in now" Linda ordered 4 tequila sunrises and the two pretty staff members were busy running around fixing drinks.

Paul was first, he knew what she was up to. "Ladies may I just say.. bravo, bravo" He smiled his adorable smile at each of us and snuggled into Linda's side. "Lovely Linda, as usual" He kissed her lips sweetly and we all awwww-ed.

Richie arrived at the same time as John, George quickly parked himself with Olivia.

"Another round of drinks for the beautiful ladies, bartenders!" John gave me a wink and ran his eye along my body from head to toes, I tried not to blush but I failed miserably. He leaned into my neck, a whisper of a breath against my skin, he paused before making me blush even more as he whispered in my ear "Magic you do not know what you have done to me, do you" He kissed my cheek and nuzzled my neck, if I wasn't sitting I would have fallen, my knees weak with his proximity.

"Would you like to join us for a game of billiards, our beauties" George offered up the suggestion and Barbara started laughing.

Linda and I versus Olivia and Barbara. I was holding back, I have been playing the game since I could see over the side of the billiard table. Being brought up on a remote property there wasn't much in the way of activities, especially in the wet season, so what we had was used often and made you good quickly.

"So who is playing the winners boys?" Linda winked at Paul then leaned over the table right in front of him causing him fluster and fidget.

"Well the team that wins will play their respective partners, sound ok?" Richie was watching the game intently, Barbara running a finger along his chin as she passed him.

When the decision was made about the next match, I took it a sign to sink two balls, only enough to win, not enough to garner any interest in my playing.

"Well played, but now you have to beat Lennon and McCartney girls, that's not going to be an easy task, is it Paul" John was strutting around, checking out my legs as he rounded up the balls into the triangle. "How about Sam you take the break"

"The what, John?" I tried to look as innocent as I could and Linda was watching me intently, not sure what I was up to.

"Oh darling you step over here luv and hit this little white ball into all these pretty coloured balls over there in the shape of a triangle" Paul helped me line up a shot and John just about blew his top till Linda grabbed his arm.

"Please be gentle with us, Johnny" batting her eyelashes, she saved Paul. Olivia and Barbara, sat in Rich and Georges arms, were in hysterics as I was being 'tutored'.

I took the break but flubbed it. Rewarded with pitiful pats on the back and slight head shakes from the guys, they'll keep! The game was fun and I didn't realise how much I missed it. Paul and John were ok players hitting a few in, missing more.

Linda nudged me "Whatever you have up your sleeve it's now or never" I nodded, we had both been leaning and stretching over the table, it was nice to tease John but it wasn't 'me' either.

"Oh no, there is no way to get to my little green ball over there" I pouted and looked over at the ball. I would have to hit the felt side just right to sneak the white ball to ricochet and hit the target. John walked round and leaned over me as I was leaning over the table feigning despair for us at the seemingly impossible shot.

"Hmmmm" his mouth just beside my ear, his body basically straddling mine, I looked over and the twenty somethings were moping about cleaning glasses. "bit of a pickle you're in luv, perhaps just hit it and see what happens"

He stood up and I continued to smile at him, I was already in position to shoot so I did so without looking, the ball hit the felt, bounced back and green ball rolled straight in the pocket. Linda jumped up and down giggling. When you get one in you have the next free shot and so one. So that's what I did sinking the brown, I wandered round the table moving Paul out of the way to hit the purple in, back around to the centre pocket I took down the pink ball leaving the black right in the back centre of the table, a hard shot but we were ahead, I just took a whack this time, scattering balls around the table the black rolling slowly towards the centre pocket sinking for the win, Linda ran around the table and jumped on Paul then dashed up to me and hugged me making us both jump up and down.

"I think we have been snookered by Sam, you little witch! Did you use some magic my dear" John grinned and spoke to me as he rounded the table. I knew I was in trouble of the good kind as he slowed and stared me down "Did you just wipe the floor with us, you and Linda and your witchery Magic!" He dashed forward and I shot off 'round behind Linda as we giggled together and smiled sweetly. "You'll keep"