“Ooh Kez you look gorgeous in that costume”

“I could say the same for you Claire, where on earth did you get that bikini?”

“Monsoon in Guildford, it cost me 90 quid” Claire replied

Kerry was wearing a sparkling red bikini while Claire was wearing a turquoise blue with tiny green dots bikini.

“I can see why, are you ready?” Kerry said smiling

“Lets go girl” Claire shot breezily just as Shania Twain’s I’m Gonna Getcha Good started playing over the loudspeakers

Claire’s mind wandered to John and how she was going to get him to notice her at work; little did she know John was thinking the exact same thing.

“Claire?” Kerry’s voice broke into her thoughts

“Yeah?”

“Is that who I think it is?” Kerry pointed to a swimming trunk clad John Boulton

“Oh my god what is he doing here?” Claire gasped, Kerry knew her Sarge fancied Sergeant Boulton.

“Get over there” Kerry urged

“No I couldn’t” Claire said

They both walked out into the main pool area, Claire was happy that she had finally found someone who shared her interest in swimming.

Kerry stepped in while Claire remained standing eyes fixed on John’s body 

“Are you getting in or not?” Kerry said irately 

“No I’m gonna walk over there as if I’m looking for a suitable place to get in”

“Oh and hope he notices you?”

“Yep”

“In that case he will, because as we get near I’ll start talking to you”

Claire made her way round to John, when they were about ten yards away Kerry began talking shop with Claire, suddenly John noticed Claire,

“What the…. Oh hi Claire” John said unable to tear his eyes away from her toned body

“John” Claire acknowledged him, her eyes flitting teasingly over his toned chest

“You look gorgeous, I mean great in a bikini” John blushed having just told Claire she was gorgeous

“Why thank you John, not so bad yourself”

“John! Leave these poor ladies alone, always looking else where this one dear” Ellie spoke first to John then directly to Claire, John just grimaced

“Ellie, this is Claire and Kerry, I work with them, Claire and Kez this is Ellie”

Ellie dragged John away as Claire descended into the pool

“God what’s he doing with an old hag like her?” Kerry remarked to Claire

“I can’t believe he would be seeing her, he’s too smart for her” Claire spat back.

Claire kicked off from the side and swam into a graceful butterfly stroke; she swam three lengths of the pool twice passing John and Ellie. She could feel John watching her and hear Ellie whining at John. Swimming back to Kerry, Claire said:

“Race ya to the end and back again”

“Like a swimming comp- proper underwater turns and stuff?”

“Yeah of course” Claire responded smiling.

 

“Ready set, go!” Claire yelled pushing off into a graceful breaststroke.

Claire knew she could and would win if she didn’t make any mistakes, reaching the end of the pool, Claire spun into a graceful tuck and roll to push off again, unaware that John was watching her every move. Claire gracefully switched from breaststroke to backstroke; now aware that John was watching her she was showing off. Glancing behind her she now saw that Kerry was level with her shoulder.

Propelling herself into a breaststroke, Claire somersaulted in the water and hit the wall perfectly and pulled herself up onto the side well ahead of Kerry. Shaking herself down Claire realised she had lost her hair bobble while racing.

“Good race Kez” Claire congratulated her partner

“Were you showing off in the water by any chance?” Kerry asked pulling herself out of the water

“Me? Showing off- never!” Claire responded

“Look whose coming over” Kerry poked Claire in the ribs 

“Did you drop this Claire?” John said handing her, her hair bobble

“Yeah thanks”

“John get back here” Ellie screeched

“Were you watching us by any chance?”

“Yeah”

“Well you shouldn’t be looking”

“Who could help themselves watching two beautiful women racing?” John flirted as Claire and Kerry blushed.

“John you had better not be chatting up these two women”

“No, no, Ellie we were talking shop, don’t worry I can see he’s taken, who wouldn’t want a handsome man like John?” Claire jumped to John’s defence.

Kerry could see John’s eyes gleaming with anger but she knew he would never hit a women. Claire could also see the fire in John’s eyes; she raised her leg and slid her foot up and down John’s leg. He looked down in surprise and when he realised it was Claire, he smiled and she winked at him before gliding off like a mermaid to the other end of the pool.

 

End Part One