Twisted Love and Money Read Free Page B

trailer.
Seamus pulled in behind. Joe, the lorry driver saw him and
remembering him from their pre-parade conversation, he looked
surprised, but then smiled. “Hello Seamus, did you follow us from
the Parade. Where are the rest of your lads?”
    “They went to
the pub. They volunteered me to thank the ladies for the fruit off
the back of the lorry.”
    “Better give
them a minute they are changing in the cab.”
    “I’ll give you
a hand,” Seamus offered. His nerve was failing, but he was in too
deep now.
    They began to
draw the Tarpaulin over the trailer pulling from the back forward.
When the trailer was covered they went back, one on each side and
began to tie down the Tarpaulin to the metal catches on the side of
the trailer. Seamus worked towards the front end on the outside. As
he was about half way there the cab door opened. A leg appeared in
jeans, and then another leg followed by a bottom in jeans. He
realised it was the older of the two women. However it was the
younger he wanted to meet.
    “Hello there,”
Ann saluted as she climbed down, “where did you come from?”
    “I was on the
bikes behind. I wanted that is the lads asked me to follow on and
say thank you for the fruit. Thanks.”
    Ann eyed the
young man. She liked his handsome looks that were well set off by
his leather jacket and jeans.
    “No problem,”
she replied, friendly, “It was great fun. Here let me do that, you
can leave it to Joe and me we’re well used to it. Nice to have met
you.”
    She moved
Seamus to one side and with experienced hands began to tie down the
tarpaulin. Abashed Seamus smiled and hopped on one foot.
    “I’ll go then,”
he offered.
    “Thanks Joe,”
he shouted across to Joe on the other side of the trailer.
    “I’ll just
thank the other lady,” Seamus said in desperation to talk to
Ann-Marie. Moving as he spoke, he pulled back the cab door and
stuck his head into the cab. He was met by a shriek and was hit in
the face by one of the cloaks the ladies had worn in the
Parade.
    “Beg your
pardon,” he said lamely.
    Ann-Marie’s
head appeared at the window of the cab.
    “Who the hell
are you?” she demanded, her face bright pink.
    “I was behind
on the motorbike. I just wanted to say thanks for the fruit.”
    “Piss off.”
    “Sorry.”
    Ann-Marie
relented as she watched him go morosely back to his bike. She
noticed his wide shoulders and strong frame.
    “Just hang on a
minute.”
    Joe and Ann
looked at each other and said nothing. They carried on putting the
finishing touches to tying down the load. Seamus sat sideways
against his bike.
    Ann-Marie
emerged in jumper and jeans and dropped to the ground. Seamus
spread his hands in a silent apology, making a wry face.
    “What did you
say you wanted?” she asked.
    “The boys, they
wanted... they sent me after your lorry to thank you two ladies for
the fruit. It was great, we got starved waiting for the Parade to
start.”
    “Where are the
lads now?” Ann-Marie asked.
    “Delaney’s bar
for a few pints.”
    “Tell them they
were welcome.”
    “Thanks.”
    As he spoke,
Seamus threw a leg over the motor bicycle.
    “I’d offer both
you ladies a lift except there is only room for one passenger on a
motor bike.” He smiled with his eyes, looking at Ann-Marie as he
spoke.
    “I’d love a go.
Can I have a lift around Merrion Square?”
    “Ann-Marie!”
her mother protested.
    “Oh mother,
don’t be stuffy. I’ll meet you at the Setanta centre at the car.
This boy can drop me up, its only two minutes away. I’d love a go
on a motorbike. Please…”
    Ann wondered
should she put her foot down but the boy looked respectable. He was
rooting in the pillion box on the bike and produced a second crash
helmet. What the hell, Ann thought, it is a Parade day, let her
have some fun.
    “O.K., but no
further, I’ll meet you there in two minutes.”
    In a flash
Ann-Marie was on the pillion of the motorbike and Seamus, not quite
able to believe his luck, helped her