Page 29 of Beach Bodies

‘Well, at least satisfy my curiosity. If that’s what you think of the Riovan, why come back so often?’

Ah. The same question he asked Vic. But I have no temptation towards honesty tonight; Daniel gets my standard response.

‘Sun. Sand. A break from Cincinnati.’

‘Low hourly pay.’

‘Trainers who can help me fine-tune my goblet squat.’

He laughs. ‘What the hell is a goblet squat?’

I give him a coy smile. ‘Do you need me to show you?’

‘Under different circumstances, I’d be tempted to say yes.’

‘I don’t think poorly of the Riovan, though,’ I say quickly. I got a little too negative too fast, and I have a cover to maintain. ‘I’m notanti-fitness. It’s just… Never mind. Ignore everything I’ve said. I get philosophical when it’s late.’

He nods affably. ‘So what do you do in Cincinnati when you’re not lifeguarding?’

I hesitate. Then again, he could find this on Google. ‘I run a catering business.’

‘An entrepreneur. Hey, I bet you serve bacon,’ he says with mock-longing.

I have to laugh at this. It’s a good feeling, laughing. It makes my body feel awake, alive.

‘Bacon-wrapped dates with blue cheese sauce,’ I count playfully on my fingers. ‘Bacon and spring greens risotto. Bacon and maple doughnuts. Bacon cheddar biscuits—’

‘Stop!’ he begs. ‘I can only take so much temptation. So, Ohio State graduate?’

‘Uh… I’m more of a school of life kind of girl.’

‘That fits in with my theory about you.’

‘You have a theory about me?’ I shouldn’t be loving that so much.

He smiles self-deprecatingly. ‘I have a theory about everyone. It’s a journalist thing.’

OK, that’s fine, we’re fine.

He continues, ‘I see you as a maverick. And by that, I don’t mean a rebel. I think you’re a very ethical person. It’s just… I feel like you’re the kind of person who has their own moral code.’ His eyes challenge me.True?

I keep my expression neutral, but my heart is beating fast. Really fast.Is this a smart game to play?

‘What else?’ I find myself saying.

He tents both hands at his mouth, hiding a tiny smile. ‘You’re old beyond your years. I think you saw a lot growing up, and it’s made you guarded.’ A flash of firework lights his face briefly. ‘You’re independent. You’re not afraid of being alone. But… I think you’re deeply lonely.’

Fuck. How can he have seen… all of this? Who is this guy?

‘So,’ he says. ‘This is the part where you tell me I’m totally off base.’

I should shut this down. Say something trite, stand up, rejoin my group. Brianna! Where is she?

‘No… you’re right,’ I say, absentmindedly looking over my shoulder, as if I’m expecting Brianna to be lurking nearby. ‘I… I did have to grow up fast. My mom died of breast cancer when I was young. I got a lot of unwelcome attention. I had to figure my shit out real fast.’ I throw a quick glance at Daniel.Are you happy now?‘Whatever. It’s in the past.’

I wait for his reaction, but he’s silent. Saying nothing is probably one of those dirty journalist tricks that gets people to talk even more. Won’t work on me, bud.

‘And the lonely part?’ he finally presses. ‘Was I wrong about that?’

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