Page 18 of Ride the Wave

‘It already feels like a long one,’ he mutters before closing his door in my face.

6

‘Ten minutes early,’ Leo announces on my arrival, sitting back in his chair. He glances at the clock hanging on the wall above the bar amongst all the framed photos of surfers. ‘I had a bet with Marina that it would be at least fifteen.’

Marina rolls her eyes and mouths, ‘He’s lying,’ from behind the bar while I make my way across the decking to our table, pulling out the chair opposite him.

‘I had a feeling you might be one of those being-on-time-is-late kind of people,’ he adds, squinting at me across the table.

I offer a polite smile but refuse to give him the satisfaction of confirming that he’s correct. Besides, this isn’t about him getting to know me; it’s the other way round.

‘You were here even earlier,’ I point out, placing my handbag on the chair next to mine. ‘I’m impressed. I was worried you might not show up at all.’

‘I’m a man of my word.’

‘You weren’t at 7.45 a.m. this morning,’ I say curtly.

Whoops. What am I doing? This is a meeting. I’m not meant to be scolding him; I’m meant to be wooing him. In a professional sense.

Luckily, he doesn’t seem insulted. He reaches forward for his bottle of chilled beer that’s sitting on the table. ‘If it makes you feel any better, I already got told off by Marina for that.’

‘It’s manners, Leo,’ Marina comments, having strolled over to our table to give him a stern look. She turns to me. ‘I told him it wasn’t fair to leave you waiting on your own like that, especially so early in the morning.’

‘Even though, technically, you leftmewaiting,’ he remarks to her, taking a sip of his beer. ‘You were supposed to be joining me out there this morning, remember?’

‘I was busy,’ she shoots back.

‘Hang on a minute,’ I interject, looking from one to the other. ‘Marina, were you supposed to be surfing this morning when you were making me coffee?’

‘It’s not a problem; I can surf any time I want,’ she says with a shrug. ‘And unlike some people,’ she glares at Leo, who pretends to ignore her, keeping his eyes fixed on the wave, ‘I like to make guests feel welcome here.’

‘Well, thank you so much,’ I say, smiling gratefully up at her. ‘I really appreciate it.’

‘Like I say, it’s no problem. What can I get you to drink?’ she asks, distracted by some other customers wandering in and giving them a wave.

‘A sparkling water, please.’

‘Ice and lemon? Coming right up,’ she says, leaving us to it.

Leo watches me carefully as I get my notepad and pen out my bag. Knowing his eyes are on me makes me strangely nervous. There’s something about the way he’s looking at me, as though he’s scrutinising every move I make, waiting for me to mess up. I’m suddenly aware of everything I do, the way I do it and how it might look. That’s why I checked my appearance several times before leaving the apartment to make my way over here, why I refreshed my red lipstick, brushed my hair and spritzed perfume on.

It has nothing to do with his shoulders.

Or arms.

Or eyes.

And God, his lips are so full and striking. They look so soft.

Damn it, Iris, concentrate.

‘Hey,’ he says, jolting me from my thoughts. ‘You with us?’

‘Sorry?’ I say, shifting in my seat. I bring my focus back to the task at hand and sit upright, scribbling the time and date in my notepad. ‘We can begin if you’re ready.’

He arches a brow. ‘I thought this was a casual chat.’

‘It is.’

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