Page 15 of River
“It was my father’s name so either he changed it to sound more international, or there are people in Italy named Parker.” Noah shrugged. “I don’t know much about him. However, I do know that I have strong Viking blood in me from my mother’s side.”
“Do you?”
“Mhmm, but I promise that I come in peace.”
“Hmm, your ancestors did horrible things to my people.”
“Ah, yes, the invasion of England?”
She nodded.
“In theory, that means you might be a descendant of the Vikings as well.”
River scrunched up her face. “Because they raped women?”
My smile faltered, and I leaned forward, picking at the sand. “Yeah, they did, but I could never do that.”
After an awkward silence, I leaned back and nodded in the direction of her boyfriend. “How long have you been together?”
She hesitated before answering. “I’ve known him since I was a child.”
“Really?”
“Yes. We grew up in Ireland.”
“But I thought you said you live in London?”
“I do.”
She hurried to change the subject with her own question.
“You’re very fit. Do you go to the gym a lot?”
“Nah, all the surfing I do is my workout. I’m on the water for hours every day. What about you? How do you stay in such great shape?”
“I go to the gym five times a week.” She looked straight ahead to the water. “I can’t do that here, but I’m teaching the kids dance lessons and I try to stay active.”
“If you ever want to learn how to surf, let me know.”
She made a tsk sound. “I’d be rubbish at it.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I’m not very comfortable in the water, to begin with, and I have little patience.”
“You can swim, can’t you?”
“Of course.”
“Then I dare you to try surfing.”
River turned her head and looked at me with warm, cognac-colored eyes. “Don’t! I’m quite competitive, and we would kill each other within the first hour.”
I laughed. “Unlike you, I’m patient. I promise that I won’t yell at you.”
“Or drown me?”
My laugh got louder. “It’s that bad, is it?”
