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"Your secret’s safe with er to his lips co the rest of the day?" I asked, wanting nothing e the subject before my irritation with him made me speak out of line

"Oh not much Try the local cuisine, check out babes at the beach while I catch up on some emails"

"Which beach?"

"Clifton"

I s to that one

Chapter Two

When I got back totelevision Richard had gone to his own rooo?" Riley paused after I shot her a miserable look "I’m so sorry, Kris You don’t have to talk about it"

I kicked off et out of professional mode "Richard seems to think we did well Soh Vincent was definitely not going for our pitch You could totally read it in his body language"

Riley’s expression was sympathetic Remote in her hand, she switched off the TV "I’m sure you did your best Maybe luck just wasn’t on your side today"

"That’s the thing I couldn’t even do my best I messed up multiple ti and I shuddered I didn’t have anyone to blaoat "If Vincent wasn’t so daht’ve been different"

"Oh, do tell" Her voice increased a pitch

I told her all about my blunders, and when I was done she smiled "Well at least you looked professional"

"Thanks for the syrin

"You know I’ to have a blast today You’re going to forget all about that ht we’ll hit the bars and have guys buy us drinks I know you haven’t been datingyou alive"

It was true I’d only gone on a handful of unsuccessful dates since I’don my career instead, but there were also personal reasons I didn’t want to think about dating--reasons I never told Riley Still, she was right about the sexual frustration If my battery-operated boyfriend could talk, he’d probably say I was s hiht now Between Richard’s chauvinis us down today, I think I’h It’ll just be us girls then Get in that sexy bathing suit you brought" Riley untied her robe to reveal her bikini, its thin straps and enhanced bust leaving little to the i vented to Riley, I felt better about the situation thissuit and left the hotel with her

When we arrived at the aptly-named Bikini Beach just before noon, the shore was packed There was a nice mix of tourists and locals, with lots of people both in and out of the clear blue waters We laid our towels down on the heated sand and relaxed in cheap folding chairs we got froet us soht about how picturesque the scene looked This kind of experience was rare when you lived in Manhattan and I took the opportunity to soak it in As the afternoon wore on, the stress of theseemed to melt away like the ice cubes in ouralong the water I’d never been surfing before and didn’t have e that I understood the appeal, but I was afraid of the danger--I just didn’t think the risks outweighed the benefits A few thrillingby a jellyfishyeah, I’d be happy with just tanning--with sunscreen of course

Vincent, on the other hand, loved risky activities His whole business was based on extreet it but it clearly made him very successful

A few toned men with olive skin passed by and Riley directed my attention to them I had to admit they were attractive from a purely physical perspective but that just didn’t do it for h," Riley said

"Just because they have abs and a penis doesn’t hed "Keith had more than that You never told me why you turned down my offer to set you up with him"