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She slapped at his arm playfully. “Christopher, my word, you’reforward.”

He caught her lighthearted tone and laughed. “A guy’s gotta try.”

“Does a guy?” she asked. “Does he?” She was flirting. Even shecould tell that much, and it was fun.Hewas. Their eyes locked, and it got very quiet. They could still hear thedistant chatter and ambient music from inside the restaurant. He leaned inslowly, giving her enough time to say no if she didn’t want him to kiss her.She appreciated that opt out, as a lot of guys didn’t offer it. She stood herground and met his lips when they hovered just shy of hers. The kiss was…fine.A little wet and soft. She wouldn’t expound upon it later in a diary she didn’town. She wouldn’t gush about it to Holly. Or relive it as she lay in bed thatnight. Butfinewas a big endorsement in Elle’s book. She would chalk fine up to a win.

As he pulled his lips from hers, Chris met her gaze. “Can I seeyou again?”

She nodded. “I was hoping so.”

The foursome laughed their way to Holly’s place, where Elle bidthem all good night. She needed to be up with the waves in the morning and hada whole workout planned beforehand. A run on the beach, weights, and her leastfavorite, abs. Christopher walked her to her car, and Dash followed Hollyinside, no doubt for a little one-on-one time.

“Don’t lose anybody’s money this week,” Elle said sweetly.

He covered his heart as if her words had pierced it like an arrow.“I will forgive you because you don’t know how good I am at my job.”

She leaned back against her white VW Beetle with a beigeconvertible top. She’d drop the top, she decided, once she got inside. Thenight was too perfect not to. “Thank you for dinner.”

“I had a great time,” Christopher said. “Even the part when youmade fun of me for watching cartoons.”

“Well, you are a grown man and should really look into that.”

“Only because it was you who suggested it.” His lips were on hersagain. It was a good-night kiss and to be expected after the kind of datethey’d just had. A simpler kiss this time. Less movement of his lips over hersand neither tongue made an appearance, though their lips were slightly parted.Was it odd that she spent the time analyzing the logistics of the kiss ratherthan focusing on the romance of it? Shouldn’t she be lost in the heat? Theexciting connection to another person she actually really liked? She wasn’t,though.

Her end conclusion: the kiss was, again,fine.

She drove home, top down, with her spirits hovering slightly abovestatus quo. Holly had done well this time, and she hoped to see Christopheragain someday soon. In the meantime, she had two things to worry about. Threepress appearances that week and massive amounts of training before the nextstop on the tour.

Bring on the waves.

Chapter Three

The Billabong party was packed, close to overflowing. The musicpulsed and the drinks flowed freely as everyone who was anyone in the surfcommunity mingled or danced or sucked up to the person they needed to suck upto most. All part of the game.

Gia knew there’d be a lot of industry folks in attendance, but thefact that she could barely walk three feet without bumping into someone whowanted to chat or take a photo with her had her worn down on smiles. She didn’tmind the people themselves. They were great. But she had trouble staying “on”for an extended period of time. Regardless, she forced yet another smile as sheand her agent of three years, Gwendolyn, made their way across the crowdedwarehouse of a restaurant, rented out entirely for the event.

Gwendolyn stayed very close to Gia’s ear as they walked. She waslike a hawk when it came to these events, looking to capitalize on any possiblenetworking opportunity. While it was good for Gia’s career in the long run,she’d much rather be surfing. “Don’t be obvious,” Gwendolyn said, “but overthere is an up-and-coming tournament sponsor.”

“Oh yeah?” Gia fist-bumped Lindy Ives, a fellow surfer, as theypassed. She’d have to catch up with her later.

Gwendolyn wasn’t done. “Some sort of new spicy corn chip companywith tons of venture capital dollars to help put them on the map, and do yousee that guy?” She pointed with her eyebrows, which was, c’mon, impressive.“That’s Theo Trowebridge, their marketing guru. Make nice with him. He hasmoney to spend.”

“Got it.” Gia nodded and sipped her sparkling water. No alcoholfor her tonight. She’d noticed a dip in her timed sprints that she shouldremedy.

“You look stunning, by the way,” Gwendolyn said. “Fantastic look.”

Gia laughed. “Thank you, my friend helped dress me, but don’t Ipay you to say that?”

“Last I looked it wasn’t in my job description, but it’s true,sweetheart.” Gwendolyn was a good fifteen years older than Gia and had taken onthe maternal older sister role in her life.

“Well then, I will tell my personal stylist.” In other words,she’d high-five Hadley, who had come through as always, putting together slimblack pants with a flowing white top that showed off the physique she worked sohard on. She’d pulled her hair back and let it fall to her shoulders, whichHadley said was a softer look for her.

“Well, son of a bitch,” Gwendolyn said in a huff.

Gia swiveled and followed her eye line to see Elle Brittonchatting up the corn chip guy. She had to laugh. Of course Elle would alreadybe in the know and two steps ahead of Gia, sparkling like the crown jewel. Giawatched as she laughed along with that Theo guy, touching his forearm brieflyand nodding along with whatever he was saying. If there was a networkingplaybook, Elle had surely worn it out cover to cover, if she hadn’t written thedamned thing herself.

Gwendolyn gave her a shove. “We gotta get you over there.”

Gia balked as they moved toward Elle and Theo. “Why?” she hissed.