Page 62 of Beach Bodies

I take a bite of silky halibut. The fish is so fresh, so flavourful, that all it needs is the simple seasoning of butter and salt.

‘Well, since you’re reading about murder,’ says Daniel, ‘whydoyou think people murder other people?’

‘Is this your go-to date question?’ I say, giving him a cute, bewildered look, even though a warning alarm is blaring in my head.

He grins. ‘Just a thought exercise.’

I gesture with my fork. ‘Love. Money. Jealousy. Hatred.’

He lifts his knife. ‘You forgot revenge.’

I hesitate for a second. Should I stay on the defensive, or… ?

‘Are we talking about Michael Johnson?’ I say. Let’s just go there. Why not.

He laughs, almost like he’s pleased I called him on it. ‘Maybe.’

‘Do you know how I got your number?’ I say.

He tilts his head with an expression that says,Where is this going?

I continue. ‘When I called you on WhatsApp last night.’

He nods slowly, his eyes scouring me. ‘I left my number with your office manager at Taste of Heaven.’

My heart starts racing.

‘You wanted to talk to me about Michael then, too. Why?’

He half shrugs. ‘I was scoping out potential angles for my article before coming here. You know, preliminary research. I’ve always thought the story on Michael seemed incomplete, and you were in that picture with Carli Elle. I figured I’d follow up on that lead, see what you knew.’

‘Your article forFit Life.’

‘That’s right.’

I stare at him for a second. ‘You knew who I was that first morning we met.’

‘True.’

‘But you didn’t let on.’

‘Also true.’

‘Did you sleep with me just to get an interview?’

He gives me a look of amused intensity. ‘Notjustto get an interview.’

I should be furious right now. Instead, I’m strangely turned on. Heat is crawling up my thighs, and I can feel my pulse quickening. I shift in my chair and resist the urge to fan myself with a napkin.

I have to focus. I still don’t know for sure if he’s on to me.

‘So,’ I say. ‘You’re an ends-justify-the-means kind of a person.’

‘Aren’t you?’

‘Anyone who’s ever done any good in this world is.’

‘Is that what you’re doing here?’ he says. ‘Sun, sand, doing good?’