“Listen, I’m in a meeting but…”
“Hey, no problem.” The surfer steps back, grinning. “Honestly, it’s been an honour.”
I nod, walking away, following Tariq along the edge of the parking lot. The ground slopes down to a rocky beach and the tapering point which gives the place its name, as well as the spectacular waves. It won’t do any harm for that surfer to contact Kylie. You need a certain number of points to get a sponsorship with us, and a lot more to be considered for a Sand Star spot, but it’s a foot in the door for him. People have given me breaks in the past, and I like to pay them forward whenever I can. I don’t need to watch him surf; he seems dedicated enough. Earning the points, and our sponsorship, is up to him.
I listen as Tariq lays out the plans for the next Surf Expo, pointing out where various things will take place.
But my gaze keeps straying back towards the hotel, and my thoughts towards one thing. Zara.
I drive Tariq back to the office once we’re done, with promises to be in touch. I’m going to sponsor the next competition, plus several top Moroccan surfers, and I tell him as much with a handshake before I leave. I head back along the coast once more, wondering if I have time to go back to the hotel and catch up with Zara before my next meeting.
Then, as I drive through Taghazout, I spot her.
Sitting at a table in a café, looking impossibly beautiful.
With the fucking guy from the hotel.
ChapterSeventeen
Zara
“So, you said you were here for work. What kind of work do you do?”
Lunch has arrived, a wrap filled with fresh vegetables and a side of chips smothered in cheese sauce and dried onions. Jared recommended the chips, insisting they’ll change my life.
He has a burger with another side of the cheesy fries, and we both have cool drinks to guard against the encroaching heat. We’re sitting outside a restaurant on the main street, an awning overhead keeping the worst of thesun at bay, but it’s still pretty warm. A cat is curled nearby on the painted tiles, blinking jade-green eyes. I wonder how to proceed. I haven’t had much casual sex, simply due to lack of opportunity. However, the way Jared keeps looking at me, I feel as though I only have to say the word to take it to the next level.
But as soon as he mentions work, I tense up.
“I’m a personal assistant.” I pick up one of the chips and try it.
Jared watches me, his eyebrows raised, as I eat it.
“And…?” He nods towards the plate, his cheeky grin reappearing.
“Oh. Yes, life now irrevocably changed. Thanks for the recommendation.” I smile at him, wanting to get things back to the casual, flirty vibe. The chips are pretty good, actually. I pick up another.
“PA, huh? I hear that can be hard work.”
“I don’t imagine being a surf videographer is easy work either,” I reply once I can speak. “Though you have a much nicer office space.”
Jared laughs. “Yeah, it’s not too bad. I’m heading along the coast tonight, actually, going to try and get some nice sunset shots. The water is beautiful that time of day.”
“It’s beautiful all the time,” I say. “I really must go in for a dip before we go back.”
“You’re leaving?”
“Mmm,” I say, around a bite of my wrap. “In a couple of days. Back to Marrakech.”
“Ah, that’s a shame. You can’t come all this way and not get in the ocean, though. Even if you don’t want to surf, come out for a swim with me. I’ll look after you. The currents can be pretty rough if you don’t know what you’re doing. How about tomorrow?”
I shake my head. “Can’t tomorrow. This is my only day off.”
“Your boss is a hard taskmaster, hey?”
Again that prickle of unease. “He’s all right.” I try and change the subject. “How much longer are you staying for? Do you have much more footage to get?”
“Yeah, we’re trying to put together a compilation library, my friend and I. Doug, you met him the other day. He does the surfing, I make the videos. We do okay, but we’re keen to break into the big leagues.”
