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“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?”