Page 12 of Sun, Sea and Spotted Squid

“What a charming woman,” Wolfgang said, when they were out of earshot. “I didn’t realise you had a nanny here.”

Sam revved up for a counterattack when he saw a glint in Wolfgang’s eye. Unwittingly, Mrs Talkative might have done him the biggest of favours.

“She only works weekends. I get to be a big brave boy in the week.”

Wolfgang laughed, which made Sam giggle. Wolfgang suited being a bit more relaxed. Then and there, Sam made it his mission to bring this out in him over their time here.

He loved a project.

“Well, now the ice is well and truly broken, let’s go and see what the squid have in store for us.”

FIVE

As soon as they finished work, it was a group consensus to hit the beach in front of the aquarium. A dip in the ocean was just what Sam needed to chase away the remnants of the night before.

Decked out in swimwear purchased from the aquarium shop, they looked the part. Sam had chosen board shorts with crabs on. They were the closest things to squid.

“Are you coming?” Maria asked Wolfgang.

“No, thank you,” he replied. “I have some reading to do.”

With that he set off toward the park. He had been quite good company over the afternoon. Miguel had insisted on the mission staying a secret until the next day. However, he had cryptically tasked Sam and Wolfgang to make notes on all the exhibits. Wolfgang had studiously copied nearly everything down, while Sam had done his best to keep up.

“He’s a real misery guts, isn’t he?” Maria declared.

“He’s probably scared that Sam will try and catch a glimpse of what’s inside his trunks,” Astrid fired back with a cackle.

The pair had matching swimming costumes bedecked in starfish.

The beach was busy but they managed to get a spot so the sea lapped at their feet. Lying on towels that they’d also bought at the aquarium, Sam sighed.

Having lived in the frozen north of England all his life, to have a beach he could actually sunbathe on had been one of the reasons he’d jumped at coming to Valencia. The sensation of sand between his toes was so refreshing. He dug his feet in the cooler, wet sand. The sun had been beating down on them for most of the day.

He would not be drinking that much on a work night ever again.

Paul pulled his shirt off and revealed a very impressive, if a little hairy, physique.

“Blimey, Genevieve,” Sam said. “I can see why you spend so much time in your room now.”

Genevieve scowled.

Astrid lowered her sunglasses and took in the view. “Who knew what you had hidden under there.”

Resplendent in turtle shorts, Paul flexed his muscles. “Who fancies a swim?”

Genevieve sat bolt upright. “Actually, I saw a supermarket in the arcade. We should probably go and get some things. We need supplies.”

“I wanted to swim.”

“Come on.”

Poor Paul seemed disappointed as he dutifully put his shirt on. “Does anyone want anything?”

Sam shook his head as they set off toward the promenade. Genevieve berating Paul loudly for taking his top off in front of a bunch of strangers. He hung his head.

“You’re going to get yourself a reputation as a sex pest,” Astrid said, lying down and closing her eyes. The last of the afternoon sun’s rays fell on her pale skin.

Sam made a face at Maria. “Hardly.”