“OK, this is strange.” Kai is frowning at his screen again. “Let’s pause the test.”
“Actually, I need to leave,” I say breathlessly, grabbing my handbag and shopping basket. “Thanks. If I need a heart monitor I’ll definitely get this one, but I must go—”
“Rebecca, have you ever been diagnosed with arrhythmia? Heart disorder? Anything like that?”
“No.” I’m stopped in my tracks. “Why? Have you picked something up?”
Is he joking? No. His face is serious. He isn’t joking. I’m gripped with fright. What have I got? Oh my God, I’ll be in the Daily Mail health pages. “My one-in-a-million heart condition was picked up in a simple exercise store test. Shopping saved my life,” says Rebecca Brandon—
“Your heart response wasn’t typical. It spiked, but not at the moments I was expecting. For example, it spiked just now when you were resting.”
“Oh,” I say anxiously. “Is that bad?”
“Not necessarily. It would depend on a lot of things. Your general heart health, your cardio fitness …”
As he’s talking, my eye wanders over to the sale rack again, and to my horror I see that one of the girls has picked up my cardigan. No! Noooo! Put it down!
“It’s happened again!” says Kai in sudden animation, and points at the screen. “Do you see? Your heart rate rocketed!”
I look at Kai, and at the screen, and then at the cardigan with the neon-pink zip, and it all falls into place. Oh God, is that why my heart rate zoomed up?
This is so embarrassing. Stupid dumb heart. I can feel myself blushing bright red, and I hastily look away from Kai.
“Well!” I say in flustered tones. “I have no idea why that happened. None! Just one of those mysteries. Mysteries of the heart. Ha-ha!”
“Oh. OK.” Kai’s face snaps as though in recognition. “Ooo-kay. I think I get it. I’ve seen this a couple times.”
“Seen what?”
“OK, this is a little awkward.…” He flashes me a perfect smile. “It was physical attraction to me, right? You don’t need to be uncomfortable. It’s normal. It’s why I had to give up personal training. The clients became … I don’t know, would you say ‘infatuated’?” He glances complacently at himself in the mirror. “You looked at me and your response was beyond your control. Am I right?”
“Not really,” I say honestly.
“Rebecca.” Kai sighs. “I know it’s embarrassing to admit, but believe me, you’re not the only lady to become attracted to me—”
“But I wasn’t looking at you,” I explain. “I was looking at a cardigan.”
“A cardigan?” Kai plucks at his T-shirt, confused. “I’m not wearing one.”
“I know. It’s over there. It’s on sale.” I point it out. “That’s what I was looking at, not you. I’ll show you.” I take the opportunity to dash over and grab the cardigan, which, thank God, the girl has replaced on the rack. It’s super-soft to the touch and the zip is amazing, and it’s reduced by 70 percent! I’m sure my heart is racing again, just from holding it.
“Isn’t it gorgeous?” I enthuse, heading back toward Kai. “Isn’t it fab?” Suddenly I realize I’m not being very tactful. “I mean, you’re very good-looking too,” I add encouragingly. “I’m sure I’d be attracted to you if it weren’t for the cardigan.”
There’s a pause. Kai looks slightly stunned, to be honest. Even his turquoise contact lenses seem a bit less sparkly.
“You’d be attracted to me ‘if it weren’t for the cardigan,’ ” he echoes at last.
“Of course!” I say reassuringly. “I’d probably get infatuated, just like those clients of yours. Unless there were any other amazing clothes to compete with,” I add, for honesty’s sake. “I mean, like a Chanel suit on ninety-nine percent sale. I don’t think any man could beat that!” I give a little laugh, but Kai’s face has gone a bit rigid.
“I never had to compete with clothes before,” he says, almost to himself. “Clothes.”
I’m noticing that the atmosphere isn’t quite as easy and fun as it was before. I think I might just go and pay for my trainers.
“Thanks for the heart test anyway!” I say brightly, and take off the bracelet. “Good luck with the pecs!”
Honestly. What a bighead that Kai is. I know he has stunning turquoise eyes and a great body, but he doesn’t have a neon zip, does he? Lots of men have stunning blue eyes, but only one cardigan has a cool oversize neon-pink zip. And if he thinks he’s never competed with clothes before, then his girlfriends have been lying to him. Every woman in the world sometimes thinks about shoes in the middle of sex. It’s a well-known fact.