He and Guy were having lunch in Brighton with Duncan Taylor, a freelance journalist. Apparently Guy owed him a favour and the payback involved Rick giving Duncan an exclusive interview. So here they were, going through the charade of a ‘frank and revealing conversation’; but Rick had no intention of making it easy. ‘What’s Sex in the Sea about?’ was Duncan’s first question. Rick scowled at him. ‘Haven’t you done your research and read it?’ ‘Of course, but the readers like it summed up in your own words.’ ‘Just use the blurb on the back of the book.’ Duncan paused, then changed tack. ‘What are you writing next?’ ‘Nothing. I don’t want to write this sort of stuff any more.’ The other man pounced. ‘Why is that, do you think?’ he said, stroking his unkempt beard. ‘Scarred by the experience of becoming a coffee-table celebrity?’ Silence, while Rick carried on eating his lunch. Guy put down his fork with an exasperated sigh.
