“I’ve had a couple of feelers from one of the sports cable channels in Australia,” Mike said after a moment. “They’re interested in you as a commentator. It could be a great move, lots of exposure, even the possibility of your own sports show. What do you think?”
Caleb’s phone vibrated in his pocket. Pulling it out, he glanced down at the screen.
I have some time to discuss things @ 3 today.
Judith. Finally. Though, shit, she hadn’t given him a lot of notice.
“Yeah, yeah,” he said absently to Mike at the same time as he texted an irritable reply. “Sounds great.”
No can do. Have a media session. Thanks for plenty of notice though.
It wasn’t strictly a lie. He had an interview scheduled at one that probably wouldn’t take all that long. Still, he wasn’t going to rearrange his entire day just to suit her.
“So you want me to investigate?” Mike asked.
Caleb’s phone vibrated again as her reply came through.
I’ve been busy. I’ve only got 9 tomorrow morning. Or the day after.
No apology. And tomorrow or the day after would be too late.
How about now? Because that’s the only time I’ve got, darling.
“For Christ’s sake, who are you texting?” Mike asked, exasperated.
“A colleague.” Caleb didn’t look at the other man, his gaze still on his phone.
A long-ish moment passed before she responded.
Fine. But I only have 10 minutes.
Caleb grinned. He could almost hear the long-suffering tones in her text. Unable to resist the urge, he sent her back a kissy face just to annoy her.
“A colleague? Yeah, right. Text your girlfriends later. We’re in a meeting.”
“Hang on a sec.” Caleb watched as Judith’s response came back.
Nice, Caleb. Very witty.
Oh yeah, and now with the sarcasm. Which meant he’d gotten to her. Excellent.
A burst of anticipation shot through him as he texted back a reply, shamelessly giving in to the impulse to get to her more.
Plenty more wit where that came from, babycakes. Wait and see.
There was only a small pause before she answered.
Goodie. Can’t wait. Not.
Yep, he’d definitely gotten to her all right. And if that wasn’t a challenge, he didn’t know what was.
Putting his phone back in his pocket, he grinned at his annoyed looking agent. “TV, huh?”
“That’s what I said.”
“With the possibility of my own show?”
“So you were listening, then.”
“Of course.” Maybe this was the answer. Maybe this was the “more” he’d been looking for. A chance to stick with the sport he loved, show the world he wasn’t just a dumb lug chasing a ball up and down a field. “Yeah, investigate, Mike. Sounds like my kind of deal. By the way, you know I’m going to nominate you for agent of the year, right?”
He felt good. Better than he had for a long time. And with Judith Ashton clearly in his sights, this day could only get better.
…
Damn Caleb Steele. He was coming now, which left her with no time for any preparation.
“Bugger,” Judith muttered under her breath, stuffing her phone back into the pocket of her black skinny pants.
Grace, Judith’s photographic assistant, receptionist, and everything else in-between, raised a pierced eyebrow. “Something up, Jude?”
“Nothing. Just a meeting I’d forgotten about.”
Correction: a meeting you’ve been putting off.
Judith let out a sharp breath, annoyed with herself. Because yes, she had been putting off getting back to Caleb. Mainly due to her totally over-the-top physical reaction to him at Christie and Joseph’s wedding. She’d gotten over her pathetic crush on him years ago but apparently her body was still keen on reliving all those “happy” memories. Ugh.
“What meeting?” Grace had a puzzled look on her face. “There’s nothing in your calendar?”
“Just a meeting with a friend. Not more than ten minutes with any luck.” Bloody better not be any longer.
“Okay, well, do you need me for it? I’ve got to get to therapy.”
God forbid Grace should be late for therapy. “Sure. Go ahead.” Judith waved absently at her, head still full of wretched Caleb Steele.
Damn. It had been years since the day he’d ditched her and she’d forgiven him for it. Kind of. So why was she getting all wound up about him now? It didn’t make any sense.
As the door shut after Grace, Judith gazed around the waiting room with its white walls and white painted wooden floor, the walls displaying the best of her work.
A certain measure of calm descended. Good thing he was coming to her studio, where she felt most comfortable. The one place in the world where she had absolute control over every single thing. Where she was in command and in charge. Where no one let her down or messed her around or made her wait. Where she called the shots.