Okay, so he’d been high handed and insistent about coming to see her now, though she had to admit, he had a right considering she hadn’t contacted him till just today. And yes, his usual arrogance had set her back up, as had that ridiculous kissy face in his text.
But she could handle it. She could handle him. He was as familiar to her as her own brother, and with the same annoying tendencies.
Yes, think brother. That should contain any further silly physical reactions to him.
Feeling much cooler and in-charge, Judith fussed around in her office for ten minutes while she waited, organizing schedules and reviewing client photos. Then, far, far too quickly for her liking, she heard the little bell that Grace kept on the reception desk ring.
Her stomach gave an odd flutter and she ignored it. Reflexively smoothing her hair and adjusting her tunic, Judith made her way out to the waiting room.
Only to have her stupid, thoughtless heartbeat accelerate at the sight of the man lounging casually against the reception desk.
Caleb.
With a pair of well-fitting jeans low on his lean hips, and a black T-shirt exposing, tanned forearms, he looked unbelievably…
Sexy is the word you’re looking for, perhaps?
As she stood there, gaping at him, he turned and glanced in her direction, dark eyes holding hers. And a peculiar electric shock moved over her skin while a painfully familiar feeling of breathlessness locked her throat.
No, you idiot. Breathe. Remember what a complete fool you made of yourself last time around?
“Hi there, darling,” Caleb drawled, that maddening, teasing smile playing around his sensual mouth. “Back in black, I see. I think I preferred you in green.”
With an effort, Judith pulled herself together. “Isn’t it lucky I don’t dress to please you?”
A frown creased his forehead. “Your shirt’s uneven.”
“It’s called asymmetric. A little thing called fashion. You wouldn’t know anything about it.”
“Asymmetric, huh? I suppose you paid good money for an uneven shirt?”
“It’s a tunic. And it’s Zambesi.”
“Zambesi, the Nile, some river, whatever. It’s still uneven and I still preferred you in green.”
Judith ignored the casual dismissal of one of New Zealand’s premier design houses and a tunic that had cost at least five hundred dollars. Instead she looked pointedly at her watch. “Well, as much fun as talking about clothes with you is, shall we talk about the reason you’re actually here? I have clients this afternoon and don’t have all day.”
His smile became lazy. “Ooooh I love it when you get all bossy and professional. It’s quite sexy.”
Oh boy, he was pushing it. Seriously pushing it. Judith raised an eyebrow. “I’m not one of your girlfriends, Caleb, so quit it with the charm. And like I said, I don’t have all day.”
“If you think I’m being charming then I’ll take that as a compliment.” He straightened. Strange how he seemed to take up most of the room, not to mention a good portion of the air. She almost felt like taking a step back from him, just so she could breathe.
“So,” he said, “where do you normally do this?”
“Do? Do what?”
“The photos.”
Judith blinked, taken aback. “What? Now? I haven’t even decided if I’m going to take them yet.”
Caleb folded his arms over his chest, a gesture that aggravatingly seemed to draw her attention to his biceps and the curl of a Maori tribal tattoo that licked around the right one. “Well, then make a decision.”
“I can’t just—”
“Why not?” He glanced at his watch. “You said you had ten minutes so I guess you’d better make up your mind quickly.”
Judith realized she was gaping and closed her mouth with a snap. Damn the man. He’d always been impatient, just like Joseph, and just like Joseph he was also downright bloody demanding. It wasn’t just a matter of flicking off a few snaps, after all. Talking with the client about what they wanted was an important part of her job and that had to be factored in.
“I know this is hard for you to believe, Caleb, but I do have a lot of other clients and a very full schedule. There are lots of other things I have to factor in. I can’t decide just like that.”
“What other things?”
“For a start I have to talk to you about what you want for the calendar—”
“It’s not difficult. Sexy. That’s what I want.” He looked past her, down the hallway that led to the studio. “Is the studio through here? Come on, I’ll show you what I’m thinking.”
Before she could reply, he neatly side-stepped her and was halfway down the corridor before she could move.