Talking Dirty With the Player(18)

She was over that now. Her heart had mended itself and she’d found other friends. She wasn’t a stupid love-struck teenager anymore and everything that had happened with Caleb was just water under the bridge. Lots and lots of water.

Marisa sat up, raised her glass in a silent toast. “Men suck.”

“I’ll drink to that.” So she did. Again.

“Hey, show me what you’ve done with the photo.”

Handing Marisa the laptop, Judith reached for the bottle to top up her suspiciously empty wine glass. How had that happened so fast?

“Ooooh,” Marisa breathed, her gaze on the laptop screen. “Now that is hot.”

“What is?”

“This.” Marisa turned the screen so she could see. It was her picture of Caleb, that sexy charismatic smile lighting up the room. “Did you take it?”

Judith glowered at the image. “Yes. It’s a test shot for that calendar idea of his.”

“It’s just…wow.” She turned the screen round again. “You know it’s funny, I have no idea why but he’s almost sexier here than with his shirt off.”

Judith knew. Because just for a second, the fake charm, the “Abs of Steele” façade, had dropped. And another man had been revealed. The man she’d once fallen for with every ounce of passion in her teenage heart.

Marisa sighed as she looked at the picture. “You’re good. You’re really good.”

“Thanks.” But she didn’t want to look at Caleb’s picture any more. Tonight was about distraction, wasn’t it? “Hey, another bottle?”

They managed another half before Marisa, tipsy and hyped, decided that going to a club was a great idea. Judith, who never went to clubs, thought this was a great idea, too. And why not?

She’d been eight when her mother had walked out and the responsibility of looking out for her ADHD brother had fallen onto her shoulders. Her father had always been too busy so it had to be her. But eighteen years of responsibility weighed heavily on a girl at times. Surely one night off wouldn’t hurt? Anyway, anything to take her mind of Caleb Freaking Steele.

Around eleven PM, onto her third frozen margarita, her phone vibrated in the pocket of her expensive, black skinny jeans. She tugged it out, looking down at the screen shining brightly in the darkness of the club.

Got my picture yet?

Ugh. Caleb. What was he doing texting her at this time of night? She typed in a reply.

You said tomorrow.

A pause.

It doesn’t take that long does it?

She snorted. Nearby there was a table full of guys and one of them had started glancing at her, trying to catch her eye. He was kind of hot but a little too blond for her tastes. Ignoring him, she concentrated on sending Caleb a response instead.

It takes as long as it needs to take.

And then, because she was tipsy and it seemed like a funny thing to do, she added.

I showed Marisa. She thinks it’s sexy.

The music in the club thumped. Across the table from where she sat, Marisa was busy flirting outrageously with a couple of guys.

Naturally. Marisa thinks everyone is sexy. What about you?

Judith frowned, her margarita and wine fuddled brain not processing things very well.

Do I think everyone’s sexy?

Another pause.

No. Do you think I’m sexy?

Why was she hearing Rod Stewart all of the sudden? Judith hummed and sent back a response, giggling at her own cleverness.

And you want my body.

Almost instantly his response came back.

Come on babycakes let me know…

She laughed.

How should I let you know?

Across the table Marisa was laughing, too. One of the guys had left but the other was sitting close to her, an arm around her shoulders.

You could reach out and touch me…

Judith’s laugh turned into a snort. Caleb was an idiot. She reached out for her margarita and had another mouthful. The icy liquid was sweet and so delicious. Hmmmm. How to respond to that? Sadly she’d run out of Rod Stewart suggestions. Luckily her brain supplied her with one of her own.

Where should I touch you?

Another pause.

So many questions, darling. Where do you want to touch me?

Okay, this had suddenly become more suggestive than she was expecting. She shifted on the seat, feeling jumpy. In the corner of the phone’s screen, she could see the little battery symbol telling her she didn’t have much juice left. A small, restless part of her shivered as an idea came to her. Why did he get to be the shocking one all the time? Why couldn’t she do it for a change? Send him something outrageous before her battery died?

She grinned, her thumb moving over the keypad.

All over, honey.

There. Perhaps that would shut him up. Marisa and her new beau got up and moved through the crowd to the dance floor. Judith hummed some more Rod as her phone vibrated again.