Judith, halfway toward the doorway, turned, a look of surprise on her face. “You did?”
“Yeah.” He straightened. “I did.”
“Why, though?”
There were traces of her late night under her eyes and her face was still a little pale. She looked tired and vulnerable and he wanted to wrap her up in a blanket and take care of her.
But he couldn’t. Because that kind of game was dangerous for both of them. If he wasn’t careful one spark could make it all blow up in his face.
Distance. That’s what he should be thinking about now. That’s what he had to maintain. He didn’t want to screw up the few tentative steps they’d made toward at least a more cordial relationship or mess with the bonds of friendship he had with Joseph. He’d already done it once, he didn’t want to do it again.
Besides, even if Joseph hadn’t been a factor, it wasn’t as if he could give her anything more than a few nights in the sack. And she deserved better than that. Deserved better than him. She’d been clear in the studio that she wanted more than casual and he was so not a relationship kind of guy.
Caleb let out a breath. Dropped the charm. “Because you needed someone and I was here.”
Her brows descended but for a change she didn’t scowl. “I didn’t need someone but…thank you.” She bit her lip then added, rather stiffly, “I appreciate it.”
“Anytime, Jude. Anytime.”
She looked at him for a long moment. “It’s not always any time is it, Caleb?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, ‘any time’ is just any time you happen to be around. Or whenever you happen to feel like it. It’s not actually ‘any time’.”
A tightness gathered in his chest. “I do what I can, Jude.”
“Yeah, well, sometimes that’s not enough.” She hesitated then said, “Just for future reference, I want a guy who’s always going to be there for me. Not just when he feels like or when he’s around or when it’s convenient. I want someone I can count on no matter what.”
He should say something here. Something teasing or funny. But he didn’t. The funny had suddenly all drained out of him. “Okay, got it.”
“Not that we’re going to be having a relationship or anything since this has to be strictly professional. Right?”
“Right.”
If she wanted professional then that’s what he’d give her.
Professional, at least, he could do.
…
A couple of days after her epic night with Marisa, Judith sat cross-legged on her couch, setting up her laptop for the Skype conversation she’d planned with her brother. She’d made sure to send him a few reminder texts so he remembered but sometimes, even with those, he got distracted.
A small voice in the back of her mind kept niggling at her that calling him on his honeymoon wasn’t exactly the best idea but she pushed that voice to one side. It wouldn’t be a long conversation. She just wanted to make sure he was okay and coping, looking out for him just as she’d always done.
Judith looked down at his Skype profile and the little photo beside it. And sighed. Ah, who was she kidding? This call wasn’t for Joseph’s benefit, this call was for her. She missed him. It was weird not having him around to keep on-track. It was weird not calling him or emailing him or texting him. She’d thought she’d got used to the fact that Christie was now his focus, the person who kept him going, but she hadn’t. Not really.
She pulled a face. Oh crap, this was like empty nest syndrome. How was that even possible for a twenty-six-year-old woman?
After pushing the call button, she waited while the program dialed and was rather surprised when her brother actually answered. The video was choppy but she could see him, tanned and more relaxed that she’d ever thought possible.
“Jude,” he said, grinning. “Bet you thought I wouldn’t be answering, right?”
Her heart ached, happy to see him so happy. “You got me. I didn’t.”
Joseph looked smug. “Christie reminded me.”
“That’s great.” And she meant it. Even if that left her feeling superfluous. Because Joseph deserved this happiness. He really did. “And where is your beloved?”
“My beloved is in the shower. We’re going to visit the Eiffel Tower this morning.” Joseph shifted around in his seat, his movements blurring the video. “So was there a purpose to this chat or are you just checking up on me?”
His tone was teasing but there was a serious look in his eyes. She sighed. “Would checking up on you sound too weird on your honeymoon?”