There were plenty of other photographers out there who would throw themselves from a speeding car for the chance to do a sexy calendar for New Zealand’s biggest rugby star.
“I thought you were supposed to be good with women?”
Caleb shot his friend an annoyed glance but he knew full well Luke hadn’t said it to mess with him. The guy just didn’t do sarcasm. No, he was logic all the way. “Jude isn’t technically a woman, is she?” he pointed out. “She’s Joe’s little sister.”
Luke’s brow wrinkled. Then after a moment he nodded, acknowledging the universal truth known to every male about little sisters in general. “Like I said. I’ll give it a go. She might listen to me.”
For some reason the offer annoyed Caleb. Probably because he was a competitive bastard and didn’t like being edged out in favor of another contender. Especially when he had the try-line in sight. “Steady on, mate. I’m not conceding defeat.”
“I thought you said—”
“I know what I said. I just haven’t brought out the big guns yet.”
The other man frowned. “Big guns?”
Caleb flashed his friend a grin. “I’m going to appeal to her better nature. I’m sure she’s got one somewhere.” Because why the hell should he let her problem with him get in the way of this fundraiser? This wasn’t about them, it was about the charity.
Whether she liked it or not, Judith Ashton had officially become a challenge.
Luke’s frown deepened, and then a distracted look crossed his face. His hand shot into the pocket of his jacket and he pulled out his phone, glancing down at the screen. No doubt checking on his stock portfolios again. The guy never went ten minutes without checking on what his investments were doing.
“Well,” Luke said without taking his eyes from the screen, “good luck with that. You’re going to need it.”
“Great vote of confidence, mate. Thanks.”
The other man lifted a shoulder. “Calling it like I see it.”
Marisa was walking back through the crowd, a beer in one hand, a glass of some hideously pink liquid in the other. She gave him a flirty smile.
Normally he wouldn’t have thought twice about taking advantage of obvious interest and a bit of flirting, but tonight he just couldn’t seem to muster up the patience.
Across the room some guy had stopped to talk to Judith, bending over her as if taking advantage of the fact she was sitting so he could look down her dress. The tool.
Caleb promptly forgot about Marisa, glowering at the dickhead talking to Judith instead. Perhaps he should head over there right now. Talk some sense into her. Send the tool back to the toolshed. One way or another he’d get her onside. Because if there was one thing he really hated, it was losing.
“Your beer, sir,” Marisa said, stepping in front of him and holding out the bottle.
Caleb wasn’t interested in the beer. The idiot talking to Judith had a shit-eating grin on his face that made Caleb want to punch him. “Hey, thanks, sweetheart,” he said, not taking his eyes off Judith. “But look, I’ve got to go. Luke here could use a drink, though.”
Luke scowled. It had been apparent at the wedding rehearsals the he and Marisa hadn’t gotten along. That really wasn’t Caleb’s problem right now.
His problem was across the room, talking to some fool and ignoring him as if he was nobody special.
Like hell.
Caleb shoved himself away from the pillar and, taking no notice of Marisa’s startled look, began to make his way through the crowd to where Judith sat.
…
As Clint—one of Christie’s brother’s smarmy friends—finally took Judith’s “I’m not interested” hint and sidled away to bother someone else, Christie murmured, “Uh-oh. Don’t look now but tall, dark, and dangerous is approaching. Two o’clock.”
Judith didn’t need to look to know who the other woman was talking about. Caleb. Who apparently couldn’t take no for an answer. “Oh great,” she muttered under her breath.
Christie shot her an interested glance. “So what’s the deal with you two?”
Judith’s new sister-in-law had been the best thing that had ever happened to Joseph, and for that Judith would be eternally grateful. Even if her straight-up honesty could sometimes be…startling.
Like just then, for instance.
“Deal?” Judith raised one hand to smooth her hair, then remembered it was up in a messy bun. Still. Curses. “Uh, there’s no deal.”
“Really? Why are you doing that nervous smoothy thing then?”
She dropped her hand and clenched it in her lap to stop it from erasing the non-existent wrinkles in her dress for the fifty millionth time. “I’m not nervous.” From underneath her lashes, she flashed a quick glance across the ballroom. Just to check. The DJ had taken a break so people were milling around chatting to each other but sure enough, there was Caleb, striding purposefully through the crowd with his usual confident grace. Except now Joseph’s father had waylaid him for a bit of back-slapping. Excellent. “And believe me, there is no smoothy thing going on.”