Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

F or a smart business woman, Abby could be pretty dumb at times.

‘What happens on the island stays on the island.'

Had she really said that? Had she been delusional at the time? Considering how Judd made her feel whenever he glanced at her let alone touched her, probably.

It had seemed so simple at the time. Indulge in an island fling, enjoy sensational sex with a guy she knew almost as well as she knew herself, and head back to the mainland at the end of the week, heart intact.

Unfortunately, her heart had other ideas, and while she'd never let him know how she really felt, having him in her life as a friend would be a constant reminder of her foolishness.

Clutching the sheet, she wriggled onto her side, trying not to disturb Judd as she contemplated fleeing before he woke or staying for a few more precious moments.

Gazing at him sleeping, she marvelled at how boyish he looked: long lashes curved against his cheeks, mouth relaxed into a semi-smile, dark flop of hair falling over his forehead. If it weren't for the laughter-lines fanning from the outer corners of his eyes, she could've sworn he looked exactly how he had back in high school. But he wasn't a boy any longer and the man he'd turned out to be wasn't quite what she expected.

Last night had been amazing, yet she knew it had also been the biggest mistake she'd ever made.

The first time they had sex days ago, she hadn't been in love with him, and while it had been incredible, she hadn't connected as they had last night, with Judd making love to her repeatedly, sending her body and soul soaring. Before her common sense kicked in this morning and plummeted her back down to earth with a thud.

They could never go back to how things had been between them.

Last night changed everything and it scared her beyond belief.

His attempt at romancing her had sealed it. She'd been blown away he remembered what she'd said all those years ago, touched he'd gone all out to impress her. Though grand as his romantic gesture had been, it had nothing on the expression in his eyes after they'd made love the first time.

It had been the scariest thing she'd ever seen, her best friend staring at her like he never wanted this to end.

For both their sakes, she hoped she was mistaken.

His eyelids flickered open and he smiled that slow, sexy grin, making logical thought impossible. "Sleep well?"

She nodded, unable to resist reaching out and trailing a finger across his kissable lips. "You know damn well there was little sleeping involved."

His smile widened as he tried to nip her finger but she was too fast for him. "You're right. And it was spectacular."

She couldn't agree more. However, time to start disengaging, to put up a few barriers before they boarded the plane.

Aiming for casual, she dropped a quick peck on his lips. "It was. But our island idyll is drawing to an end and I've got heaps of last minute stuff to organise today, so this might be the last time we get any privacy to ourselves and I'd like to say thanks for—"

"Hey, slow down." He silenced her with a finger to her lips and she resisted the overwhelming urge to lick it. "As this is our last day on the island, I need to tell you something."

A sense of foreboding crept over Abby, the same feeling she'd had when Aunt May had broken the news of her parents' death, the same feeling she'd had when Judd had left Pier Point first time around.

Whatever had vanquished his smile couldn't be good.

"Okay, spill it."

He ran a hand through his hair, sending ruffled spikes in all directions. "When we get back to Sydney, I'm hanging around for a while."

Her heart leapt before common sense kicked in. Judd's version of hanging around probably involved a few days longer than his usual snatched visits to cities around the world and nothing like what she imagined, nothing like what had her so worried she was twisting the sheet into knots before she realised what she was doing.

"How long?"

He appeared uncertain for the first time all week. She'd never seen cocky Calloway appear uncertain about anything in his life and, combined with his announcement, it had her nervous.

"I'm going to base myself in Sydney. I'll only do the odd freelance assignment, but basically, I've accepted a full time job there."

"What?" Her jaw hung open and he laughed, reaching over to place a finger under her chin and close it.

"That's not the best part. I'm working for Finesse on an exclusive basis. Mark Pyman offered me the position of head photographer and I've accepted."

She froze while he prattled on, every word hammering a new nail into her already fragile heart.

"Isn't that great?" He beamed. "We're going to be working together a lot of the time. Not to mention hanging out."

No way. This couldn't be happening.

Whatever happened to mending her heart in peace once he shipped out to whatever godforsaken place he was headed next?

Whatever happened to slipping back into their old friendship over time?

Worst of all, how could she stay immune to the guy and pretend she didn't have feelings for him when he'd be in her face all the time?

"You're not pleased, are you?"

Abby frantically searched her brain for something to say, something other than the obvious ‘Why now?'

"Damn it, Abby, what's going on with you? I thought you'd be happy for me. Happy I'm sticking around?"

"Yeah, but for how long?"

Oops, her first thought popped out and worse, it sounded way more sarcastic than it had in her head.

"What does it matter?" His bitterness stung as he swung out of bed, padded across the room and into the bathroom before she could apologise.

How could he look so delectable naked and so royally pissed off at the same time? Shaking her head, she stepped out of bed, wrapped the sheet around her, and followed him.

"You took me by surprise, that's all," she said, raising her voice to be heard through the bathroom door. "I'm sorry."

Silence greeted her before the shower turned on, effectively drowning out anything else she might have to say.

Great. Not only had she screwed up big time by falling in love with her best friend, she'd also ruined their friendship with her less than stellar reaction to his announcement.

So the nomad was staying in town for a while? Big deal. As he said, what did it matter for how long? He'd soon tire of Sydney, he'd move on like he always did; leaving her more bereft, more broken-hearted, than she'd ever imagined.

Friendship she could do; she sucked at this lovers business.

Desperate to escape, she slipped her clothes and shoes on in record time—the shoes making her blush a matching shade as she remembered last night—and bolted.