Chapter 4

Chapter Four

A bby lay back in the bath and closed her eyes, the jasmine-scented steam surrounding her in a fragrant cloud.

What a day.

Working with Judd had been a pleasure, his professionalism and skill far surpassing that of other photographers she'd worked with. And having him in such close proximity, smiling at her, taunting her, had been fun, like old times.

Not exactly like old times.

Back then, they'd been two kids against the world, teenage rebels who couldn't wait to escape the confines of Pier Point and the memories the place held.

Then again, if they hadn't had such lousy parents—their common bond—maybe their friendship wouldn't have lasted the test of time?

Perhaps I'm more into fashion stylists these days?

She smiled at the memory of his teasing jibe. Their easy-going relationship had never been any different, with each ready to use a cutting comeback for every teasing comment fired at the other. Though Judd could turn her winning retorts into losers in the blink of an eye, she could handle it. She thrived on their banter and could hardly wait to match wits with him on this trip.

As for the unexpected heat that had flared between them, first when he'd laid his hand on her leg in the bar and later with that loaded moment at the beach, she wouldn't read anything into it. A perfectly natural reaction of two adults, who were best friends and hadn't seen each other since their teens, getting reacquainted. She refused to consider she still harboured her pathetic teenage crush no matter how many times she'd told herself over the years that she'd grown up.

The phone jangled and she glared at it. Beautiful black marble bathrooms with exquisite bubble bath gels and spa baths this size were meant for relaxation and the brainiac who had installed a gold phone on the wall should be shot.

Sighing, she reached for the phone. Unless there was a problem with the location for tomorrow's shoot or one of the models had binged on chocolate and couldn't fit into any of the outfits, she didn't want to know about it.

"Hello?"

"Where are you, Weiss? Hiding in the closet?"

Abby grinned, and stuck her big toe in the bath spout. "Hey, I'm not the one who has a host of skeletons in there."

Judd chuckled. "Remind me to stop telling you all my dirty little secrets."

"Where's the fun in that?"

Abby stretched an arm and blew on the bubbles clinging to her skin. When was the last time she'd taken a bath, relaxing at the end of a busy day, let alone have more than a rushed five minute phone call with her best friend calling from the remotest regions of the earth on a crackling line punctuated with static?

"What are you up to?"

"Taking a bath," she said, examining her wrinkled fingertips, savouring the luxury of a long soak.

"With bubbles?"

"You bet."

"Mmm…kinky."

Rolling her eyes at Judd's faux growl, Abby sank further into the suds. "You're depraved. Now, was there a point to this phone call or do you like bugging me for the hell of it?"

His familiar laughter rippled over her and she hoped the unexpected goosebumps skittering along her arm had more to do with the only part of her skin not submerged and less to do with an uncharacteristic reaction to her best friend's intimate chuckle.

"I could make a national pastime out of bugging you, but I was wondering what you're doing for dinner? Do we eat with the work crowd or can we sneak off and play hooky?"

"I'm all for hooky," she said, eager for some one on one time with Judd. If they only had a week together she'd make the most of it, every precious second.

"Great. I'll meet you at the Ocean Breeze restaurant in an hour?"

"Sounds like a plan."

"And Weiss?"

"Yeah?"

"Wear something sexy."

The dial tone hummed in her ear and Abby glared at the phone. She should know him by now. Judd always got the last word in, usually designed to drive her mad.

He might've got the last word in, but he'd asked for it, and if there was one thing she liked more than ribbing her best friend, it was gaining the upper hand.

He wanted her to wear something sexy?

She rose, sending water droplets flying everywhere, and reached for a towel.

Her best buddy was about to get a lesson in being careful what he wished for.