Talking Dirty With the Player

by Jackie Ashenden

  So he was an arrogant, cocky playboy only interested in rugby, fame, and women. Those weren’t good enough reasons to say no. Especially when it came to charity.

  “Okay, fine,” she said on a long breath. “What’s it all about anyway?”

  Joseph’s smile was suspiciously similar to his friend’s. Smug. “I’ll let him explain that to you himself. I’m too impatient to dance with my lovely wife here.”

  Ignoring Christie’s groan at the word “dance”, Joseph dragged her off toward the ballroom, leaving Judith twitching with irritation.

  She glared at her brother’s retreating back, smoothing her green silk dress down again.

  All right, so if Caleb wanted to talk about his silly idea, she’d listen. And that was all.

  It had been years since he’d dumped her. Years and years. And she was over it. She totally was. She could even be pleasant if the occasion demanded.

  So she ignored the hard little lump of hurt that rested uncomfortably inside her like grit in an oyster. Told herself she didn’t feel it.

  If she said it enough times, one of these days it would actually be true.

  …

  Caleb folded his arms and leaned against one of the pillars that dotted the hotel ballroom, trying his best to at least pretend he was listening to whatever Christie’s friend Marisa was talking about. Luckily she didn’t seem to require much in the way of input so he was able to watch Judith Ashton’s progress across the ballroom without appearing like he wasn’t paying attention.

  Damn, he’d thought she might have mellowed in the two years he’d been away playing in the UK, but no. She was still just as coolly sarcastic and self-possessed as she’d always been. Still just as determined to treat him as beneath her notice.

  Not that he should have expected anything different. She’d told him she’d forgiven him for the way their little affair had ended years ago and things had never been quite the same since. And he’d always regretted that. They’d never be what they once had been to each other—that boat had sailed long ago—although friends would be nice.

  Then stop messing with her, dick.

  Yeah, he should. But when it came to Judith Ashton he couldn’t seem to help himself. Even though he knew it was wrong, even though he knew it wouldn’t change things, he just couldn’t seem to leave her alone. He had to keep on needling her like a kid poking at a wasp’s nest just to see what would happen.

  So don’t be surprised when you get stung.

  He blew out a breath, annoyed at the disappointment he’d felt when she’d refused to help him with the calendar. Not to mention her utter disdain of his idea.

  Pornographic calendar? Caleb snorted. He’d lay money on the fact she wouldn’t know pornography if she tripped over an open copy of Penthouse. And as for the whole wet jock shot quip…

  Judith had stopped to talk to one of the assistants she’d brought along to help with the wedding photographs. No doubt issuing orders. Running everything with the kind of well-oiled ease reserved for military operations. Cool, calm and always in control, that was Judith.

  Except she hadn’t always been like that, had she? He could remember another time when she hadn’t been either cool or calm or particularly in control. When she’d been in his arms, the sweet, familiar scent of her perfume all around him. Like roses, or maybe honeysuckle… The night he’d finally kissed her. Touched her. And felt her shy, hesitant touches in return…

  His gaze drifted moodily over the green silk dress she wore. Normally her look was Gothic art-house, glossy black hair bobbed to her shoulders and a fringe Cleopatra would have been proud of. Lots of dark eyeliner and black nails. Not today, though. Today she wore color and her hair was up in a loose knot at the back of her head, revealing the pale vulnerability of her neck and the elegant curve of her back.

  Caleb gave a silent curse, shifting against the pillar. So her attitude may piss him off but that didn’t seem to worry his wretched libido. Which was a pity. Because Judith Ashton was out of bounds and always would be

  He’d tried a lot of things over the years to forget about that one night they’d shared. Not alcohol, not since his father had drowned himself in the bottom of a vodka bottle, but just about everything else. Nothing really worked.

  Not even the warning Joseph had given him.

  “I’m only going to say this once, Cal. Stay clear of Jude, okay? Remember the no touching rule. Because if you hurt her, I will hurt you.”

  A warning Joseph had given him far too late. Because by then he’d already touched her. More than touched her. Had taken her virginity.

  A sudden silence alerted him to the fact that Marisa was still there and was now looking expectantly at him. Caleb tore his thoughts away from Judith and shifted his attention to the lovely blonde standing in front him.

  He liked Marisa. She was fun and flirty in a friendly sort of way. Even so, right now he didn’t really feel much like chatting. Or flirting, for that matter.

  He gave her his trademark smile. “Hey, that’s fascinating, Marisa. But man, all this talking is making me thirsty. I could really go for a beer right now.”

  Marisa fluttered her eyelashes at him. “Perhaps I could get it for you, honey?”

  Caleb grinned. “Would you?”

  “Sure. I need a refill myself.” She gave him a wink, swiveled on her sky-high heel, and began heading in the direction of the bar.

  “Did you ask Judith?” a masculine voice said from beside him. Luke McNamara, financial genius and third member of the triumvirate formed during daily detention back in high school. Joseph and Caleb had been trouble way back then, and for Luke detention was a way of getting his homework done in peace.

  Caleb didn’t turn. “Yeah.”

  “What did she say?” Luke asked him.

  “What do you think?”

  Luke said nothing for a long minute. “I’ll ask her if you like,” he offered eventually.

  “No,” Caleb replied, his gaze still fixated on the small green figure that had by now made its way to the head table where Christie and Joseph were sitting.

  “Hmmm, I’m surprised,” Luke said. “You mentioned it was for charity, didn’t you?”

  “I said it was a fundraising idea.”

  “Did you mention the charity?”

  Caleb sighed. “I didn’t get a chance what with all the scorn that was being poured.”

  “Well, you need to tell her,” Luke said with his usual maddening logic. “It’s for a good cause. I can’t imagine why she’d say no.”

  “Actually what she said was that she only did studio photography, not pornographic calendars.”

  “I hope you pointed out that it’s not—”

  “Sorry, mate. I don’t care if Joe wanted her to take the pictures or not; I’m not spending all night trying to convince her otherwise.”

  The fundraiser for the Save a Life charity, a charity aimed at providing disadvantaged kids with educational and career opportunities, had been Caleb’s idea—after a nudge from his PR person—and although he was totally down with Joseph wanting Jude to do the photos, he didn’t have time to be dicking around with her apparent issue with him. He had a game coming up with the Auckland club he’d returned to New Zealand to play with, and was up to his ears in training. Not to mention having his agent breathing down his neck about next season’s contracts.

  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.”

  “Huh.” Christie wrinkled her nose. “How long have you known him?”

  “Who?”

  Her “really?” look was impossible to ignore.

  Judith sighed. “Didn’t Joe give you a rundown?”

  “Well, yeah. He’s a guy, though, so I only got the facts. I didn’t get all the other juicier stuff.”

  Judith sighed again. “Okay, fine. I’ve known Caleb since I was eight. He and Joe met at high school. They used to tease me unmercifully.”

  “I can imagine.” Christie grinned, green eyes alight with amusement. “He’s got a wicked look about him.”

  The DJ had come back to his station, and people were beginning to step out onto the dance-floor. Luckily Joseph had managed to convince Christie to leave the death metal till later on in the evening, the strains of a slow ballad filling the air instead.

  “Still,” Christie went on, gazing in Caleb’s direction. “Wicked or not, he’s pretty damn hot.”

  Sure, Caleb was hot. If you liked tall, muscle-bound beefcakes with eyes you could lose yourself in. The kind of smile that made you lose your mind as well as your panties. The magnetic, sexy bad-boy charm that promised all sorts of naughtiness.

  Sure. If you liked that kind of thing.

  “Doesn’t marriage mean not looking at other men?” Judith shot back. Perhaps she could scoot off to the ladies room before he reached her. That wouldn’t constitute running away. No, of course not. She just really needed to go. “Look, I just need to—”

  “Hey, babycakes,” a familiar, irritating masculine voice drawled. “Fancy a turn about the room?”

  Damn it.

  Quelling the urge to do the “smoothy thing” again, she looked up to find Caleb, who had somehow reached her a lot faster than she’d thought, standing beside her chair.

  “Was that a dance request?” she inquired calmly.

  “Was it too complicated for you? Hey, Chris.”

  “Hey, Caleb.” Christie grinned. “I wouldn’t mind a dance.”

  “With the bride? Of course. You’re next on my list, sweetheart, believe me. I’ll come back for you once Jude and I have finished.”

  Judith opened her mouth to point out that she hadn’t actually accepted when Caleb raised one dark brow and said, “Scared to have a dance with me, honey pie?”

  God, he was aggravating. Mentally preparing herself for some humble pie eating about his idea, she gave him a smile sweet enough to take the enamel off teeth. “As if.” Pushing back her chair, she rose to her feet. “Come on, then, what are you waiting for?”

  “I never wait for anything, Jude.”

  Oh yes, she did know. She knew all too well. Something she’d discovered eight years ago, to be exact.

  Second time this evening you’ve thought about that. What gives?

  Before she could examine the thought any closer, his hand closed around hers and she was pulled onto the dance floor. His fingers were warm against her skin but for some reason the touch made her want to shiver. Then his other hand settled on her hip, his palm burning through the silk of her dress, and she nearly did.

  Judith gritted her teeth, fighting the response.

  “The scowl looks good on you,” Caleb said as they began to move to the music, a slow sensual beat. “You look like a grumpy fairy.”

  Judith quickly adjusted her expression. “Not scowling, see?” Though she wanted to. Because being this close to him made her short of breath. He smelled good, too. Like spices and musk, bringing back old memories. Sexy memories.

  Bah. She
didn’t want sexy memories. She didn’t want Caleb Steele to be sexy at all. Not under any circumstances. He had thousands of women all willing to give his massive ego a stroke, and she flatly refused to be just one more.

  “So,” she went on briskly, before he did something stupid like notice her apparent breathlessness. “What’s with the asking me to dance thing?”

  “A guy can’t ask a girl to dance without having a reason?”

  “Perhaps a guy and a girl could. But this is you and me we’re talking about.”

  “True. Okay, well, why do you think I asked you to dance?”

  “I don’t know…to be annoying?”

  “There’s a lot about me you seem to find annoying,” he said, grinning shamelessly. “What’s with that?”

  Judith only just managed to stop herself from scowling again. “It’s just an expression.” Somehow they’d gotten a lot closer, his body moving slowly in time with hers, the movement of his hips sending a kind of liquid heat creeping through her. This was not good. So not good. Quick, think of something to say. “So. This fundraising idea you mentioned,” she went on, hoping her voice sounded normal. “Anyway, tell me more about it.”

  “Ah, you were interested.”

  No, she would not blush. “Like you said. It’s for charity. So I’m reconsidering.”

  “Are you, now?” The smile that curved his mouth now was the very essence of naughtiness. “How about you ask me nicely then?”

  Judith blinked, a shivery feeling moving through her. “Excuse me?”

  “I said ask me nicely.”

  “Or what?”

  The hand on her hip moved, fingers pressing gently through the silk. “Or we continue to dance for as long as I want.”

  The shivery feeling intensified, the liquid heat pooling in the pit of her stomach. He’d moved even closer, so close they were almost touching. Judith forced herself to ignore the inconvenient physical feelings. Wow, was she that easy to read? Not liking the thought one little bit, she gave him another saccharine smile. “Hey, I’ve got no problem dancing with you. However, since you insist, please tell me about your wonderful, special idea. Pretty please with sprinkles on top.”