Page 44 of The Friend

Heat sizzled between them, potent and fierce, obliterating everything but the need to lose themselves in each other until they were sated.

“What about Tom and Tara’s surprise?” He asked, with a subtle jerk at the couple.

She leaned towards him, using any excuse to place her lips an inch from his ear, enjoying seeing him stiffen when she blew gently. “I know we thought we’d stick around and share it with them, but it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.”

He smiled and trailed a finger across the back of her hand, raising goose bumps. “You’re a genius.” He continued his trail up to her wrist before dipping under it, caressing her pulse point in slow, torturous circles. “You’re also the sexiest woman on the planet.”

With a wink in her direction, he turned towards Tom and Tara. “Hey, will you two be okay if we leave? I’ve got some photos Abby has to approve before tomorrow.”

Tara smirked. “Photos, huh? Well, don’t let us keep you two fromwork.”

Tom didn’t join in the wordplay. By his star-struck expression as he glanced at Tara he was only too pleased to see the back of them. “No worries. We’ll be fine.”

“Great.” Judd stood and held out his hand to Abby. She gratefully took it considering her knees wobbled. It could’ve been the cocktail but she knew better. Her skin prickled with awareness, reacting to his proximity and leaving a rippling sensation in its wake.

“Though I think you two should swap tables. The one over here seems much better,” Judd said, pointing to a nearby screen.

“We’re okay right here…” Tara trailed off as Judd pushed the screen aside, revealing a table covered in a staggering array of mouth-watering tapas. “Wow. That’s some feast.”

Abby smiled. “It’s a small way to show our gratitude for all the hard work you two have done. So, thanks guys, it’s been a blast working with you. Go ahead, enjoy. There’s champagne in the bucket and we’ve left strict instructions with the bar staff to keep it coming for as long as you want it. Though we do have to work tomorrow…” She waggled her finger at them and they laughed.

“Great, I’m starving,” Tom said, holding Tara’s chair out for her, his hungry gaze wavering between her and the food as if unsure which was the tastier delicacy.

Tara stood, lithe and elegant, and leaned over to give her and Judd a hug. “Thanks for this. The crew on most of the shoots I’ve done don’t give a flying fig about anyone but themselves. This is really thoughtful of you.”

“You’re welcome,” Judd said, his smile genuine while his gaze strayed to the door.

An anticipatory tingle raced through Abby as she inched towards him, giving him a gentle nudge with her hip.

“We better get to work. See you guys in the morning.” She managed a casual wave at the other couple while trying not to trip in her haste to follow Judd.

They barely made it outside when he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close.

“Take a look at the sky. Do those look like storm clouds to you?”

Abby cast a quick glance skyward, noting a billion stars scattered against a midnight sky without a cloud in sight. “Oh yeah, definitely. Looks like it’s going to rain all night.”

His lips curved into a deliciously wicked smile. “All night, huh?”

She nodded, mesmerised by the glimpse of tanned skin in the V of his shirt. It looked good enough to taste and all she needed to do was lean forward a fraction and…

“Then it’s definitely time for that rain-check.”

His husky murmur made her look up and she shivered, hypnotised by the intent behind his stare. Green flecks mixed with gold, sparkling in the muted light from several flame-lit torches along the pathway, drawing her deeper into the mesmerising hazel depths.

“Let’s hurry,” she said, planting a quick, teasing kiss on his lips, the contact all too brief, a prelude to losing herself in his hot, steamy kisses all night long.

Chapter Twenty

Judd didn’t need to be asked twice.

He’d planned this evening to the nth degree, since the phone call with Mark earlier that afternoon, and nothing would go wrong.

He’d make sure of it.

Taking hold of Abby’s hand, loving how it felt so right, he said, “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“I bet you do.”

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