Ultimate Heroes Collection

by Various Authors

  Thoughts of Judd conjured up his image and how surprised she’d been to see him earlier. He looked good! He’d acquired a bronze tan that accentuated the gold and green flecks in his hazel eyes and the brightness of his smile, and he’d let his hair grow, the thick dark waves curling at his collar. He could turn heads, all right, not that she’d ever let the big oaf know.

  ‘Which bikini is mine? Andplease don’t say it’s the thong.’

  Tara Lindman grabbed the tiger-print two-piece Abby handed her and held it up for inspection. ‘Ugh! I knew it. Time to head back to the gym for another hundred lunges.’

  Abby smiled at the model, leaned back and raised an eyebrow as she stared pointedly at her rear.

  ‘Oh, yeah. The butt that inspires a nation needs to be more toned. Give me a break. If those buns were any firmer you could bounce a dollar coin off them.’

  Tara wiggled the piece of anatomy under scrutiny. ‘Hey, it’s not you that has to expose herself all in the name of work.’

  ‘Amen to that,’ Abby said, joining in Tara’s laughter.

  She’d worked with the model on and off for the last year and admired her professionalism mixed with a good dose of reality. Most models she knew strutted around with their noses ten feet in the air, but not Tara. In fact, they’d bonded over the many shoots they’d done together, a fact that surprised Abby. After all, what did she have in common with the lithe goddess who had men falling at her feet without trying?

  ‘Have you seen that new photographer?’ Tara continued sorting through the bikinis, her eyes lighting up at a sleek black one-piece cut daringly low in front. ‘He’s absolutely scrumptious.’

  Abby smiled and agreed to the understatement of the year. ‘Yeah, he’s cute.’

  ‘Cute?’ Tara screeched. ‘Cute? Are you blind? He’s drop-dead gorgeous.’ She wiggled her ring finger under Abby’s nose. ‘And, if I’m not mistaken, doesn’t seem to have a marital noose around his neck.’

  ‘You’re right about his looks, but how can I confess that a guy I’ve known since second grade is gorgeous? If he ever found out, it’d go straight to his head.’

  ‘You know him?’

  Tara’s voice raised several octaves, if that were possible after her last screech, as she grabbed Abby’s arm. ‘Ooh, tell me more. How well do you know him? Do you know him or do you know him?’

  ‘We’re friends. Good friends. And I’d like to keep it that way, so stop with the inferences.’

  ‘Hey, who’s inferring anything? I simply put two and two together.’

  Abby picked up a magenta sarong and draped it against Tara’s fair skin. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

  Tara grabbed the sarong and twirled it around her head, leaving her twinkling green eyes peering out of a gap in the material like a gypsy.

  ‘It means that I can tell the future and yours is looking up, sweetie. You got this strange kind of glow when you mentioned your friendship with Captain Australia.’

  ‘That’s because he’s my best friend and I love him. As a friend.’

  Abby made a grab for the sarong and Tara dodged, her chuckles doing little for Abby’s peace of mind.

  ‘Yeah, well, don’t look now but your friend is heading this way. Phew, is he hot or what?’

  Abby chuckled as Tara fanned her face, her gaze following the model’s line of vision.

  Sure enough Judd was heading their way and in his navy shorts, white T-shirt and crumpled, just-out-of-bed hair courtesy of the stiff ocean breeze, with resident killer smile in place, he did look pretty hot.

  From a friend’s purely objective viewpoint, of course.

  ‘Here I am, reporting for duty, Weiss.’

  Abby smiled and returned his half-salute. ‘It’s going to be more fun than I thought ordering you around. Now, how about you set up over there near that palm tree?’

  ‘Great,’ he said, his answering grin telling her he’d give as good as he got over the next week. ‘Don’t let the power trip go to your head or anything. Otherwise I might just have to take you down.’

  ‘Is that right?’

  She raised an eyebrow, loving how quickly they’d slipped back into familiar teasing mode, knowing this job would be a blast courtesy of his quirky sense of humour.

  ‘Ahem.’ Tara gave a loud cough. ‘I think introductions are in order?’ She thrust her hand out. ‘Hi, I’m Tara Lindman.’

  Judd’s grin widened and Abby rolled her eyes. She’d seen this same reaction from every red-blooded male who came within two feet of Tara.

  ‘I know. I’m Judd Calloway, photographer extraordinaire, at your service.’

  ‘Don’t you shoot wildlife?’

  ‘I need a change and this is it.’

  He waved in the general direction of the bikinis and sarongs Abby had sorted. ‘Of course, it has other advantages. Did Abby tell you we’re old friends?’

  Tara smiled and slipped her arm around Abby’s shoulders. ‘She certainly did. Lucky Abby.’

  Thankfully, a loud, tuneless whistle of an old Beach Boys hit drifted towards them from behind a pile of windsurfers and saved Abby from giving Tara a swift elbow in the solar plexus as they all turned to see the new arrival.

  Tara dropped her arm and straightened, her hands smoothing back her glorious auburn hair in a practised motion.

  ‘Speaking of friends, who is that?’

  ‘That’s Tom, my assistant. Might be wise to stay away from him—he’s a lady-killer.’

  Judd stared directly at her and Abby wondered why the pointed glare when a moment ago they’d been trading banter.

  Tom strolled up to them, laden like a pack donkey with camera equipment.

  ‘Hello, lovely ladies.’ He placed his load gently on the sand like a mother placing her newborn in its crib. ‘Hey, Abby. And you, beautiful, need no introduction.’ He took Tara’s hand, kissed it and bowed. ‘I am truly honoured.’

  Judd rolled his eyes. ‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you.’

  Tara chuckled, obviously loving every minute of the attention. ‘I can handle him. You’re just a giant pussycat, aren’t you, Tom?’

  Tom growled in response. ‘Does that mean I get my tummy rubbed?’

  Abby joined in Tara’s laughter—coming from any other guy she would’ve taken the line as offensive but there was something endearing about the big man.

  ‘Okay, folks. Though I’d love to stand around and chat, we have a shoot to do. So let’s get started.’

  As she turned away and picked up her clipboard, Judd tapped her on the shoulder. ‘Watch out for Tom.’

  ‘What?’

  Judd’s serious expression had her biting the inside of her cheek to stop laughing. ‘I meant it when I said he was a ladykiller. And I wouldn’t want you getting hurt or anything.’

  Abby smiled, confused by Judd’s warning; he’d never done this before, gone all big-brother on her. He’d usually wait till she fell for the wrong guy, then tease her about it later with the usual ‘I told you so’.

  Reaching up, she tapped him on the cheek lightly. ‘Thanks for the warning, but I’m a big girl now. I think I can take care of myself, especially with the Toms of this world.’

  ‘Yeah, well, I’m just looking out for you, one buddy to another,’ he muttered, checking out the camera in his hand, a vertical crease between his brows.

  ‘You’re gorgeous,’ she said, standing on tiptoe and planting a quick peck on his cheek, unprepared for the swift, powerful urge to linger a tad longer than necessary as the scent of his faint musk aftershave enveloped her.

  Boy, this island heat was definitely getting to her.

  ‘Right back at you.’

  Judd’s gaze locked onto hers as she pulled away and for one, long, crazy, loaded moment she wondered if there was more behind his casual comment, if he remembered her using the same phrase on that fateful night, a moment before he kissed her.

  Rattled by the electricity buzzing between them, she said, ‘Speaking of looking out for friends,
why don’t you tell me about you and Paula? Is it serious?’ Abby fiddled with the sarong in her hands, unable to keep the growing grin from her face. ‘You know, seeing as you’re sharing sundaes and all.’

  ‘We’re friends. That’s it.’

  He paused, and the second she glimpsed the familiar twinkle in his eyes, she knew he was about to fire a broadside back. ‘Besides, models aren’t my thing. Perhaps I’m more into fashion stylists?’

  To her annoyance, she blushed, heat rising up her neck to stain her cheeks. Damn it, she’d never blushed in her life, his constant teasing eliciting fiery verbal responses rather than embarrassment.

  ‘Isn’t it lucky that fashion stylists aren’t into you? At least, not this one, anyway.’

  She sent him a scathing glance, which would’ve carried more punch if she’d managed to keep a straight face and not stuck her tongue out at him like an adolescent, swept up an armful of colourful sarongs and turned towards the beach.

  ‘I think you’re fibbing,’ he called out at her retreating back, his laughter taunting her every step.

  ‘And I think you’re delusional.’

  Judd grinned as he swung his camera bag over his shoulder and followed Abby down the beach.

  God, he missed this: the constant sparring, the teasing, the matching of wills. No one had ever understood him like Abby. No one probably ever would.

  She was the family he’d never had, the one bright spark in his life during the miserable years growing up after his mum had died and he’d been shackled to Pier Point courtesy of his father.

  She’d always been there for him. So what would she make of his latest plan?

  It was too soon to tell her everything, for he had no idea how she’d react.

  Would she be happy?

  Would she think he was nuts?

  Only time would tell as he planned to wait till the job neared completion before divulging the truth.

  After all, who needed a week of nagging, which was exactly what dear Abby would do, when he could spend that time teasing her, laughing with her, flirting with her instead?

  Yeah, he’d tell her at the end of the week.

  In the meantime they had some serious catching up to do.

  CHAPTER THREE

  ABBY lay back in the bath, closed her eyes and moaned, 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 any other photographers she’d worked with. Having him in such close proximity, smiling at her, taunting her, had been fun, just like old times.

  Well, 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, such a strong common bond, maybe their friendship wouldn’t have stood the test of time.

  Perhaps I’m more into fashion stylists?

  She smiled at the memory of his teasing jibe. Their easygoing relationship had never been any different, giving as good as they got, each of them ready with a cutting comeback for every teasing comment fired at the other. And though Judd could turn her winning retorts to losers in the blink of an eye, she could handle it. In fact, she thrived on it 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.

  Probably a perfectly natural reaction of two adults who were the best of friends and hadn’t seen each other since their teens getting reacquainted. Either that or she still harboured her pathetic teenage crush, no matter how many times she’d told herself over the years she’d grown up.

  The phone jangled and she glared at it. Beautiful black marble bathrooms with exquisite bubble-bath gels and Jacuzzis 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 whole host of skeletons in there.’

  Judd chuckled. ‘Hey, remind me to stop telling you all my dirty little secrets.’

  ‘And where would the fun be in that?’

  Abby stretched an arm and blew gently on the bubbles clinging to her skin. When was the last time she’d taken a bath, taken time out to relax 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? ‘So 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 just like bugging me for the hell of it?’

  His familiar laughter rippled over her and she hoped the unexpected goose bumps 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 actually I was wondering what you’re doing for dinner? Do we eat with the work crowd or can we sneak off and play hookey?’

  ‘I’m all for hookey,’ 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, always, and it was usually designed to drive her mad.

  Well, 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 getting the upper hand.

  Something sexy, huh?

  Shaking her head and sending water droplets flying everywhere, she reached for a towel.

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

  Judd had never been a party guy.

  Give him the plains of Africa or the jungles of South America any day. Saharan winds, Amazonian deluges, Asian typhoons … he loved the elements, loved the freedom, always had. He never felt whole unless he had a camera in his hand, capturing the animals that had held him enthralled since he’d opened his first textbook at school and seen a huge, scary gorilla with bared teeth staring back at him from the page.

  It had been his dream from that day on.

  A dream that had evolved, developed, and landed him here, smack bang in babe heaven.

  Taking a seat at a table near the bar, he watched some of the models boogying on the dance floor and knew that partying definitely had something going for it. The exclusive resort was a walking advertisement for the hottest women on the planet and he wouldn’t be male if he didn’t notice and appreciate the luscious scenery.

  As if on cue, Abby walked into the room and his mouth went dry.

  In a flash he was transported back to the night of the high-school dance and the precise moment he’d laid eyes on her in her first formal dress, a blue satin number with the tiniest of straps and outlandish puffy s
kirt, tottering down her porch steps towards him in ridiculous heels. She’d taken his breath away, the vision imprinted on his brain for ever.

  Friends weren’t meant to look like that!

  With the dress outlining her body, glossy brown hair piled high with a few curling tendrils framing her face … that face, her blue eyes shining at him with pleasure and more than a hint of mystery in their depths.

  And what had he done?

  Fired the usual barbs her way, teased her mercilessly, while she’d stared at him with her beautiful eyes, sucking him in deeper and deeper till he hadn’t been able to think straight let alone be responsible for his actions. So he’d done the only thing any normal, eighteen-year-old guy would have done.

  He’d kissed her.

  Correction, he’d pounced on her, half expecting her to slap him silly. Instead she’d responded like a tigress, fuelling his passion till his hormones had warred with his common sense in a raging battle. Fortunately, his common sense had won and he’d played the whole incident down, laughing it off as an experiment between two friends trying to prove they’d just entered the world of grown-ups.

  Now, staring at Abby in a fitted black halter dress outlining her curvy body to perfection, with her hair piled in a similar arrangement to that fateful night, he wondered if he’d been so fortunate after all.

  He stood up and waved her over, drawing a chair out as she neared the table, unable to tear his eyes away from her.

  ‘Not bad,’ he murmured in her ear as she sat down, her light floral fragrance beckoning him closer, and he pulled back with effort, resisting an irrational urge to place a kiss behind her ear.

  Jasmine.

  She’d always loved it and the scent had haunted him over the years, a poignant reminder of her.

  ‘Is that a compliment, Calloway?’

  She’d used a minimum of make-up, just enough to highlight her eyes, which shone luminous in the reflected glow of the torches around the perimeter of the room. He wondered if her eyes had always been that blue, that incandescent.

  ‘Call me Judd,’ he said, unable to quell the urge to flirt, hoping she’d join in the swing of things.