Chasing Dragonflies (11 page)

Maddie, however, there was something about her that intrigued him. He had not known when he met her about her history. That her father had kidnapped her and kept her locked away for many years. She had asked him if he knew who she was. It was only after he had seen a news crew parked out the front of her house he had gone home and looked her name up on the internet. He had been blown away by what he read. It was hard to reconcile the photos that splashed all over his screen of this poor emaciated young girl, with the beautiful vibrant woman he had met when he went to her house to work on her car.

She was funny and outgoing. He had caught her talking to herself or inanimate objects on more than one occasion. Maybe that had been a tell-tale of all the years she had spent alone. He had not spoken to her about it. He figured it was none of his business, she would talk to him about it if and when she felt she wanted too.

He had his own demons, he would rather keep locked away and not speak to anyone about, so he was in no position to be pushing anyone else to talk about theirs.

He hoped he hadn't given her the wrong impression when he kissed her the other day. He had not set out too, it just kind of happened. It was just a brief moment. A very nice, but very brief moment and nothing else was said. They had both carried on like nothing had happened. They had enjoyed a burger down at Pete's together, laughing at the boys scooting past on their skateboards, attempting to show off for the girls. One of them had tried to flip his board and ended up landing on his butt. She had a great laugh, her whole face lit up when she laughed. Her pretty green eyes sparkled. He was not sure where things were heading with her and he was not sure if he was ready to find out. Getting involved with another woman was not in his master plan. Not right now, maybe not ever.

It had come as a bit of a surprise, when she invited him to her house for a barbecue on the weekend. He didn't have anything else on, so figured why not. He knew the guy she was living with didn't like him hanging around. She had insisted there was nothing going on with Trick, but he was not so sure Trick felt the same way.

Oh well, what was the worst that could happen? He was a big boy, he could handle himself. If the hippy started anything, he was pretty confident he could finish it.

Sunday came around pretty fast, she had asked him on Friday, he had been working on the cooling system in her mustang at the time. She had come out and leant over the bonnet on the opposite side of the car. With her low cut little dress and her cleavage showing, he suddenly found it very hard to concentrate on exactly what it was he was meant to be doing. In fact he might have even forgotten his own name for a second or two there. She was a stunning woman.

“So Dex,” she had been smiling, and toying with her long hair, twisting the ends in her pretty fingers.

“Yeah?”

“Just wandering what you're up to on the weekend?”

“Well, I don't think I will have those other parts we need by then.”

“Yeah, I know, that's okay. We are having a barbecue here on Sunday, I was just kind of wandering if you're not busy, if you might like to come along?”

He was not really sure what to say to that. He looked around the garage, focussing on an old gasoline sign hanging over a tool bench. Taking in its rustic look, he wondered if it was genuinely antique or just made to look that way.

Whilst his mind was far away, Maddie must have moved from where she was opposite him, because when he looked back she was right beside him. Where had his mind been anyway? What was it about this girl that made his thoughts so scrambled?

“Only if you have nothing else going on of course.” Her eyes scanned his face, then wandered down lower over his torso, before returning back to meet his eyes.

He really had nothing planned for Sunday. Sure he had to see Shyla on the weekend, but he would probably do that tomorrow. But it was a bit weird, awkward even.

“Ah, yeah I guess I could drop in. Is it a special occasion?”

Maddie shrugged. “Nope, nothing special.”

And just like that, he had been invited to her family barbecue.

Pulling into the driveway, he saw Patrick's beat-up old car parked in its usual park and a black Harley parked in the front of the house. He walked to the front door and knocked. No answer, so he walked around the side of the house. As he approached he could hear chatter. Maddie's laugh rang out over the top of the general noise. He loved that laugh, it was loud, with maybe even a slight snort. But it was uninhibited. His mind turned again to what he had read about her, how she had spent so many years locked away. How her parents had died in a murder suicide and her brother’s girlfriend had been hailed a hero for saving her life.

Rounding the corner into the backyard, Maddie came into view. Looking gorgeous in a tight pair of jeans and flowing floral top. She was talking to another woman, he guessed to be around her age, with long dark hair, she had her arm in a sling. A blonde haired man stood at the barbecue a beer in one hand and barbecue tongs in the other.

“Hello,” he called out, feeling a little uneasy and not wanting to intrude.

Maddie turned when she heard his voice, leapt out of her deck chair and skipped toward him with a huge smile on her pretty face. He instantly felt at ease in her presence. Any misgivings he had about turning up at her house, fell away as she reached out and grabbed his hand pulling him further into the yard.

“I'm so glad you came, I want you meet my brother,” she rambled out excitedly.

The man who had been tending the barbecue turned to face him, extending his hand to shake.

“Hi, I'm Xavier.”

“Dex.”

The woman with her arm in the sling, came up beside Xavier, slipping her free arm around his waist. Flashing him a friendly smile, she said, “Hi Dex, I'm Asha. Xave's girlfriend.”

He nodded at her, “Hi Asha.”

“Can I get you a beer mate?” Xavier asked turning back toward the house.

“Ah no thanks, but I'll have a glass of water please.”

Xavier raised his eyebrows, but Dex had become accustomed to this kind of reaction. He was an Aussie man, didn't all Aussie men drink? He did not know Xavier and did not feel the need to explain himself to him.

He turned back to Maddie, who was standing close by his side.

“Where's Trick today?” he had kind of hoped he was not here.

“He's inside making salads and stuff, he fancies himself as a bit of a master chef,” she laughed, waving her hands toward the house, where Patrick obviously was. “Tells me he's going to fatten me up.”

He let his eyes run lazily over her body. She had a gorgeous body, yes she was on the thin side, but he could see no reason why anyone want to change anything about her. When his eyes met hers she smiled.

“What?” she smirked.

“I was just thinking you are perfect just the way you are.”

He saw a slight colour touch her cheeks and couldn't help but think that was adorable too.

“Yeah that's what I keep telling him too.” Came Asha's voice, breaking him out of his reverie. He had forgotten they were not alone.

“Here's your water, pull up a chair.” Followed Xavier's voice, coming from the back of the house.

The group moved toward where the deck chairs were set out on the lawn. It was a glorious spring day, the temperature was in the low twenties. Patrick arrived not long later, bringing with him a plate full of finger foods. He was pleasant enough.

He learnt that Patrick was Asha's brother. Between them the two women gave him a brief run-down of how Patrick had come to live with Maddie. Including how Xavier had organised it without running it by Maddie first. What they didn't tell him were the details of what he had read on the internet.

After a barbecue lunch, he wandered off to the garage to check a part he was not sure of on Maddie's car. He always found it difficult to switch off from his work. As he tinkered around under the bonnet he heard footsteps come in behind him. Looking up he saw Xavier.

“Hey buddy, how's it going?”

“Yeah I'm getting there, there as few small things that need changing. I have changed out almost every removable part. Should have her back on the road in a few days.”

Xavier nodded and placed his beer down on the nearby workbench. A very serious look on his face. Dex knew what that meant, the big brother talk was coming up. Awesome.

“So you know about Maddie yeah? About how she has only not long come back to us?” Xavier said quietly, looking around as if he were worried she might catch him out.

“Only what I've read on the internet,” Dex shrugged. “She has not really said much.”

Xavier puffed his chest out and looked like he was about to start in on a lecture. Dex was sure he was just doing his big brother duties, but he did not feel he needed it. He raised his hands in front of himself in a pose of surrender.

“You don't need to warn me off her if that's what this is all about.” He got in before Xavier started.

Xavier's shoulders dropped and he let out a long exhale. “It's just she has been through a lot you know, she is fragile and I don't want to see her get hurt.”

“I'm not out to her hurt her man,” Dex shook his head. “In fact there is really nothing going on for you to be concerned about okay?”

“Yeah that's what she said as well.”

“Well maybe you should listen to her then.” He brought his arms to his chest and folded them in a protective stance.

“I just don't want you riding on her skirt tail trying to cash in her media attention. She really does not need someone like that in her life.”

Dex raised an eye-brow, honestly?

“Is that what you think of me? Really?” He waved his hands in the air and pointed to himself. “Do I look like the kind of guy who is chasing media attention?”

Xavier shrugged, “I don't know you, I only know my sister and I know that she is not in a very good place right now. She spent six years locked up out the back there.” He pointed toward the back of the garage, his voice was getting louder and he had clearly forgotten he did not want Maddie to hear. “I don't want some asshole coming in here and making her life any harder than has to be.”

“You don't get to choose who I spend time with Xavier.” Came Maddie's sweet voice from the door of the garage.

Both sets of eyes turned directly to her.

She had a fierce look on her face as she stalked toward her brother. One hand on her hip and her index finger waving in the air. Dex knew it was wrong, but could not help but think she looked even sexier when she was angry. He thought momentarily of jumping to Xavier's defence, after all he was just looking out for her and he admired that. But he was also curious to see how this little beauty handled the situation.

Xavier looked surprised at being caught out. “
Madd's...”

“No Xavier,” she poked her extended finger into the centre of his chest. “I had Dad control my life for the last six years and now it's my turn. If I want to spend time with Dex then I damned well will.”

Her eyes flicked to his and he brought his hand up to his face to hide the smirk that was creeping across his lips.

“I didn't say you couldn't Madd....I just.”

“Yeah I know Patrick was 'just looking out for me too'” She made air-quotes with her fingers. “Well you know what, big brother, I rather like Dex and if you can't handle that, then maybe you should just go back the city and stay there.”

“Madd's,” Xavier tried to placate her.

“Ah maybe I should go?” Dex offered.

Maddie and Xavier both turned their glares to him. Perhaps they had both forgotten he was there. He knew he should not have come today. He thought maybe things would be different. He had no place being here in the first place. Maddie's big green eyes stared back at him in a silent plea. Xavier's were a mixture of guilt and pity.

No one spoke.

“Ah thanks for inviting me Maddie,” he ventured as he moved toward her.

She moved slighting allowing him to move past her, still not saying a word.

“I'll be back within a few days, with the last of the parts for your car, see if we can get it going yeah?”

Maddie nodded. Xavier looked to his feet. It was an awkward moment, he wished someone would say something. He moved past them both, out into the daylight, giving his head a shake, trying to clear out the confusion. At least he didn't have to see Patrick on the way out. He let himself out of the side gate and slipped into his truck. Just as he was about to turn the key in the ignition, he saw someone moving out the corner of his eye. Looking up he saw Xavier peering at him through the closed window. He rolled the window down, wondering what else he might have to say. Maybe he was going to tell him not to bother coming back.

“Sorry,” Xavier said, not making eye-contact, instead appearing to look past him into the passenger side of the vehicle.

“Yeah, don't worry about me, go talk to your sister,” he nodded to where he could see Maddie standing by the gate, watching. What was the point? He rolled his window back up, slipped his truck into reverse and backed out of the drive.

***

The truth was, he probably wasn't any good for Maddie. Not coming from where had been the past few years. She might have been locked away, but he had been through hell himself. Maybe two broken pieces couldn't fit together to make a whole. Maybe he would be doing her a favour if he just stayed away.

Maddie

“
I can't believe you did
that! You are such an asshole,” she scorned, shaking her head in disbelief at her brother, when they were back in the yard.

“Oh I can,” Asha rolled her eyes.

Maddie glared at her, then shook her head, “I don't know what you see in him Asha, I really don't.”

“What? I apologised.” Xavier shrugged.

“Oh yeah, only because I am mad at you, not because your sorry. It's hardly an apology when you don't even mean it.”

She was fuming, how dare he! First Patrick, now Xavier. At this rate she would never find a boyfriend, as the men in her life thought it was okay to be scaring the ones she liked off.