bent to stoke the fire with a pile of kindling
and lit a match. Soon, a welcoming blaze warmed the room.
Rubbing her hands
together and a trifle uncertain of what to do next, Madeline wandered over to
the stove and inspected the twin burners. Gas, which would be handy if the
storm cut off the electricity supply to the cabin. A perusal of the cupboard
contents revealed plenty of canned food as well as tea, coffee supplies, and
powdered milk. It would have to do. She was dying for a hot drink. She quickly
located the kettle and soon was handing around coffees.
With the door firmly shut
against the storm raging outside and a fire burning brightly, Madeline began to
relax. Maybe this hadn’t been a crazy idea after all. Taking her mug, she
settled on a sofa and idly watched her brother work on his iPad.
“Assignment,” he said
without looking up.
His total focus on his
task made her smile.
The cushions shifted as
Harrison sat down beside her, taking up more than his fair share of the space.
She frowned. Would it be
too obvious if she moved further along the lounge? “Shouldn’t you be working?”
Harrison snorted. “Only
mad dogs and Englishmen go out in this weather, and I’m neither.”
“What’s that?” Matty
paused and glanced over at them and Madeline couldn’t help wondering what he
made of the pair of them sitting so close together, if anything.
“Just an old saying.”
Harrison grinned. “Us Aussies like taking the piss out of Poms.”
Madeline and Matty
exchanged baffled looks.
“We like teasing English
people,” explained Harrison, taking a big gulp of his coffee. He stretched out
his legs, shuffling about until his body was right next to Madeline’s.
She glared at him.
He winked and slung his
arm along the back of the sofa. His fingers rested on her shoulder. She tensed,
her tummy fluttering while a slow burn of sexual heat sizzled through her
veins.
“I know you like
baseball, but what else do you like to do, Matty?”
Matty’s face lit up.
“I’ve got a chemistry set but it’s a bit basic which is why I use the lab at
Karim Academy. I’m particularly interested in biochemistry.”
“I meant out of school.”
Madeline sent her brother
a fond smile. “That’s what he does, in and out of school. It’s a wonder he
doesn’t put a bed in that lab.”
Matty grinned.
“No girlfriend?” Harrison
persisted.
“Nah, not really. I don’t
have a lot a spare time.”
“Amazing how much you two
are alike.”
Madeline turned and
looked at Harrison. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I think you use your
work and your commitment to your brother as an excuse not to get involved with
anyone. And probably, vice versa.”
“Rubbish.” Madeline
trembled. Damn him for hitting the nail on the head.
“Prove it.”
She sipped her coffee
before saying, coolly, “How?”
“Okay, tell me you
believe in love at first sight.”
Madeline scoffed.
“There’s no such thing.”
“You think so?”
“Absolutely. Our mother
believed in that rubbish. And look where it got her. Pregnant at seventeen with
no guy in sight, kicked out by her family, homeless and with no one to turn
to.” Her voice was thick with grief and she had to clear her throat.
Matty ducked his head and
played with his fork. He choked down an audible sob.
“That would have been
tough for her,” Harrison said noncommittedly.
“You have no idea,”
Madeline said hoarsely. “Mom did her best but she didn’t have an easy time
giving birth to me. It never entered her head to give me up. Even though she
struggled with depression each day, she kept us together.”
She smiled across the
room at her brother. “It wasn’t all bad. We had each other. Mom eventually
resorted to prostitution to put food on the table, then Matty was born and he
was such a beautiful baby. But again, she experienced post-natal depression.
The hospital did nothing for her except hand over a bunch of drugs. And the
next thing, I knew,
and lit a match. Soon, a welcoming blaze warmed the room.
Rubbing her hands
together and a trifle uncertain of what to do next, Madeline wandered over to
the stove and inspected the twin burners. Gas, which would be handy if the
storm cut off the electricity supply to the cabin. A perusal of the cupboard
contents revealed plenty of canned food as well as tea, coffee supplies, and
powdered milk. It would have to do. She was dying for a hot drink. She quickly
located the kettle and soon was handing around coffees.
With the door firmly shut
against the storm raging outside and a fire burning brightly, Madeline began to
relax. Maybe this hadn’t been a crazy idea after all. Taking her mug, she
settled on a sofa and idly watched her brother work on his iPad.
“Assignment,” he said
without looking up.
His total focus on his
task made her smile.
The cushions shifted as
Harrison sat down beside her, taking up more than his fair share of the space.
She frowned. Would it be
too obvious if she moved further along the lounge? “Shouldn’t you be working?”
Harrison snorted. “Only
mad dogs and Englishmen go out in this weather, and I’m neither.”
“What’s that?” Matty
paused and glanced over at them and Madeline couldn’t help wondering what he
made of the pair of them sitting so close together, if anything.
“Just an old saying.”
Harrison grinned. “Us Aussies like taking the piss out of Poms.”
Madeline and Matty
exchanged baffled looks.
“We like teasing English
people,” explained Harrison, taking a big gulp of his coffee. He stretched out
his legs, shuffling about until his body was right next to Madeline’s.
She glared at him.
He winked and slung his
arm along the back of the sofa. His fingers rested on her shoulder. She tensed,
her tummy fluttering while a slow burn of sexual heat sizzled through her
veins.
“I know you like
baseball, but what else do you like to do, Matty?”
Matty’s face lit up.
“I’ve got a chemistry set but it’s a bit basic which is why I use the lab at
Karim Academy. I’m particularly interested in biochemistry.”
“I meant out of school.”
Madeline sent her brother
a fond smile. “That’s what he does, in and out of school. It’s a wonder he
doesn’t put a bed in that lab.”
Matty grinned.
“No girlfriend?” Harrison
persisted.
“Nah, not really. I don’t
have a lot a spare time.”
“Amazing how much you two
are alike.”
Madeline turned and
looked at Harrison. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I think you use your
work and your commitment to your brother as an excuse not to get involved with
anyone. And probably, vice versa.”
“Rubbish.” Madeline
trembled. Damn him for hitting the nail on the head.
“Prove it.”
She sipped her coffee
before saying, coolly, “How?”
“Okay, tell me you
believe in love at first sight.”
Madeline scoffed.
“There’s no such thing.”
“You think so?”
“Absolutely. Our mother
believed in that rubbish. And look where it got her. Pregnant at seventeen with
no guy in sight, kicked out by her family, homeless and with no one to turn
to.” Her voice was thick with grief and she had to clear her throat.
Matty ducked his head and
played with his fork. He choked down an audible sob.
“That would have been
tough for her,” Harrison said noncommittedly.
“You have no idea,”
Madeline said hoarsely. “Mom did her best but she didn’t have an easy time
giving birth to me. It never entered her head to give me up. Even though she
struggled with depression each day, she kept us together.”
She smiled across the
room at her brother. “It wasn’t all bad. We had each other. Mom eventually
resorted to prostitution to put food on the table, then Matty was born and he
was such a beautiful baby. But again, she experienced post-natal depression.
The hospital did nothing for her except hand over a bunch of drugs. And the
next thing, I knew,
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