Outback Blaze (26 page)

‘Hi Drew,' she said as she threw open the door. Her voice came out high-pitched and fake-chirpy.

‘Are you okay?' he asked, his hands shoved deep in his pockets.

Just the way he said those three words threatened to unplug the emotion she'd tried to shove away the moment she'd heard his bike. ‘Why wouldn't I be?' But even as she said these words, she felt as if the cheap glue that was holding her together was failing.

He shrugged one shoulder. ‘I was just at the pub and Frankie told me you'd had a pretty rough day.'

‘You mean you haven't heard?' She lifted a hand to her mouth as realisation dawned. He knew nothing about her parents going AWOL. He was simply here because he was worried about her.

‘Heard what?'

Her heart sank into her stomach at what she was about to do, so she stepped back. ‘You'd better come inside.'

He stepped past her into the house.

‘Can I get you a drink?'

‘Sure, a coffee would be great.'

She gestured for him to follow her into the kitchen, her eyes lingering on the crumpled pieces of paper on the table. How many times had she read that letter today? ‘Take a seat,' she said, ‘and while you're at it, read this.'

He sat, wooden chair legs scraping against the tiled floor as he did so. The noise grated on her like nails down a blackboard but maybe that was merely the anticipation of horrors to come. She turned to busy herself with making two cups of coffee – a double dose of sugar in hers. When the kettle boiled, she poured the water into the mugs, swished in the coffee and finally turned around to check out his reaction.

He was looking up at her. Staring. A warm, inappropriate rush considering what they were about to discuss flushed over her at his attention. She swallowed and put the mugs on the table.

‘Wow.' He blew out air between his lips, nodding to the letter as he slid his mug towards him. ‘When did you find this?'

‘This afternoon.' She sniffed, the horrible feelings she'd experienced upon its discovery barrelling back. Her chest tightened, the room felt claustrophobic, but somehow she managed to sink down into the seat opposite him. ‘I'm so sorry, I never ever thought they could have done this. I can't believe they did. I can't believe they didn't talk to me about how they were feeling. How'd they ever think they could get away with such a thing?'

He glanced down at the note, then back to her, his forehead wrinkled. ‘Hang on. You think this means they did it?'

‘How can it mean anything else?'

He shifted in his seat as he picked up the letter and examined it again. She took a sip of her coffee, hoping it would clear her head that was muzzy from wine and the fact she'd forgotten to eat all afternoon. Finally he looked up.

‘There's no admission in here. Nothing at all that makes me believe they started the fire.'

‘I don't understand. Why else would they run?'

‘Have you read the letter, Ruby?' His tone was soft and gentle.

‘Only about fifty times.'

‘Here.' He picked it up, stood and walked round the table, slid out the chair next to hers and sat down. He proceeded to point to different sentences – sentences now burned into Ruby's brain, but Drew looked at them differently. ‘The way I see it, they felt trapped. Shit-scared they might end up charged for the crime and they couldn't bear the thought of being thrown in prison and losing the last precious years they had together, so however misguided, they've taken action to ensure that doesn't happen.'

She snorted. ‘Nice of them to consult me before they went into hiding. Have they got any idea what position this will put me in?' Her eyes stung with unshed tears. She held her lips tightly together, desperate not to cry in front of him.

But Drew appeared more in touch with emotions than any guy she'd ever met.

‘Hey, come here.' He opened his arms and pulled her against his firm chest. As his arms closed around her, his fingers stroking her hair over her shoulder, the floodgates snapped open and she could no longer hold in her hurt. Somewhere in the back of her mind she registered embarrassment at blubbering all over this poor man, but she couldn't bring herself to pull away. With her ear pressed against his chest, she could hear the steady beat of his heart and it soothed her wounded soul.

He didn't say anything and they must have stayed like that, pressed together, for a good ten minutes, her tears falling as he continued his divine stroking of her hair. When her sobs started to subside, she pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes with the heel of her hands.

‘Do you really still think they might be innocent?' she asked. Guilt at doubting her parents kicked her in the guts.

‘Yes,' he nodded. ‘If anything, this letter makes me more certain. This case has me baffled but something tells me your parents are innocent victims. I'm just sorry they didn't trust the law but felt the need to run.'

‘But it won't look good to the investigators, will it?'

‘No, but for all we know they've gone on a holiday. You don't need to show that letter to the police, you know. I'm here as a friend, not a cop.' He paused a moment, lifted his chin and looked into her eyes. ‘Let's give them a few days to reconsider.'

‘Okay,' she sighed. ‘Oh God, I hope they change their minds. I just wish there was a way to get a message to them.'

‘I know.' Drew dropped his hands to his side and leaned away.

‘Sorry,' she said, blinking. ‘I'm making a habit of blubbering when you're around.'

‘Don't mention it. I'm glad I came.'

His words lifted her heart, but another thought distracted her. ‘Oh Lord, what about mum's medication?' She stood and ran to the medicine cupboard, ripping open the doors. So consumed with anger, she hadn't thought about this until now. Her mum's illness complicated their escape. Her heart relaxed again as she saw the cabinet empty of all her mum's prescriptions.

‘They've taken what she had here,' she said, turning to Drew, ‘but what happens when she runs out?'

He stood and joined her. ‘Let's not worry about that just yet. I promise I'm going to do everything I can to find them and your dad clearly adores your mum, so I reckon he'll be doing everything he can to look after her.'

‘Yes, you're right.' Shutting the cupboards, she slumped against the bench. ‘I still can't believe they've done this. What if I never see them again?'

‘You will. I promise. You've just gotta stay strong.'

‘Sure. Easy, right.' She blinked, feeling anything but strong. ‘I'm sorry, would you like something to eat or something?'

He gave her a strange look, half amused, half confused, and picked up one of her hands, scrutinising it. ‘Ruby, you're shaking. I don't think it would be safe for you to handle sharp or hot objects right now. Besides, I just had a burger from the pub. When did you last eat?'

‘Oh, I'm fine. Don't worry about me.'

‘That's not what I asked.'

She rubbed her lips together, finding it hard to think with his fingers still wrapped around hers. ‘It's been a while.'

‘That's settled then.' She tried not to mourn the loss as he let go of her hand. ‘You go put your feet up in the lounge room and await a gourmet tea.'

She laughed. ‘I didn't know you could cook.'

‘Who said anything about cooking? Now go.' He placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her towards the doorway, which led into the lounge room. ‘Put your feet up. This won't take long.'

Bemused, she followed his order and took herself over to the couch. As she listened to him clattering around in the kitchen, she couldn't help but smile. So many things might be wrong in her life, but it felt strangely right to have Drew here.

Drew looked into the pantry and breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of bread, peanut butter and jam. While he constructed his most favourite of sandwiches, he shook his head at what Ruby's parents had done. Did it make them guilty? He didn't think so and he meant what he'd told her – that the letter didn't seem like a confession to him – but what kind of parents would just up and leave their daughter to handle such a nightmare?

And more to the point what was he doing here playing the role of confidante? He paused a moment and rubbed his hand over his face. He should feed her and get the hell out before the feelings he'd felt when she'd cried in his arms returned. Not wanting to analyse such carnal desires, he slapped the two pieces of bread together, cut the sandwich into triangles and then put it on a plate. Knowing this dish was best served with a glass of ice-cold milk he located a tray and carried the lot through to the lounge room where he found Ruby perched on the edge of the couch.

‘Is that what I think it is?' she asked, peering at the tray as he laid it on the coffee table in front of her.

‘If you think it's the best damn snack you'll ever have, then yes.' He sat on the armrest of the couch. ‘Go on, take a bite.'

Raising one eyebrow, she leaned forward, picked up half the sandwich and lifted it to her lips. She looked to him as if he might have poisoned it before finally taking a bite. He smiled as she chewed, her lips turning upwards when she'd finished the first mouthful.

‘Good, hey?'

She nodded. ‘It's amazing. I can't believe I ever mocked this.'

‘Told ya.' He felt smug as he sat back and waited for her to finish, but also happy knowing that when he left she wouldn't be going to bed in an empty house on an empty stomach.

When there was not a crumb left on the plate, she picked up the milk and downed the whole glass. She all but moaned her approval and he had to sit on his fingers to resist the urge to reach out and wipe the little milk moustache from above her lips. If he touched her there, he couldn't be responsible for subsequent actions.

‘I'd better be going,' he said, standing abruptly. ‘Are you going to be okay by yourself tonight? Is there someone I can call for you?' He hated to leave but staying wouldn't be right, however much he wanted to.

She shook her head and when she stood, he found they were mere inches apart. His breath caught in his throat as he imagined leaning forward and kissing off that milk mark.

‘I'll be fine,' she said, her tone husky. ‘Thank you for the sandwich. Thank you for coming. You've made everything not quite so bad.'

And then she leant forward and kissed him. His eyes half-closed as her soft lips brushed against his. Every ounce of sense in his head told him to pull back but every bone in his body wanted him to grab hold of her buttocks and draw her closer. Somehow, after a few moments of the hottest kiss ever, his brain won out. He pulled his mouth from hers and stepped out of her reach. ‘We can't, Ruby. It's not right.'

She blinked, her cheeks filling with crimson. ‘It's okay. Probably for the best. I'm crap at kissing and sex and all that stuff anyway.'

What the fuck?
How could she even think such a ridiculous thought? Especially after a kiss like that. And then it dawned on him. ‘Is that what your bastard of an ex told you?'

She wouldn't meet his gaze, but she nodded.

‘That's shit,' he said, an image of Jonas's smug face filling his head. ‘You can't possibly believe him?'

‘Well, I wasn't enough for him so it must be true.'

‘He cheated on you?' That prick was lucky Ruby had confessed this after he'd visited him. Not only had he used his fists to make her feel worthless but he'd two-timed her as well.

‘Not exactly,' she admitted, still staring at the carpet.

Drew placed his hand on the side of her arm. ‘What do you mean, Ruby?'

She closed her eyes, pursed her lips. He guessed she was about to close up, but he was wrong. ‘He got bored with our sex life. He said I didn't relax enough, that I was frigid but he had an idea how to fix it. He started wanting me to do
different
things, strange things…with fruit, vegetables, handcuffs, whips, you name it. That kind of stuff just isn't me, but when I refused to make love like that he brought someone else into the relationship.'

Drew held his breath.

‘He hired a prostitute to teach me how to be a better lover.'

‘You don't have to tell me any more,' he rushed in, hearing the discomfort in her voice.

‘I refused to sleep with the two of them.' She seemed determined that he know this fact but nothing could make him think badly of her right now.

‘Hey, it's okay,' he said, ignoring his resolve not to touch her and once again drawing her into a hug. She felt so good, so snug in his arms and he only wished he could fix her obviously broken self-esteem.

‘That's why he beat me,' she concluded. ‘He made me watch him have sex with the other woman and when she left, he punished me.'

His muscles tightened and he wasn't sure if it was due to anger or the desire he felt being so close he could smell her lemon-scented shampoo. Maybe a weird combination of both.

‘He's a low-life bastard,' he pulled his head back just enough to look into her eyes. ‘You know that, right?'

She nodded, but her look told him no such thing.

‘He's wrong,' Drew said firmly, ‘and if it didn't feel like I was taking advantage of the day you've had I would show you that right now.'

‘How?' she asked, her lower lip quivering.

‘I would kiss you all over,' he whispered. ‘I would show you how a real man loves a woman and I would make you see how good you are at sex. Because he's wrong, I promise you.'

She didn't say anything.

‘Hell, Ruby, I've got to get out of here now before I do something you might regret, but if you still want to give me that kiss tomorrow, I promise I won't pull away. If you come to me I'll do what I've been wanting to do with you since the moment I arrived in this town and I'll prove to you your bastard ex is wrong.'