Australian Affairs: Claimed. Margaret Way

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      ‘What do you mean?’ Julie asked.

      ‘He gave me a lecture about buying secondhand cars,’ Kitty said. ‘Honestly, you’d think I’d committed a crime. And that was on top of the dressing down he gave me about water restrictions. How was I to know you’re not supposed to use a hose to wash your car?’

      ‘I should’ve told you about that—sorry.’

      ‘It’s not your fault.’

      ‘It’s not his fault, either.’

      ‘Yes, it is,’ Kitty said. ‘He just loves to lord it over me. He doesn’t like the way I pay attention to detail at work. But I don’t have his depth of experience or confidence. I can’t just waltz in and diagnose everyone just like that. I need to feel my way.’

      ‘I’m sure he’s only trying to help you,’ Julie said. ‘He seemed quite positive about your being a part of the team when I asked him.’

      ‘He doesn’t think I’m up to the task,’ Kitty said. ‘He thinks I’m scared of being out of my depth.’

      ‘But you are,’ Julie said. ‘It’s what I was telling you the other day. You’re a classic control freak. Sooner or later you’re going to have to realise you can’t control everything in life. Anyway, how boring would that be?’

      ‘I’m perfectly happy with my life the way it is,’ Kitty said.

      ‘I wish I could say the same,’ Julie said wistfully. ‘I wonder if I’ll ever meet someone who wants the same things I do.’

      Kitty squeezed her cousin’s hand. ‘That’s the fairytale, isn’t it? We have to believe, otherwise what hope is there?’

      * * *

      Jake checked his watch yet again. It wasn’t the first time his brother had stood him up. He had been left waiting on numerous occasions, but he could never bring himself to leave until he was absolutely sure Robbie wasn’t going to show. He always gave him a chance to redeem himself. The psychologists would probably call it enabling behaviour, but what else could he do? Robbie was his flesh and blood. He hated to think of him out on the streets, desperate for food or shelter. He had to do what he could to protect him.

      ‘Got a dollar, mate?’ A voice spoke from a bundle of rags on the sidewalk.

      Jake fished in his pocket for some money. ‘Why are you on the streets?’ he asked, dropping the coins in the tin.

      ‘Got nowhere else to go,’ the man said, quickly pocketing the money.

      ‘What about shelters?’

      ‘Cost money.’

      ‘What about your family?’

      ‘Don’t have no family.’

      ‘Everyone has family,’ Jake said.

      ‘Not me,’ the guy said. ‘You?’

      ‘Yeah,’ Jake said. ‘They drive me nuts.’

      ‘That’s what families do.’

      Jake took out his wallet and peeled off a few notes. ‘Here,’ he said, handing them to him. ‘Find yourself a hotel or something. Don’t blow it on drugs or drink.’

      * * *

      Kitty padded out to her kitchen early the following morning for a glass of water before her shower. She pulled up the blind on the kitchen window and saw Jake in his own kitchen on the opposite side of the courtyard. He was standing in front of his open refrigerator—and he was naked.

      Her eyes drank in the sight of him, all bronzed and buffed, every muscle toned and taut with good health and vigour. He looked as if he had just stepped off a marble plinth in a museum. Not a gram of fat on him anywhere, just strong lean planes of hard male flesh.

      She gave a little gulp.

      He closed the fridge and turned and saw her staring at him. A slow smile spread over his features. He raised the carton of juice he was holding in a salute and mouthed, Good morning.

      Kitty pulled the blind back down with more haste than efficiency. She clutched the edge of the sink, breathing hard. What must he think of her, gawping at him like that? Had he done it on purpose? Did he make a habit of wandering around naked in full view of the neighbours? So what if she was the only neighbour residing here just now—he had no right to flaunt himself like that!

      Then she remembered his hot little hook-up. He probably had her there, still lying languorously in his bed after a bed-wrecking night of sex.

      She stomped off to the shower, but as the water flowed over her in stinging little needles she thought of him having a shower next door, no doubt sharing it with his lover. Was he soaping up her breasts? Was he kissing her neck and décolletage?

      ‘Grrrrggh.’ Kitty reached for a towel and scrubbed herself dry. ‘I hate that man!’

      * * *

      Kitty was on her way to her car to drive to work when she remembered Jake had arranged to deliver it to his mate’s workshop. Just as she was about to call a cab on her mobile, he appeared from round the corner.

      ‘Want a lift?’ he asked.

      Kitty couldn’t control her fiery blush. ‘Please don’t put yourself out any further,’ she said. ‘I can easily call a cab.’

      ‘At this time of the morning?’ he said. ‘It’s bedlam out there. I just fought my way through it with your heap of rust. Only just made it too. I think the radiator’s about to go on it as well.’

      ‘I’m sorry you’ve had such a trying start to the morning,’ she said.

      His dark blue eyes glinted. ‘My morning started out just fine.’

      Kitty opened the passenger door and bundled herself inside, cheeks still burning hot. Did he have to embarrass her even further?

      ‘How did your night on the town go?’ he asked once he was behind the wheel.

      She threw him a flinty look. ‘It was probably excruciatingly tedious compared to yours.’

      ‘I don’t know about that,’ he said, checking for traffic as he pulled into the street. ‘I’ve had better.’

      Kitty glanced at him but his expression was unfathomable. ‘Are you going to see her again?’ she asked.

      ‘Who?’

      ‘Your hot date last night.’

      He changed lanes before he answered. ‘Maybe. It depends.’

      ‘On what?’

      He glanced at her wryly. ‘Why the sudden interest? Are you thinking of joining the queue?’

      ‘Don’t be daft,’ she scoffed.

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