Maddy slid back to her seat and pulled hertank top straps back up. "Thanks for a great day. Really, I hadfun. I'll see you in the morning with my dishwasher." He went tospeak, and again, she silenced him.
"Please, please don't say anything. I don'tregret a thing and couldn't bear to hear any regrets from you rightnow. We can start fresh tomorrow." Maddy eyed him seriously. Sheopened the truck door, pausing before getting out, "Chase, I wantyou. I don't do relationships; I think I'm just not built for that.But, maybe just once..." Maddy almost lost the nerve, but thenremembered the feel of his mouth on her, "When you're ready, I wantyou."
Without looking back, she swiftly hopped outand shut the truck door, sashaying into the house. His completesilence, with mouth open in wordless astonishment, as if trying tofigure out how to even respond, was quite reassuring that he wouldagree.
11
From across the street, Dylan sat in the dark,watching the disgusting scene unroll before him. He'd made it backout of the house in plenty of time, but he couldn't bear to leaveuntil he knew she was home. She was gone all day... withhim.
Dylan bit his cheek to keep from screamingout in anger. Years ago, Chase had driven her right into his openarms. She was his now, Chase had lost his chance.
Chase had proved useful this morning,however. Dylan couldn't believe his good fortune. He'd been drivingby for his usual morning surveillance and watched her run out thedoor without locking it. After being away from her for the pastnine years, he knew how to be patient and had bidden his timewell.
After he was sure she wasn’t coming rightback, he made his move. Dylan casually walked down the sidewalk,and when no one was watching, he dashed into her house. Not wantingher to discover that he'd been inside, he was careful to notdisturb anything.
Naturally, he explored her clothing, taking afew extra moments in her underwear drawer. He held up a minisculeblack lace thong; she'd gotten adventurous since he knew her last.Just one little souvenir wouldn't hurt. Dylan allowed himself toperuse some of her photos, taking only a few for his collection. Hemade his time in her house count, taking full advantage.
12
Maddy awoke bright eyed and bushy tailed for thesecond morning in a row. Maybe she was a morning person after all.She took a quick shower. Well, not super quick. She did a brieftouch-up leg shave. Just in case. And some lip gloss.
She drew the line at wearing a sundress. Itwould be downright slutty to install a dishwasher in a short skirt.She was working up her courage to make a move, but flashing himmight be a bit too forward. Practicality won out. She settled onsome ripped up old skinny jeans and a t-shirt.
When the bell rang at 7:45, Maddy nearlybounced her way to the front door. And… opened it to find Aidenstanding there holding a brown paper bag. Chase stood right behindhim, looking remarkably sheepish.
"Coffee, sis? If I'm getting up this early ona Saturday, there'd better be coffee." Why was Aiden irritated withher? It's not like she'd invited him. Aiden grouchily brushed pastand headed for the kitchen.
Maddy stopped Chase in the doorway andquietly teased, "Call for reinforcements?"
He looked a bit ragged this morning. Clearly,he hadn't slept well last night. He had tried to shower off thefatigue, his hair still wet, hadn't shaved of course. His eyescouldn't hide the sleepless night, however.
Chase's face morphed into more of a sheepishgrin as he stepped up close to her and whispered, "Guilty ascharged. More of a chaperone, though. After last night..." Heleaned closer, nearly pressing his cheek to hers and whisperedsoftly in her ear, "I don't think we'd get much done if I tried towatch you wiggle your ass in front of me all morning while youinstall the dishwasher."
Chase grazed his hand along her hip as hemoved past her. "Hey man, save me some coffee."
Aiden ripped open the brown paper bag he'dbrought with him. He passed each of them a breakfast sandwich,tearing into his own, pausing only to sip his coffee. He glanced toChase, "How was the trip to the hardware store? You talk her out ofbuying half the store?"
Before Chase could respond, Maddy interjectedand elbowed her brother in the side, "Hey, I just drool, I rarelysplurge." Aiden responded with a shit-eating grin back at hissister.
"Ok, break it up. Aiden, make yourselfuseful. Let's go grab the new dishwasher. Maddy, mind opening thegarage so we can bring it in through the garage door?"
"Aye, sir." Maddy saluted and headed for thegarage. She clicked the opener and daylight entered the garage. Shereturned to the house and grabbed some of her every-day tools fromthe kitchen drawer. She stared in the drawer for a moment. Wherewas her spare set of keys? That was the trouble of living alone,there was only one person to blame when things went missing.
Aiden and Chase shuffled into the room,cautious to not bump into any walls. Maddy had unhooked the olddishwasher last night when she realized sleep was not going tohappen easily. She was glad to see Chase had experienced asleepless night as well.
"Now you can move the old one out to thegarage. It's nice having assistants," she added with a perky smile.Maddy was in full bossy mode and enjoyed it, knowing they'd tellher to shove off if they didn't actually want to help. "Hey, Aiden,do you have my spare keys? I couldn't remember if I gave them toyou when you and dad came over to set up my porch swing."
"I'm not sure you can still call it a porchswing when it's on your back deck. And, no, I made a copy of yourkeys and gave the originals back to you. Why? Lose them?" Aidenwolfed down another few bites of breakfast sandwich before loadingup the old dishwasher.
"I guess I did. And yes, of course it's stillcalled a porch swing. What else would I call it? A deck swing? Thatwould sound ridiculous." Maddy dove in to unwrap the new dishwasherwhile the guys carried out the old one.
The keys were quickly forgotten when Maddygot to admire her beautiful new dishwasher. Installation actuallywent fairly smoothly with the three of them. It likely would havegone better if she'd installed it without their "help," as theyoffered differing opinions at every step. Fortunately, they wereable to laugh off their bossiness.
"Woohoo. Dishwasher installed. Who wants todo some dishes?" Maddy was not surprised there were no takers asthe guys turned away, whistling and looking anywhere but at her."Ha, you guys are very funny. I think I have to run it empty thefirst cycle anyway. Grab yourselves a beer and go sit out on thedeck. I'll order pizza."
Chase did as instructed and headed out to thedeck with his beer. Aiden hesitated before going out. "You doing oksis? You seem distracted. Is it the keys?"
Maddy knew she had been distracted. The keyshad bothered her, but she was sure she'd find them. She was moredistracted by her response to Chase. She had felt disappointed whenhe had brought the chaperone, but it was probably a good thing.
