Read Online McKettricks of Texas: Austin by Linda Lael Miller - Free Book Online Page A

somehow distant, and distinctly cool.
    Garrett looked at his watch, pushed back his chair and stood. “Time to play cowboy,” he said. “I was supposed to meet Tate on the east range fifteen minutes ago—better get out there before his lid starts rattling.”
    Austin rolled his eyes. “Can’t have that,” he said.
    â€œLater,” Garrett responded. Grabbing the keys to his truck from the hook beside the door, he disappeared into the garage.
    Austin rounded slowly, studying Paige. “What wereyou two talking about, before I came downstairs?” he asked mildly.
    Paige bit her lower lip. “Garrett offered me a job,” she said.
    He frowned. “Doing what?”
    She hadn’t actually accepted the position, but it wouldn’t hurt to bait Austin a little. Paige took pleasure in her reply. “Babysitting.”
    Austin looked relieved. “You’re already doing that, aren’t you?” Not expecting an answer, he took up the mug he’d left on the counter earlier and refilled it at the coffeemaker. Turned to look at Paige again as he took a sip of the brew. “Calvin’s a great kid,” he observed.
    â€œI wasn’t hired to look after Calvin,” Paige said.
    Austin lowered the cup from his mouth, set it aside with a faint thump. His marvelous eyes narrowed a little. “What?”
    â€œGarrett asked me to be your nurse, Austin.” No need to add that she hadn’t said yes.
    She was enjoying this way too much, but it was harmless fun, all things considered.
    â€œIn that case,” Austin said evenly, “you’re fired.”
    â€œYou can’t fire me,” Paige told him, delighted by the swift blue flash of his temper and the sudden buzz in the air. “I don’t work for you.”
    Austin shoved a hand through his hair, sucked in a breath and released it, summoned up a casual smile. Paige recognized the tactic from days of old; he was still annoyed, but she wasn’t supposed to notice.
    â€œDo I look as though I need medical supervision?” he asked reasonably, spreading his hands.
    He looked like sugar-coated sin, not that Paige wouldhave said so. “All I know,” she said, trying to look and sound innocent, “is that I’ve been hired to take care of you.”
    She should have put on the brakes right then and there, admitted she was only teasing, that she thought the idea of signing on as his nurse was as ludicrous as he did.
    For whatever reason, she didn’t straighten him out.
    Austin crossed to one of the row of fancy refrigerators, wrenched open a door and promptly slammed it shut again, without taking anything out.
    Turning back to face Paige, he snapped, “Fine.”
    â€œFine,” she repeated with a nod, tucking her hands behind her back and hooking her index fingers together. Rocking back on her heels.
    â€œDon’t do that,” Austin growled, storming over to another cupboard, taking out a loaf of bread, extracting two slices and dropping them into the toaster.
    â€œDon’t do what?” Paige asked.
    â€œDon’t repeat what I say.”
    â€œI was only agreeing with you.”
    â€œYou’re enjoying this,” he accused.
    â€œEnjoying what?”
    â€œYou know damn well what.”
    Paige smiled blandly. Watched as he ranged all over the kitchen, getting a plate down from a shelf, then a knife from a drawer, then butter and jam from another one of the refrigerators.
    Such an enormous amount of fuss just to make toast.
    The bread popped up.
    Austin grabbed both slices at once, plunked them down on the plate, spread butter and jam.
    Finally walked over to the table and stood stiffly atone end of the bench. “Sit down,” he said. When Paige didn’t move, he added, “I can’t until you do.”
    Ah, yes. His manners.
    The irony made her want to chuckle, but she didn’t give in to the impulse.
    He sat. Ate some of