Australian Outback Kings / The Cattle King's Mistress / The Playboy King's Wife / The Pleasure King's Bride Read Free Page B

to give up. He stayed where he stood, letting her move forward to formalise his mother’s introduction. Lovely, almond-shaped, green eyes, as uniquely distinctive as the rest of her. Honey-brown lashes and brows. Was the haircolour natural?
    â€œI’m delighted to meet you, Mr King,” she said with cool deliberation as she held out her hand.
    Establishing impersonal distance.
    Nathan barely stopped himself from grinning at the implicit challenge as he gripped her hand, enfolding it in his own, liking the soft, silky warmth of it. His smile was controlled into a mere expression of friendly acknowledgement. Playing the stand-offish game suited him just as well, while he took her measure.
    â€œEven the children on the station call me Nathan, so please feel comfortable with it,” he assured her. “And since the resort also operates on a first name basis, I trust I may call you Miranda.”
    â€œOf course,” she answered smoothly, starting to extract her hand.
    Nathan did not resist the movement, finding it interesting she felt the need to break the physical link with him so quickly. It wasn’t exactly a rude rejection of contact, more a discomfort with it. Did she sense what she was stirring in him? Was she stirred herself? Her eyes reflected no more than the obliging interest of an employee to an employer, not so much as a hint of speculation on a woman to man basis.
    His mother’s words came back to him… I doubt Miranda Wade would be inclined to cling to any man’s hand .
    â€œWhat would you like to drink?” he asked, wondering if she was a raging feminist. “My mother’s having champagne…”
    â€œA glass of water would be fine,” she quickly interposed.
    Keeping a cool head, Nathan thought as he nodded and disconnected himself from her by turning to his brother. “A beer for you, Tommy?”
    â€œThanks, Nathan,” came the ready agreement.
    He left them to sort out seating while he got the drinks from the bar in the adjoining billiard room. Miranda Wade was not a woman to be rushed. That much was obvious. He had the impression there were many layers to her, not an easy woman to tag in any sense.
    He wondered how Tommy was faring with her. His brother had spent most of the day in her company. Had he managed to draw any sparks of interest? Resolving to simply sit and watch the interplay between them, Nathan returned with the drinks, ironically amused at the way this meeting was turning out. His annoyance with his mother’s decision had winked out the moment Miranda Wade had appeared in person.
    She’d chosen to sit in an armchair close to his mother, right across the room from where he’d been seated. Tommy bridged the gap, having dropped onto a sofa that could have invited sharing, but that option had not been taken up by the fair Miranda. She nodded to a drink coaster on the small table beside her as Nathan approached and gave him a flashing smile of acknowledgement when he set the glass down where she’d indicated.
    â€œThank you,” she said, breaking briefly from her conversation with his mother, then instantly resuming it.
    Done with grace, but holding him at a very firm distance, Nathan observed. He didn’t linger, didn’t attempt to draw her attention. A two-year contract gave him plenty of time to make her acquaintance. He strolled over to Tommy and handed him the beer.
    â€œHappy with the choice?” he asked quietly, watching for any reservation in his brother’s expressive eyes.
    â€œAre you?” Tommy retorted, mischief dancing.
    Nathan shrugged. “Your business, Tommy.”
    â€œAn asset, I think.” Definitely male appreciation in the gaze he slanted at Miranda. However his mouth made a wry little moue as he added, “Mind very focused on the job.”
    â€œGlad to hear it,” Nathan murmured and moved back to his chair, content with the confirmation that his