Kimberly Nee - The McKenzie Brothers Read Free Page B

more bearable.
    Finally, Garrett and his drinking mates returned a week later. Her pulse pounded through her temples as Agatha sauntered over to them. Katherine tried not to dwell on the unfairness of being stuck with the drunken, sloppy Robert Benson yet again, whilst Agatha drooled over the handsome men in the corner. She put it out of her mind as she approached the bar. She was in the midst of giving Miller an order when Agatha flounced over, looking annoyed.
    “Them gents in the corner asked for you, Kat,” she grumbled, her dark eyes narrow slits and her little mouth pulled down into a pout. “That’s my table.”
    “I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about,” Katherine replied, trying to diffuse Agatha’s displeasure. “I’ll remind them and leave them to you.”
    “You’d best do just that. Keep your hands away from the one with the gray eyes. He’s mine .”
    Bradley Jefferson? Katherine snorted. “You’ve nothing to worry about, Agatha. That one’s coming close to getting his ears boxed. Besides, isn’t that him being shown the door by one of Mr. McKenzie’s friends?”
    She didn’t wait for Agatha’s reply but lifted her battered tray and wound her way over to the table in the corner, where Garrett now sat alone. Her heart sped up as she neared and her mouth went dry. “Where did your friends go?”
    “They’ve gone to Winslow’s to play cards and I will be joining them shortly. But before I left, I wanted to speak with you alone.”
    Alone? This was unexpected.
    “Speak with me? About what?”
    “Sit.” He gestured to the vacant chair across from him.
    “Oh, I’m afraid I cannot do that, Mr. McKenzie. Miller wouldn’t like that. He wouldn’t like it at all.”
    “I don’t give a damn what he would like. Neither will you when you hear what I have to say.”
    She swallowed a frustrated sigh, but did as he asked. “What is it?”
    He studied her for a long moment. “Do you like working here, Miss Bainbridge?”
    His question surprised her. “It’s a job. Perhaps not the best one in the world, but it suits me.”
    “Really? I don’t think it does.”
    Her hackles rose. “Is that so, then?”
    He didn’t seem the least bit troubled by her cool tone. “I’d like to offer you a position in my household.”
    “I beg your pardon?” She narrowed her eyes. “Are you foxed?”
    He shook his head, grinning as if this was the wittiest thing he’d ever heard. “Hardly. Allow me to explain. I have recently set up a home of my own and I need a staff. So far, I’ve a housekeeper and butler, but I need maids as well. Whatever Miller is paying you, I will double it.”
    Her heart thudded heavily in her chest. A maid? He wanted her, to be sure.
    But only as a maid.
    She didn’t know whether to be disappointed, insulted or flat-out furious.
    “Now why, pray tell, would I wish to do that?”
    “Because you are far better than this — a serving wench in a seedy dockside tavern. You are far better than these wenches who think nothing of selling themselves for a few paltry pieces of silver each night. I’m offering you the opportunity to better yourself, to raise your station in life. This way, you’ll not be troubled by drunken sots who think nothing of chasing you down dark alleyways in the hopes of something other than drinking.” He folded his hands, resting them flat against the table. “So, do you accept my offer?”
    Irritation surged through her as he sat there with that smug expression on his handsome face. Her first impulse was to tell him exactly what she thought of his offer. After all, she was no more a maid than she was a barmaid.
    But would it be so terrible? Being a maid had to be better than being pawed night after night, didn’t it?
    Of course, she might be pawed by Garrett but still, it was worth the risk, wasn’t it? Besides, if she could handle a roomful of drunken oafs, certainly she could handle one man as easily, couldn’t she? Still one last question remained