The Outback Cattleman's Hired Wife Read Free Page A

it and read the ad, then looked at her - really
looked at her. He ’ d had too much on his mind before.
    What kind of woman would answer an ad like this? This
woman was intelligent and beautiful. His eyes roamed over her - soft,
full-length, honey-blonde hair; incredible almond-shaped eyes, brown with
flecks of green and gold; a full kissable mouth under a long, straight nose and
pale skin - too pale for his liking. Did she spend all her time indoors?She
was a good head shorter than him, but was tall enough to fit nicely under his
arm and she had good ankles. She ’ d do - What
was he thinking?
    Kirra bristled under his overt scrutiny. ‘ I admit the ad sparked my curiosity. I take it that
you ’ re the
    Capricorn
gentleman? ’
    Jared ’ s eyes scanned the
clipping. He laughed. ‘ This is ridiculous. Mother placed an ad for a nanny
for my son. I don ’ t know where this one came from. ’ He eyed her with suspicion.
    Kirra ’ s small chin rose
in defiance. ‘ I assure you, Mr Glengarry, it was in yesterday ’ s Brisbane Bulletin newspaper. The description
fits you. Is that your telephone number? ’ She
reached over and pointed to the bottom of the clipping.
    ‘ Yes, it is. ’ Flummoxed,
he raked his fingers through thick, dark hair.
    ‘ Could your mother be playing matchmaker, perhaps? ’
    ‘ I doubt that very much, Miss Whitely. ’ His tone was frank and controlled. ‘ I ’ ll put a call
through to the newspaper. There must be some kind of mix-up. ’
    ‘ When I spoke to your mother, ’ she said, then stopped when she recalled that when
she ’ d enquired about the ad, she hadn ’ t specified that it was for a wife and mother. ‘ So I ’ ve come all the
way from Brisbane for nothing? ’
    Jared ’ s nostrils flared,
air rushing out like a frustrated steed. Had he met his match? The
wayward thought entered his mind. There was something about her. Her chin was
high and she was standing her ground. She was strong and determined. He liked
that.
    ‘ Well, I ’ m afraid
unless you want the Nanny
    Position, you ’ ve wasted your time coming out here. ’
    ‘ The Nanny Position wouldn ’ t suit me. ’
    ‘ But marrying a complete stranger would? ’ he asked.
    Kirra grimaced. ‘ Well, no.
Your mother did ask me to stay for two weeks so we could see if we were
compatible. This is the address she gave me. ’ She
flipped over the clipping in his hand and pointed to where the address was handwritten.
    ‘ That ’ s absurd. Mother
wouldn ’ t give you this unless she thought you were applying
for the Nanny Position. ’ He handed the clipping back to her. ‘ Someone is playing a cruel joke on me, but I can ’ t imagine who? I have no enemies. ’ He paused as if mentally scrolling through his list
of friends and acquaintances. ‘ I assure you, Miss
Whitely, I am quite capable of finding a suitable marriage partner if I so
desired one. ’
    ‘ I ’ m sure you are.
But the fact still remains that I ’ m here
because I have answered your ad in good faith. ’
    And I feel this intense chemistry between us!
    It took her by surprise that she found herself wanting
to get to know him for real.
    ‘ You have no right to be angry with me, ’ she said in defence, wrapping her arms around her
belly.
    A short burst of laughter erupted from his broad chest
and his face softened a little with a delightful crooked smile.
    A curl of desire stirred in her loins and a small gasp
    of shock escaped
from her pursed lips.
    His eyes narrowed briefly in puzzlement. ‘ I suppose not, ’ he
conceded in a calmer tone. ‘ Please accept my
apology. This ad has been the last straw in a problem-filled day. ’
    Kirra sighed and dropped her arms by her side. ‘ Apology accepted. ’
    ‘ Would you care for a cup of tea before you leave? ’ he offered with country hospitality. ‘ I think there ’ s still a
few homemade cookies in the jar unless my son has eaten them all. ’
    Kirra smiled. ‘ I thought
you ’ d never