His gaze burned hot with blue fire. “You tell the mate if he carts your pretty arse out to the bush, I’ll no longer be offering my birdies for his services.”
She sucked in a breath. “Miller!”
“You’ve no bloody clue what dangers you’d face in the bush. Snakes.” He straightened. “Fuck, Yank, we have more venomous snakes here than we do nonpoisonous ones. Spiders. Scorpions. Ants and flies that’ll eat you bloody well alive.” The tic drummed in his cheek as he talked through clenched teeth. “Bats. And rats. Disease. Fucking violence. Christ, violence among the Aborigine tribes. Murder. Sexual assaults.”
“I know all that.” She scrambled up onto her knees. “Dr. Giese has filled me in.”
He stood, raking his hand through his hair.
“I’ve also done my own homework.” Nervously, she eyed him. “I’m prepared.”
“Fuck, I need a pint.” He didn’t offer her a glance as he headed toward the door.
“Miller!” She jerked as the door slammed behind him on his way out. Open mouthed, she flopped backward on the bed. “I don’t understand him at all.” Feeling rather helpless, she clutched a pillow to her. “I don’t understand him, but I want to.” Miller’s reaction left her tied up in knots of confusion.
How she wanted to know him better. And that was a lost cause. No way should she still desire him. He’d left her. She hadn’t exactly asked him to stay, but he’d been the one to walk away.
Stop this. You’re not some moping teen.
Kaycee forced herself to move. She painted her nails and then her toenails. Watched a show she wouldn’t remember if her life depended on it. Unable to wait any longer, she crawled tiredly into bed.
He could sleep on the couch. She hoped it gave him a crick in his neck. Lying in the dark for so long, she fell asleep. It was a fretful sleep of spiders and flesh-consuming bugs. She heard him come in. Briefly, he stopped in the bathroom. The toilet flushed.
She peeked out from behind the sheet. “Miller?”
“Eh.”
She sighed. “What time is it?”
“Late.” His boots hit the floor with thuds before he settled back on the couch.
Humph. Sometimes she wished he wasn’t so wordy. There were no digital clocks in the room, and her watch didn’t glow. She had no clue how long she’d tossed and turned. “How late?”
“Go back to sleep, Yank.”
Noting the pressure in her bladder, she squirmed. “I’m wondering if I should try to hold off going to the bathroom until morning.”
“Go piss, luv.” A rough chuckle rumbled from the other side of the room.
“You shouldn’t laugh at my discomfort.” She smiled into the darkness.
“Sorry, luv.” He cleared his throat. “Now, there’s something else to remember. There’s no pissers in the bush.”
Sighing, she decided to ignore the comment. She knew what she was getting into. Never in her life had she been as excited about something as her trip to Australia. She’d enjoy every day of her year spent here. She’d made her decision to travel abroad carefully and had scrimped and saved to get here. “Miller?”
“Eh.”
“You want to switch places?” She didn’t want him to get a crick in his neck. “I can sleep on the couch. I’m shorter.”
“Go to sleep, Kaycee.” He released a heavy breath.
Fine. No energy to argue, she rolled out of bed to ease her way toward the bathroom. “Goodnight.”
Miller listened to his voice mail. “Mate, I owe you if you can house the sheila for me a couple weeks. The boy’s back home. We’ll be putting her up in the south property as soon as it’s cleaned up.”
Disgusted, he growled. The south property was a dump. He’d tried calling Brady last night. The bloke had been out. Or not answering. What kind of response was that? Brady was giving the room meant for Kaycee to his useless son. Two, three times a year, the boy came home to suck the old folks dry. And now, Brady expected her to live in a dump. No way in hell could the old man get that place cleaned up. It’d gone too long without repairs.
Though he supposed he could get a crew in there to see what they could do.
“Everything okay?” Kaycee now stood at his side.
“Eh. No. Look, Brady left a message.” He pushed his hat back. “He wants me to put you up for a few days…”
“Oh, come on.” Gray eyes narrowed. “He does not.”
“I don’t lie.” Not ever.
“I know.” Her faced softened. “I know. I’m tired. I didn’t sleep well. What exactly did Brady say?”
A surge of desire, protectiveness, heated his blood. He wanted to pull her against his body. He was tired too. Tired as hell. He hadn’t slept well with her across the room. Not more than a wink or two at a time. He’d wanted to be in that bed bloody bad. He’d wanted to be in her even more. “He said he’d owe me if I put you up for a few days.”
“I can’t stay with you another night.” She folded her arms. “I just can’t.”
His teeth clenched, and he replayed the message for her to hear.
“Holy snap.” She exhaled noisily. “Why does this keep happening?” Agitated, she waved an arm. “There has to be a pub, a hotel.”
“Brady’s all we got in this area.” He gazed at her flushed face. Knowing he shouldn’t be enjoying her animation. Her enthusiasm. And her temper. “I’ll see if the bunkhouse has room for you.” On a working station, this time a year, the possibility was slim they’d find her a bed in one of the bunkhouses. But he’d give it a shot.
“A bunkhouse?” White teeth nibbled on her lower lip.
“Eh. You might get lucky and find a bed empty.”
She snorted. “Fine.” Tossed her ponytail. “Sounds great. Thank you. Again.”
“Come on, luv.” With no room in the back of the truck because of his toolboxes and spare parts, he shoved all her bags into the cab. They filled up the backseat and a quarter of the front seat.
“The bunkhouses aren’t far.” He supposed he could call but anything to prolong his time with Kaycee.
Inside the truck, she scooted as far away from him as she could get. It wasn’t enough. Once the truck got in motion she bounced, her body rubbing against his. Her curves drove him to distraction.
Neither spoke a word as he drove along. He didn’t slow down until he pulled up in front of Luke’s office. Luke’s job was to manage the tourists that came through the station. The day his dad had died, he’d fired the man his dad had running the visitors’ bunkhouses and hired Luke. His uncle had pitched a fit, but Miller hadn’t cared. It’d been one of the best decisions of his life.
Luke had done right by them. The number of visitors had nearly doubled from the marketing he’d done. Luke was a natural with those who came and went through Thorn station.
Rolling to a stop, he blew the horn twice before the man appeared. As Luke ambled over, Miller tried to give Kaycee a little more room. But her breast still pressed into his arm.
The woman carted around too many bloody bags.
Luke rested his forearm on the window frame of the driver’s side. “G’day boss.” He tipped his hat to Kaycee. “Welcome to Thorn Station. I’m Luke, the man you want to talk to if you need anything during your stay.”
“Hi, thanks.” From the corner of his eye, he saw Kaycee smile.
“How was Litchfield?” Eh, count on the bloke to bring up the reason Miller had called him while in Darwin.
“Oh, it was beautiful.” She leaned forward a bit, her body pressed into him more. “I loved it there.” Yep, and now the bloke knew he hadn’t been alone up north. Not that he cared. No, Luke was welcome to spread the fact he’d been with the Yank. It’d been a bloody excellent time. All because of her.
“And for you, boss?” Luke’s grin was easy and knowing.
“Nice place.” His balls drew up. The outback had gotten a whole lot hotter. Or his blood had. He’d have liked to stay up North with Kaycee longer.
Luke�
��s grin grew. The mate knew him well. A lot better than many. Kaycee wouldn’t be riding with Miller if there wasn’t a story there.
Still he didn’t want his friend to read into it more than was there. Uncomfortable under the man’s gaze, Miller cleared his throat. “Got a spare bed in the bunkhouse?”
“For your lady friend here?”
“Eh.” He gave a slight nod in the affirmative.
“Nope. Not a spot for a sheila.” Luke pursed his lips. “Unless you want to put her in with the jackaroos.”
Fuck, no. Kaycee alone with a rowdy bunch of ranch hands? Half of them didn’t know their arses from a hole in the ground.
“She’s welcome to stay in my room.”
Miller gave the bloke a hard look. Luke’s room was attached to the men’s bunkhouse. “We’ll figure something else out.”
“I’m sure Maree would love to have company up at the main house.”
“Who’s Maree?” Kaycee clasped his arm.
“My mum.”
She jerked her fingers back. “Oh.”
Luke stepped to the side. “I’ll call and let her know to expect you.”
“Thanks a heap.” Miller put the truck in motion.
“You’re taking me to your mom’s home?”
The panic in her voice set him on edge. Just what would be so bad about staying longer with him? “It’s my home too.”
“Your home?” She moaned and dropped her head back. “Main house. Luke said main house. Oh, he called you boss… Are you telling me this is your ranch station?”
Miller regarded her for a moment. Her face had flushed. She didn’t look happy with the turn of events. “Would telling you my family owns this station help my case or not?”
I’m marrying John Ashlan. He’s a man who can give me everything I want.
“Miller.” She gasped, pushed his arm for some room that she didn’t get. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”
He lowered his lashes as the familiar insecurity knotted his guts. Bloody fuck. So he should’ve told her. But dammit, money and position had been all Emily had wanted. And now he had both. He just hadn’t been able to tell Kaycee about himself.
“I’m telling you now.” A weight settled over his heart at her expression of hurt. “I own the majority of Thorn station.” Buying Ethan out had given him the ruling share and had pissed his uncle the fuck off. “It’s been in my family for generations.”
“I see.” Her lips compressed, she nodded. “That’s great. Sounds like you’ve got a neat history.” White teeth sucked her lower lip into her mouth as she kept her gaze down.
It was his turn to look away.
You should’ve told her.
Miller cut the engine off in front of his home. Immediately, the pack of dogs rushed to the truck.
“Holy snap.” Kaycee eyed the hounds. “What are there, two dozen?”
“No. Not even close.” He’d stopped counting them a long time ago but he knew there wasn’t even a dozen. He climbed out and shooed them away. “Useless buggers. Go on, get out of here.” Some whined. Most did as he ordered. A few stood, still wagging their tails. He sighed. Bloody useless buggers. “Come on. They won’t bite.”
“Are you sure?” She slid his way. “I’ve never seen so many together before.”
“They won’t. They’re smart enough to know I’d shoot them.”
“Miller.”
His mouth twitched, at the tone in her voice. “Come on, luv. They’re also smart enough to know who feeds them.” He glared at the lingering mutts. “At least, most of them are smart enough.”
Hesitantly, she climbed out, clutching her bag.
The nearest dog made a move to get closer, sending her into Miller’s side. “Easy, luv. They’re useless buggers. No need to worry.”
“I’ve seen specials on what pack dogs do.”
“Not these buggers.” He took her hand in his. “Now, dingos on the other hand. Vicious bastards.” He squeezed her fingers in reassurance. Though he understood the mentality of a pack, he also trusted the dogs. “They’ve not been a problem on the station.” He just didn’t see the point in causing her any worry. So he didn’t mention that dingos readily interbred with domestic and feral dogs. And on occasion they’d had to relocate a loner. It bothered him to see the animal in the wild in danger of extinction. His granddad had told him many stories of the fierce predator.
“That’s good.”
He closed the door, keeping her close to him while they ambled up to the porch.
“You’ve a cozy home.” She withdrew her hand. “I was expecting…”
“Mum won’t hear of building up.” Nope. She pitched a fit every time he mentioned building a new home. She’d had her children here, and she was keeping it. He liked his home, but his mum deserved something grand. They could afford it. Another reason to loathe his old man’s memory. The rotten bastard should’ve done a bloody sight better for their mum.
He held the door open for her. Something strange happened inside his chest while he watched her go inside his home. A pressure he couldn’t name.
Kaycee stepped aside to let him lead the way. Her boot heels clicked on the hardwood floors. He found his mum in the kitchen, fussing over the stove.
She turned around as he cleared the archway. “Mum.”
His mum didn’t hesitate to hug him. Not once had he ever left without a goodbye. Not once had he returned and not been welcomed.
“I’m glad you’re back.” After she patted his back, she stepped aside. “It’s been quiet with you away.”
He grunted. They didn’t talk much when he was home either. He spent most of his time keeping the station going. “Mum, I’ve brought company.”
Her eyes widened and gleamed when they landed on Kaycee.
He frowned, not particularly liking the look one bit. It struck him that he’d seen it before. When Denae had entered his life. What a wreck that experience had turned out to be.
“You’ve brought company home.” A quick smile spread across her worn face. “Well, don’t be shy. Come on in.”
“Hi, I’m Kaycee. I hate to impose this way.” She trailed off when his mum took her hand in hers.
“Oh, you’re not imposing. I’m Maree Thorn. I’m glad to have you.” She encouraged Kaycee across the room to the table. “Here come sit down and tell me about yourself.”
Kaycee’s gray eyes sought him out, but like everyone else, she did as his mum instructed. Eh, his mum had a way with getting people to do what she wanted. Could be her directness. No one argued with her.
His mum turned to him. “Travis is watching the telly. Go get him.”
“Travis!” Miller called for his second cousin, causing his Yank to jump. “Sorry.” But there’d been no way he was leaving his mum alone with Kaycee. He didn’t trust the gleam in his mum’s eyes. By now he knew how his mum’s mind worked. He didn’t want his mum to entertain any kind of thoughts to push Kaycee one way or the other. The way she’d pushed Denae.
“Miller.” His mum shook her head.
He braced a shoulder on the door frame. He heard the clomping his cousin made before he saw him. Travis pounded on his back. “Hey, mate.”
“Mate, you staying out of trouble?”
“Yes, sir.” Travis came to a standstill at the sight of Kaycee sitting at the table with her legs crossed.
“T, meet Kaycee.”
“Hey, sheila.”
Kaycee stood and offered her hand. “Hi. Nice to meet you.”
Travis pumped her hand, and then stepped back.
“Kaycee’s Miller’s company.”
“Huh?” With his face flushed, the young man spun toward him. “Big M? You got a woman?”
“Oh. No. No.” Kaycee’s eyes went wide as a deep flush spread from her neck to her cheeks. “It’s nothing like that.”
His teeth clenched, a tic beating to life in his bunched jaw.
“We’re friends.” Nodding, she turned to his mum. “We’re fri
ends.”
Friends? He didn’t feel like her mate. Only two days ago, he’d been having the time of his life. He crossed his arms over his chest.
“Bonzo. M’s got a friend.” Travis continued to eyeball Kaycee. “First for everything, I guess.”
Kaycee’s teeth nibbled her lower lip. “He’s offered to help me out. The home I’ll be staying at needs a little work.”
“You’re welcome here for as long as needed.” The speculative expression was back in place in his mum’s gaze. “Where are my manners? Come sit down. Would you like milk or coffee with your pie?”
“Oh, no thank…”
Mum ignored Kaycee and set about dishing slices out. So Kaycee sat.
He sat beside her.
“Well, okay. Milk.” Kaycee offered his mum a smile. “Thank you. For the hospitality too.”
“No worries.” Mum went to the counter for two more slices.
Travis took a seat directly across from Kaycee.
Miller took a calming breath. If the boy didn’t stop eyeballing Kaycee, he’d get his ears boxed. “Thanks a heap.” He nodded when his mum served him.
A gentle hand squeezed his shoulder as she poured him coffee. “So, Kaycee, you’re American?”
“Yes. I’m from Davenport, Iowa.” She took a bite. After a moment, she added, “You’ve a gorgeous country. I’ve been enjoying my stay so far.”
“Your stay?” His mum sat cattycorner to Kaycee. “Are you enjoying your holiday?”
“I’m not on holiday, though. I plan to work here for a year and see how things go.”
“A whole year.” His mum folded her hands on the table top. “That’s excellent news.”
Travis surprised them all by taking out his phone and snapping a picture.
Kaycee blinked and turned to face Miller.
In turn, Miller glared at his cousin.
“I needed proof.” Travis shrugged, fiddling with his cell.
Again, Kaycee faced Miller, her gray gaze wide and confused.
“He’s not too bright.” He shook his head. “I’d ignore him.”
“Miller.” His mum shook a finger at him.
“What?” He arched a brow. “I don’t know anyone who’s bloody bright at his age.” He sure as fuck hadn’t been.
True Blue Love: The Thorns, Book 3 Page 10