Page 23 of Austin
Austin shook his head and motioned for the boys to bring the next calf down the chute. He’d thought his days of having Kristen Alexander stir things deep inside of him were long gone.
Apparently, he’d been mistaken.
*
Brandings at theCallahan Ranch always ended with a big dinner. Both Clinton and Ellie had put in a day’s work getting the meal ready so that all components could be pulled out of the oven, the fridge, or microwaved with the least amount of effort when the tired crew returned to the house.
Katherine took over the kitchen while everyone else washed up and then settled in the living room with much-needed beer. Kristen changed her clothes, politely refusing Ellie’s offer to wash her jeans, and then disappeared into the kitchen with Katherine. When she didn’t come back, Austin went in to find her washing the roasting pan while Katherine made gravy.
“Need help?”
Kristen gave him a look over her shoulder while Katherine said briskly, “You shoo on out of here. We have everything under control.”
Austin allowed himself to be shooed out of the kitchen and rejoined the crew in the living room. He didn’t know if Kristen was hiding or making herself useful, but she appeared comfortable where she was and who was he to interfere?
There was just one thing that he hadn’t counted on and he had a feeling Kristen wasn’t going to be that happy after he told her. He waited until the dishwasher was loaded, the extra dishes done and every freaking surface in the house had been wiped down before he ambled over to where she was draining the sink and asked if he could speak to her outside.
Instantly cautious, she followed him out the door.
“I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to jump right in.” Her eyes rounded with alarm, so he hurried to say, “Nothing earth-shattering. It’s just that there’s no room for…us…” meaning her “…in the house. Katherine has the spare bedroom.”
He’d been offered the bedroom on every single branding he’d attended on the Callahan Ranch, but had always slept in his bedroll in the truck. Now, the one time he’d counted on the spare bedroom, Katherine had come to visit. Apparently, Ellie had just assumed he’d be arriving alone and following his usual custom. Which was fine…as long as Kristen was okay with it.
Not that she had a lot of choice.
“The boys are bedding down in the living room,” he added when she didn’t respond immediately.
“I see.”
Austin cleared his throat. “I’m sleeping in the bed of the truck.”
“Where amIsleeping?” she asked in a grim voice.
“Well…in the bed of the truck.”
She put up her hands. “Unacceptable.”
“We can sleep head to toe.”
She grimaced and he had to admit, sleeping with someone’s feet in your face didn’t sound all that inviting.
“Sleep face to face.”
No grimace, but she didn’t look at all happy with the idea. “I’m sorry about this. I didn’t know Katherine would be here.”
“I understand.” She folded her arms over her chest, looked toward the Dodge, then back at him. “I can sleep in the back seat of the truck.”
“How?” It was a reasonable question. Kristen was almost as tall as he was.
“I’ll scrunch.”
“Sleep in the bed with me and I’ll build a divider.”
“A divider.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t want a divider. I just don’t want to sleep with you.” Her mouth tightened. “You know what I mean.”
She didn’t want to have sex with him. That was very clear. “You want to pick who you sleep with. I mean sleep literally. I get that.”
“I’ll sleep on the back seat.”
“Suit yourself.”
