Читать книгу Three Kids And A Cowboy - Natalie Patrick - Страница 10

“Mrs. Beetle, I’d like you to meet—” Brodie unfurled his arm toward Miranda as she stepped into the formal living room “—my wife.”

His what? Miranda froze. She’d stolen away for only a few minutes to make herself presentable after her long drive, and to mentally prepare herself to defend Brodie’s character. And what had happened in her absence?

“Randi, darlin’?” Brodie motioned with one hand for her to enter the room.

Miranda attempted to smile, but couldn’t help thinking she must look like a deer caught in some headlights. That was certainly how she felt.

“Randi?” He took one sidestep toward her. His long fingers massaged her shoulders as he manipulated her under the mantle of his muscular arm. “Darlin’, come in and say howdy to Mrs. Beetle…you know, the social worker.”

Her fine Texas upbringing forced Miranda to acknowledge the silver-haired woman nestled in her father’s favorite wingbacked chair.

“How do you do, Mrs. Beetle? It’s so nice to meet you,” she murmured, her mind more on Brodie’s nearness and the sensation it set off in her than on her own words.

“It’s certainly nice to meet you, my dear. I was so pleased when your cook told me that you’d returned to the ranch.” A wizened smile seemed to ease the severity of the wrinkles draping around her eyes. “I hope you’re not too tired to talk to me after your long drive.”

“My cook?” Miranda struggled to make sense of the puzzle pieces of information jumbled in her head.

“Crispy,” Brodie leaned close to whisper. “Seems he got to Mrs. Beetle before I did. The old coot painted a pretty rosy picture of your return.”

The warm stirrings of her husband’s breath tickled the shell of her ear and sent a faded but not forgotten yearning swirling though her body. The full meaning of his message failed to register in her muddled mind.

“Um, apparently there’s been some confusion here concerning my trip back, Mrs. Beetle.” She wriggled to put distance between Brodie and herself.