Outback Bride. Jessica Hart

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      CHAPTER TWO

      ‘AHA! Holding hands already!’

      So much for her senses being heightened! Copper hadn’t even heard the clatter of boots on the verandah steps, and when the kitchen door burst open she jerked her hand out of Mal’s as if she had been caught in the most passionate of clinches, her cheeks burning.

      One of the most handsome men she had ever seen stood in the doorway. He was as tall as Mal, but much fairer, with sun-streaked hair, merry blue eyes and an air of almost tangible charm. Laughing, he tossed Megan up in his arms.

      ‘You see what happens when you leave your father alone with a pretty girl!’

      ‘Brett!’ An expression of weary resignation and something else Copper couldn’t quite identify swept across Mal’s face. ‘Have you finished those cattle?’

      ‘The boys can finish them,’ said Brett carelessly, apparently oblivious to Mal’s frown. ‘When Megan told me Dad had got a beautiful girl all to himself, I had to come and see for myself.’ The dancing blue eyes studied Copper approvingly as he let his niece down, and his gaiety was so infectious that she found herself smiling back at him.

      ‘This is my brother, Brett,’ said Mal. His face was wiped of all expression, but there was a rigid set to his jaw and a muscle jumped in his cheek. ‘Brett, this is Copper—’ He stopped, obviously trying to remember her surname.

      ‘Copley,’ she said helpfully. ‘I know it sounds silly, but there was another Caroline at school so I used to get called by my surname. Somehow Copley became Copper, and then I was stuck with it. Nobody calls me Caroline now, except my family, and I think some of my friends don’t even realise that Copper’s not my real name.’

      ‘Sounds like Mal,’ said Brett, ignoring Mal’s warning look and pulling out the chair next to Copper’s. ‘He was lumbered with three names—Matthew Anthony Langland Standish—so we always shortened it to Mal when we were kids, and now only business people call him Matthew.’

      ‘Perhaps I’d better call you Matthew, then,’ said Copper, turning to Mal. It seemed like a good opportunity to establish the appropriate relations.

      Mal frowned slightly. ‘I hardly think that’s necessary,’ he said. ‘If you’re going to be living here as a member of the family, there’s no need to be formal.’

      ‘Absolutely not,’ Brett agreed, running a lazily appreciative eye over Copper as he shook her hand with mock solemnity. ‘We’re going to use your nickname, so we can all be informal together. Copper suits you,’ he added, reaching out a hand to touch her hair. ‘Beautiful name...it sounds warm and burnished, like your hair.’

      Copper’s lips twitched. He was obviously a terrible flirt. She glanced at Mal from under her lashes. He was watching them with a dour expression, looking dark and stern in contrast to Brett’s golden, laughing presence. It was odd that the less handsome brother should be so much more intriguing. Brett was easily the better-looking, but he lacked Mal’s air of quiet, coiled strength, and when he touched her hand she felt no jolt of awareness, no tingling of the nerves, no clutch at the heart as she did just looking at Mal.

      She could sense his displeasure coming in waves across the table, and it was enough to make her smile charmingly back at Brett. After all, what did she care what he thought of her? Hadn’t she already decided that he meant no more than any other stranger? ‘Don’t tell me!’ she said. ‘Next you’ll be saying that all I need is a good rub to make me all bright and shiny!’

      Brett laughed. ‘I think you’re quite bright and shiny enough already,’ he said.

      Mal’s mouth was turned down at the corner. ‘I think you should go back and keep an eye on the jackaroos,’ he said pointedly to his brother.

      ‘They’ll be fine.’ Brett waved a dismissive hand. ‘It’s more important for me to be here to welcome the new housekeeper.’

      ‘Oh?’ said Copper, not sorry to divert Mal’s attention in spite of her bravado. ‘Are you expecting someone else today?’

      There was a short silence. Mal and Brett both looked at her. ‘Just you,’ said Mal, but there was an ominous note in his voice.

      Copper glanced from one to the other, sensing that something was wrong. ‘When’s the new housekeeper coming, then?’

      ‘What new housekeeper?’ said Brett in surprise. ‘You’re the new housekeeper!’

      She goggled at him. ‘Me?’

      Mal’s brows had snapped together. ‘Do you mean to tell us that you’re not here to replace Kim?’

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