Kimberly Nee - The McKenzie Brothers (2 page)

Chapter Two

Garrett watched as the tall woman ran at him, priming himself for the imminent impact. A short, barrel-chested fellow was close at her heels, but Garrett wasn’t concerned about the man. Perhaps he had good reason to be chasing the lady. If not, Garrett would know soon enough and remove her from harm’s way before making scraps of the little bastard giving chase.

So he waited, his blood pounding in his ears, pulsing through his veins. A muscle tensed in his back, but then the little man looked up from his quarry. As quickly as he appeared, he halted his chase and simply melted away into the shadows.

Unfortunately, the woman failed to notice she was no longer being pursued. She didn’t so much as glance over her shoulder.
Whump!

He caught her easily, although she slammed into him with hard enough to knock him back several steps. His left ankle twisted as he braced that foot to halt his momentum, but he held on. For a long moment, her body pressed against his. With her generous height, they matched up almost perfectly, setting off a ripple through his entire body. He savored the soft feel of her for an all-too brief moment. “Easy, love. Easy. I mean you no harm.”

Her body heaved against him as she fought to catch her breath, her arms limp at her sides. The peace only lasted a minute or so before she jerked free and shoved him away. “Unhand me!”

He held up both hands. “I said I’ll not hurt you.”

She spun about to stare into the shadows behind her. “Where is he? Sanders? Where did he go?”

“That I can’t say. He looked up, probably saw me, and thought better of continuing his pursuit. Disappeared into the darkness and skulked away, I assume.”

Her gasps slowed, and she shoved a loose curl away from her face. “Bloody hell…”

He tugged his handkerchief from the pocket of his frock coat to press into her hand. “Tell me, who was that you were running from? The devil, perhaps?”

“No. The devil isn’t nearly as frightening.” She snatched the handkerchief from him and dabbed it against her brow as she straightened. “I thank you.”

“Of course.”

The handkerchief came away from her face. “Did you say he disappeared?”

“I did, and he did. Now, do you wish to tell me why he was chasing you? Did you snatch something of his, perhaps?”

Her brows met as she scowled up at him. “Absolutely not.” She shoved the wrinkled handkerchief at him. “I thank you for this, apologize for running into you, and now I think I will go back inside.”

“Very well, if you didn’t steal something from him, why was he chasing you?

Do you owe him money?”

At first, she seemed to be on the verge of confessing but caught herself, pressing her lips together. “Of course not. Now, if you will excuse me — ”

He didn’t know what madness possessed him to lean toward her other than the overwhelming urge to feel her lips against his. An urge he couldn’t ignore, didn’t want to ignore. He wanted to kiss her.

Lights exploded before his eyes and pain lit up the inside of his skull as her fist connected solidly with his jaw.

A perfect punch.

He staggered back a step. “Jesus!”

“There’ll be none of that now, sir! I don’t do that!” She shook out her hand as if the blow hurt her as much as it hurt him.

He resisted the urge to rub the sore spot on his jaw, even as bells clanged against the inside of his skull. “Beg your pardon, my lady, but I’m
not
about to rape you.”

Her hand went still. Wide-eyed, she stared at him. “Oh dear…I apologize, of course, sir. I — I suppose I panicked.”

He chuckled, giving into the urge to rub his jaw with one hand. “You hit the way a man would.”

“I apologized, didn’t I? Now let me see if I’ve done any damage.”

He got his first good look at her as she lifted her face to his. “You’re that barmaid, aren’t you? The redhead Jefferson was giving a hard time.”

She lifted her hand to his jaw, brushing him where her fist met his face moments earlier. “I do believe you’ve the beginnings of a bruise. Again, I apologize.”

“Please don’t. It’s nice to see you could defend yourself if the need ever arose — for the most part, anyhow.”

Her eyes glittered in the moonlight like black opals, but he knew they weren’t black. They were hazel. A lovely combination of brown and green, although earlier he thought they seemed more green than brown. “Even so, I apologize just the same.”

As his jaw hurt only a bit, he managed a smile. “There is no need. I must admit, this isn’t
exactly
how I hoped to meet you but the end result is what I wished for. Have you a name, then, my lady?”

“I thank you for catching me, but if you will excuse me, I must get back inside.”

He caught her by the wrist as she stepped back. “Ah, but you will at least tell me your name, won’t you? I
did
save you from a fate worse than death, didn’t I?”

“I suppose.”

He threw back his head and laughed. “So grateful, sweetheart. So grateful, indeed.”

She gave him a sour look. “My name is
not
sweetheart and I’d appreciate it if you’d not keep calling me that.”

“Then what is it?”

Taking a deep breath, she said, “Kat-ah, I mean, Katherine. Katherine Bainbridge.”

“Kat, eh?” He repeated it as if tasting it slowly. “I like it, even if it is unusual. It goes quite well with strong arm of yours.”

“Yes, I suppose it does.” She sighed, softening her sharp tone. “I apologize for my rudeness. I should be thanking you.”

“Think nothing of it. I’ll put it down to being frightened.” He offered her his arm. “Come, let me at least see you inside — to make certain no more harm befalls you. Tell me, did you know that man chasing you?”

“Oh, no. Not at all. I’ve never seen him before this evening,” she replied, averting her gaze and taking a quick step back. “Most likely one of Miller’s drunken louts who thought nothing of his pawing earlier or trying to take that pawing further still.”

Garrett thought her reply a bit too quick, too vehement, to be the truth. But, if she knew the man, it was her business. If she wished to tell him, fine. If not, it was fine with him as well.

Katherine cleared her throat softly. “I do appreciate your catching me, however, Mr. — ”

“McKenzie,” he replied easily, his gaze holding hers for a long moment. “Garrett McKenzie.”

Garrett McKenzie. A giant. A handsome giant, but a giant nonetheless. She groaned inwardly. He towered over her, his broadness tapering into narrower hips and long legs. A chill settled over her as she looked again at the beginnings of the bruise mottling his jaw. But he didn’t seem upset over being struck. If anything, he seemed more concerned for her than his own well-being.

“Mr. McKenzie — ”

“Garrett, please.” He smiled as he lowered his arm. “There is no need to thank me. It’s no more than any other man would have done.”

“And I’ve thanked you. Now, if you will excuse me, I need go back inside. I’ve had a very long day and I’m tired.”

Garrett stepped in front of her. “Ah, not so fast. I’m not quite finished.”

Katherine resisted the urge to sigh. He was a persistent one, no doubt. “Yes?”

“There is no need for hostility.”

“I’m not trying to be hostile, Mr. McKenzie. As I said, I’m frightfully tired and would like to go inside and up to bed.”

He cleared his throat. “I suppose it would be cruel of me to keep you from your bed, wouldn’t it?”

Oh, dear.

How did he make a simple statement sound so…
sensual
? It unnerved her, made her forget her exhaustion, if only for a moment.

“Yes,” she whispered, cringing at how breathlessly that one word emerged.

“Then I will let you go. Lord knows I’d hate to be the reason for you’re being so tired in the morning.” He gave her a formal bow, sweeping his hat from his head. “I bid you a good evening.”

She stepped toward the tavern, determined to break the oddly strong hold he had on her. “A good evening to you as well, Mr. McKenzie.”

She had to force herself not to look over her shoulder, but was convinced he watched her until she stepped into the blackness of the tavern’s taproom. Katherine dropped the latch into place and sagged back against the door. She couldn’t remember the last time a fellow rattled her so badly, and it certainly hadn’t happened earlier in the evening.

Or had it?

She couldn’t remember. Either way, it was a relief, being back inside.

Garrett McKenzie was entirely too desirable, too sensual for his own good.

Even so, she
was
grateful that he’d been there. He was a witness to the fact that she hadn’t gone mad, that she had seen that terrible toad of a man she’d tried so hard to forget about. She shuddered, feeling her throat close up.

He
was there, which meant she was no longer safe.

Not safe at all.

Where else could she go?

She didn’t know, but she would have to leave as soon as possible. Until then, she’d always peer over her shoulder, would always see that horrible misshapen face and those beady rodent eyes.

And
now
she had to meet a man such as Garrett McKenzie? At one time, she’d dreamed of meeting a man like him. But now? Now things were completely different.

She was a barmaid. Most of the tavern’s patrons would be quick to assume she would offer up more than pints of ale. And why not? Quite a few of the ladies working at the Bayside did just that. It was only natural to assume she did as well.

She pushed up from the door. “Well, it doesn’t matter
what
he thinks. I know what I am. I am
not
a — ”

She couldn’t bring herself to utter the word aloud.

She crept through the darkened taproom to the rickety flight of steps leading to the second floor. Various noises drifted out into the narrow hallway — proof that not every one of Bayside’s barmaids had retired for the evening. Katherine shuddered as she locked herself into her tiny room. It was going to be one of
those
nights. She was going to have to wrap her thin pillow tight around her head to block out the grunts and moans from the other rooms. Otherwise, she’d really never be able to fall asleep.

It hardly helped. The noises were muffled, true, but the pillow did nothing to block out her thoughts. They refused to ease up, swirling endlessly and focusing on a dark-haired giant of a man whose sensual topaz eyes spoke of pleasures she’d only ever dared dream about.

Chapter Three

Katherine’s routine never wavered. By the time Bayside closed for the evening, she’d cuffed nearly every male in the place, her back ached and her exhaustion worsened night after night.

Garrett McKenzie had yet to return to the tavern. She couldn’t help but feel a flash of disappointment each night. It bothered her that she hoped to see him again, but she couldn’t help it. If nothing else, it would make the night more bearable.

Finally, Garrett and his drinking mates returned a week later. Her pulse pounded through her temples as Agatha sauntered over to them. Katherine tried not to dwell on the unfairness of being stuck with the drunken, sloppy Robert Benson yet again, whilst Agatha drooled over the handsome men in the corner. She put it out of her mind as she approached the bar. She was in the midst of giving Miller an order when Agatha flounced over, looking annoyed.

“Them gents in the corner asked for you, Kat,” she grumbled, her dark eyes narrow slits and her little mouth pulled down into a pout. “That’s
my
table.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about,” Katherine replied, trying to diffuse Agatha’s displeasure. “I’ll remind them and leave them to you.”

“You’d best do just that. Keep your hands away from the one with the gray eyes. He’s
mine
.”

Bradley Jefferson? Katherine snorted. “You’ve nothing to worry about, Agatha. That one’s coming close to getting his ears boxed. Besides, isn’t that him being shown the door by one of Mr. McKenzie’s friends?”

She didn’t wait for Agatha’s reply but lifted her battered tray and wound her way over to the table in the corner, where Garrett now sat alone. Her heart sped up as she neared and her mouth went dry. “Where did your friends go?”

“They’ve gone to Winslow’s to play cards and I will be joining them shortly. But before I left, I wanted to speak with you alone.”

Alone? This was unexpected.

“Speak with me? About what?”

“Sit.” He gestured to the vacant chair across from him.

“Oh, I’m afraid I cannot do that, Mr. McKenzie. Miller wouldn’t like that. He wouldn’t like it at all.”

“I don’t give a damn what he would like. Neither will you when you hear what I have to say.”

She swallowed a frustrated sigh, but did as he asked. “What is it?”

He studied her for a long moment. “Do you like working here, Miss Bainbridge?”

His question surprised her. “It’s a job. Perhaps not the best one in the world, but it suits me.”

“Really? I don’t think it does.”

Her hackles rose. “Is that so, then?”

He didn’t seem the least bit troubled by her cool tone. “I’d like to offer you a position in my household.”

“I beg your pardon?” She narrowed her eyes. “Are you foxed?”

He shook his head, grinning as if this was the wittiest thing he’d ever heard. “Hardly. Allow me to explain. I have recently set up a home of my own and I need a staff. So far, I’ve a housekeeper and butler, but I need maids as well. Whatever Miller is paying you, I will double it.”

Her heart thudded heavily in her chest. A maid? He wanted her, to be sure.

But only as a maid.

She didn’t know whether to be disappointed, insulted or flat-out furious.

“Now why, pray tell, would I wish to do that?”

“Because you are far better than this — a serving wench in a seedy dockside tavern. You are far better than these wenches who think nothing of selling themselves for a few paltry pieces of silver each night. I’m offering you the opportunity to better yourself, to raise your station in life. This way, you’ll not be troubled by drunken sots who think nothing of chasing you down dark alleyways in the hopes of something other than drinking.” He folded his hands, resting them flat against the table. “So, do you accept my offer?”

Irritation surged through her as he sat there with that smug expression on his handsome face. Her first impulse was to tell him exactly what she thought of his offer. After all, she was no more a maid than she was a barmaid.

But would it be so terrible? Being a maid
had
to be better than being pawed night after night, didn’t it?

Of course, she might be pawed by
Garrett
but still, it was worth the risk, wasn’t it? Besides, if she could handle a roomful of drunken oafs, certainly she could handle
one
man as easily, couldn’t she? Still one last question remained —

“And why is it you are so eager to help me?”

He rubbed his chin. “Why am I so eager? Well, as I said, this is the chance for you to better yourself. Besides, you’d not have to worry about strange men jumping on you the moment you step outside.”

She held his stare as heat crept into her cheeks. “No, but I suppose I’d have to worry about
you
jumping on me instead.”

He held up both hands. “I promise you, Miss Bainbridge, I’ll keep my hands to myself. After all, the last thing I would want is to stir up trouble amongst my staff.”

He certainly seemed sincere as he held her gaze. She tilted her head to one side. “Are you toying with me, Mr. McKenzie? Perhaps playing a bit of a joke on me?”

“Not at all,” he assured her. “Have we an agreement?”

The chance to get away from the smoke-filled taproom was enticing. How wonderful it would be not to have hands creeping beneath her skirts every time she turned around. Being a maid would not be so bad. She would be assigned to a certain portion of the house and once her chores were done, the day would be hers. At least, that was how it had been done in Sanders’ house, back in London —

She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing all thoughts of London from her mind.

Don’t think about it
.
No one ever need know.

Agatha ducked past, half a dozen tankards on a tray balanced on her fingers. Katherine ignored Agatha’s scorching stare. She’d had quite enough of Agatha and her glares for one night.

But as Agatha passed, Katherine forgot her aggravation. Fear drew icy fingers down her back as the toad-faced man in the far corner lifted his glass and nodded in her direction.

The heat in her cheeks vanished as if she’d been doused with cold water. Sanders’ lopsided grin widened as he brought the glass to his thick lips for a long drink. Then he winked and she fought the urge to retch as the glass lowered and those lips pursed to blow her a kiss.

“Miss Bainbridge?”

She forced her attention back to Garrett. “Y-Yes. I accept.”

His brow furrowed. For a painful moment, she thought he was going to ask about her flinch. Instead he nodded. “Wonderful. Come around in the morning. I’ll leave word with my housekeeper, Mrs. Riley, to expect you.”

He rose from his chair.

The morning couldn’t come soon enough. She wouldn’t get a minute of sleep now, not knowing Sanders was so close. She forced her attention back to Garrett McKenzie. “You might want to tell me where you live.”

“Of course. Ravenswood. Tell any hack in town. They’ll know where to find it.” Garrett pushed his chair in. “Then I will see you in the morning? Come by around ten.”

“Ten. I will be there.”

He didn’t reply but nodded and strode towards the door, leaving her to gape at his back in astonishment. Had this really happened? Had she agreed to become a
maid
to a man she felt the hints of desire for?

She turned slowly. Gerald Sanders raised his glass again. But, instead of blowing her another kiss, he mouthed words she had no trouble understanding.

Take care, love. Soon.