Australian Outback Kings / The Cattle King's Mistress / The Playboy King's Wife / The Pleasure King's Bride by Emma Darcy

with women were all mutually desired and not one of them was an adulterous affair,” he went on, his voice gathering an acid bite. “I happen to respect the commitment of marriage. A pity you don’t.”
    â€œI beg your pardon!” Miranda hurled at him in bitter resentment of his judgement of her.
    â€œSo what happened?” he threw back at her. “The guy wouldn’t leave his wife for you? Is that why you took the job at King’s Eden, burning your boats?”
    It was so close to the truth, a wave of humiliating heat scorched up Miranda’s neck.
    Nathan didn’t miss it. He turned on more heat. “Or maybe you threw down the gauntlet and you’re hoping he’ll follow you up here. Which explains the no-go with me.”
    â€œThis is none of your business!” she seethed.
    â€œWell, I take exception to being coupled with a sleaze-bag who plays a game of deceit with the women in his life.”
    â€œThen please accept my apology.” She managed to get frost into her voice even though her face was still flaming.
    â€œAnd it most certainly is Tommy’s business if you’re counting on breaking the two-year contract, should your lover toe your line.”
    â€œI have no intention of breaking it,” she grated out. “And I do not appreciate all this supposition on your part.”
    â€œYou opened the door, Miranda.”
    â€œAnd I’d take it kindly if you’d respect my choice to close it.”
    Blue eyes clashed with green in an electric exchange that sizzled the air between them. Miranda’s heart thumped erratically. She could hear it in her ears, feel the strong throb of it in her temples. Goose-bumps rose on her skin.
    â€œIt’s not a choice I can respect, but so be it,” he said tersely, and broke the connection with her.
    The ensuing silence was incredibly oppressive. Miranda felt totally drained of energy and miserable over the impression she’d left him with by not correcting his assumptions. Not that he had any right to make them!
    Okay, she shouldn’t have used the word, mistress , but it had been what Bobby had wanted of her, not what she had been. As for Nathan King, maybe she’d let her experience with Bobby Hewson colour her reading of his last relationship. On the other hand, he wasn’t promising anything other than sex, which was all a mistress got from a man.
    If there was one thing Miranda had learnt, it was she wanted to be valued for more than a roll in the hay. A roll with Nathan King might be…an interesting experience. Even special, she grudgingly conceded. But that wasn’t enough for her. Especially not after Bobby Hewson. She wanted the kind of sharing that encompassed everything, the kind that led to marriage because no one else could fulfil that very special equation of wanting to be with each other. Exclusively! Which was hardly a likely prospect with Nathan King of the legendary King family.
    Miranda was still brooding over this when the Land Cruiser came to a halt in an open camping area on the outskirts of the Bungle Bungle Range. A four-wheel-drive wagon was parked close to four tents but they all seemed abandoned, no one in view anywhere.
    â€œWe hike in from here,” Nathan stated. “The camping amenities block is kept clean. If you want to use it before we set out…”
    â€œYes, I will. Thank you.”
    She didn’t wait for him to open her door. As she strode away from the Land Cruiser, she thought he probably hadn’t intended to extend that courtesy to her anyway. A woman who didn’t care about committing adultery didn’t deserve his respect. Except she did care, and she hated having him think that of her.
    No use telling herself it didn’t matter, so long as it kept him away from her. It was a point of pride. And reputation. Though it went deeper than that, right down to her sense of self-worth.
    She was not like her mother.
    She