Read McKettricks of Texas: Austin for Free Online

had their own parking area, on the other side of the school building.
    â€œCalvin and I won’t be long,” Paige told Austin, after popping the gearshift into Park and shutting off the motor. Then her cheeks went cotton-candy pink. “Unless, of course, you’d rather come inside with us.”
    â€œI believe Shep and I will just stretch our legs a little, out here in the parking lot,” he said, enjoying her discomfort.
    God, it was good to know he could still shake her up a little.
    Or a lot.
    Don’t go there, he reminded himself, but his brain was already partway down the trail to trouble.
    Mercifully, Paige and Calvin were out of the car and hotfooting it toward the entrance to the auditorium in no time.
    Austin adjusted his anatomy with a subtle motion of his hips, took off his seat belt and pushed open the passenger door. Shep didn’t have a collar or a leash yet, but he wasn’t likely to run off; he seemed too glad to have a home to try making a go of it on his own again.
    As predicted, Shep conducted himself like a gentleman, and he had just hopped back into Paige’s car when Garrett ambled out of the auditorium—he often visited Julie at play practice—wearing a stupid, drifty grin. He moved easily, as if all his hinges had just been greased.
    Seeing Austin, Brother Number Two grinned and readjusted his hat.
    â€œWell, now,” he said, evidently surprised to see Austin not only up and around but out and about. “If it isn’t the bull-riding wonder boy of Blue River, Texas.”
    â€œIn the flesh,” Austin retorted, keeping his tone noncommittal, shutting the car door and approaching Garrett.
    Garrett took in Paige’s car, threw a quick glance back at the auditorium before facing Austin again. “You must be in better shape than Tate and I thought you were,” he drawled, folding his arms.
    Austin didn’t answer. He just waited for whatever was coming. And he had a pretty good idea what that “whatever” was.
    â€œAs of New Year’s,” Garrett said, at some length, “Paige will be family. Keep that in mind, Austin.”
    Austin leaned into Garrett’s space. He hadn’t done anything wrong and, back trouble or no back trouble, he wasn’t about to retreat. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he demanded under his breath.
    â€œAdd it up, little brother,” Garrett replied tersely. “Paige is Julie’s sister. Julie loves her. I love Julie. Consequently, if you hurt Paige, that’s bound to hurt Julie, too, and I’m going to be one pissed-off Texas cowboy if that happens.”
    Austin knew the difference between a threat and a promise. This was a promise. And while he wasn’t afraid of Garrett, or of Tate, or of the two of them together, he got the message.
    â€œYou think I’m out to take advantage of Paige?” He put the question evenly, in a steely tone void of inflection.
    â€œGoing by past history?” Garrett retorted. “Yeah. That’s what I think, all right. She’s not one of your usual women, Austin.”
    Austin wanted to land a sucker punch in the middle of his brother’s handsome face, but Jim and Sally McKettrick hadn’t raised any fools. He was at a distinct disadvantage with that herniated disc, and Garrett wouldn’t fight because of it. So Austin waited out the rush of adrenaline that made his fists clench and his hackles rise.
    â€œWhat’s my ‘usual woman,’ Garrett?” he rasped.
    Before Garrett could reply to the loaded question, the auditorium doors sprang open and Paige reappeared, Calvin trailing behind her.
    â€œCan I ride home with you, Garrett?” the boy asked, full of delight.
    Garrett didn’t hesitate. “Sure,” he said gruffly, ruffling Calvin’s hair. “You can help me feed the horses.”
    â€œIs that okay, Aunt Paige?” Calvin asked, looking upat his aunt