The Rancher Takes A Bride (The Burnett Brides Book 1)

For some unexplainable reason, she wanted him. Within Travis's arms, she felt secure, as if nothing bad could ever harm her again. Even with the fire blazing about them, she felt Travis would have protected her, kept her safe.
    She had to leave. She had to get away before she did something really stupid, like fall in love with Travis. Because regardless of how she felt about this man, she doubted he could ever return the feeling. At least, not with a woman like her. He could never love Desirée. Therefore Rose would never be good enough for him, either.
    As soon as she was back to her normal self, she had to get away. She took a sip of hot tea and leaned back against the pillows. A knock on the door startled her.
    "Yes?"
    Eugenia stuck her head in. "Do you feel like company?"
    Travis's mother stepped into the room, her skirts rustling as she moved.
    "Of course I do. Come in and tell me what the doctor said."
    "He said the both of you were fools for taking such a risk. And that you were fortunate. Stay in bed, drink plenty of fluids, and expect to do a lot of coughing over the next few days. Travis is already grumbling."
    "I guess that's my fault too," Rose said her voice raspy and gruff.
    "That's my oldest son." Rose watched as Eugenia wrung her hands nervously. "I must say thank you for saving our livestock. Our animals are important, but I wouldn't want anything to happen to either you or Travis. I'm missing one son already and couldn't bear to lose another."
    She gazed at Rose, her voice steady, her eyes unwavering. "You've made it clear that you don't care for horses since you arrived on the back of my son's mare. I wonder if that's the real reason you went into that barn?"
    Rose chewed her lip. "I didn't want to see the animals die, even though they frighten me."
    The memory of the flames racing up the walls and the sound of the ceiling crashing as they ran caused her to shudder. "I did release the animals, but not because I was brave. Because they were trapped, and I didn't want to see them die."
    "Rose, you are very brave. But more than anything, I like the way you stand up to my son." Eugenia smiled. "I know you're not here under the best of circumstances, but I have to tell you I'm so glad you've come into our lives."
    "Thank you, Mrs. Burnett. But what about your ring? Don't you think I stole it?"
    Eugenia paused. "Rose, I hope that you will for—"
    "Mother!"
    Rose rolled her eyes.
    Eugenia released a sigh. "Excuse me, dear."
    ***
    Sick of lying around the house, Travis was eager to escape the confines of his room and get back to running the ranch. But somehow his mother had convinced everyone to ignore his demands and reminded him the doctor said to take it easy for several days. At last count, he'd been escorted twice to the sofa and told to stay there.
    He settled into the parlor, where he could watch the comings and goings of the ranch from the front window and still work on his bookkeeping. And catch a glimpse of Rose in his pants as she went about the house, trying to help his mother, only to be shooed back to the parlor or her bedroom to rest.
    The sight of her cute little derriere in his tight- fitting pants was enough to cause the parts of his body that weren't sore to ache. The dress she had worn the day of the fire was a total loss. Hopefully, Rose's trunk would be in town waiting for him when he went in to buy the lumber needed to replace the barn.
    All he'd thought about since the night of the fire was a way to get Rose into his bed. There must be a place they could be alone, where she could seduce him, free him of this madness he seemed trapped in right now.
    Even now he wanted to grab her and kiss her until she was moaning beneath him. The little con artist had somehow weaved a spell around him until all he could think of was holding her in his arms and other delightful things that he wanted to do with her seductive body.
    Being cooped up in this house was only adding to his growing frustration at needing Rose.
    The sound of horse's hooves thundering into the yard had him leaning to gaze out the window to see his brother Tucker riding in.
    A few minutes later, the front door opened and slammed shut. "Where is everyone? I rode all the way from town and no one comes to greet me?"
    "In here," Travis called, his voice still raspy.
    Tucker stepped into the parlor just as Rose came out from the kitchen. "What happened to you?"
    "Humph! I . . ."
    Rose stepped into the room, a frown creasing her