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

beautiful face.
    "But . . . wait," she said, stunned.
    He swallowed, picked up his shirt, and slammed his hat on his head. "I'll see you tonight."
    ***
    Travis spurred his horse out of sight of the house. He had done everything but jump up and run as fast as he could to get away from Rose. Not that he was a coward, but he needed some time and some space away from the gorgeous woman who had just put his world into a spin.
    Rose had suddenly turned into a chatterbox, rattling on about nothing, acting as though nothing had changed. Yet he knew differently. Everything had changed.
    Reeling from his recent discovery, and feeling the need to escape, he'd all but run. In a matter of moments, he'd ridden away, leaving a bewildered Rose behind.
    All this time he'd thought she was a loose, immoral woman, only to find out he was her first lover.
    Travis had taken her virginity and now, like a bastard, he'd almost run from the scene, leaving her naked by the pond. But he had to get away. Get away from the reality of the situation.
    He didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to act, and all he could think about was the fact that he'd taken her innocence. No wonder the woman had always had a naiveté about her. No wonder she'd often gazed at him with lack of understanding in her eyes. She'd been untouched. Until him.
    Yet it didn't make sense. How could a woman like Rose remain an innocent? She was a thief. After all, he'd found her holding séances in a little house on Main Street.
    She had been conning people into believing she could talk with their dead relatives. He'd had her thrown in jail, chased her to Waco and retrieved her from a roadhouse, tied her up, and brought her back to his ranch. He couldn't be that wrong. Could he?
    He cringed. How could things get so tangled? For weeks he'd been lusting after the little Jezebel, only to find out maybe, just maybe, she wasn't who he thought she was.
    So what did he do now? The thought of letting her go just wasn't appealing, and he didn't want to consider why he felt that way.
    The detective had said he needed another week to finish his investigation. Soon Travis would uncover the truth regarding Rose and maybe even discover just who Rose Severin really was.
    ***
    Rose picked up the pieces of clothing that lay strewn about the bank and heaved a heavy sigh. She would never understand Travis Burnett. Never figure out how such a complex, interesting man could be so gallant and dashing one moment and a total ass the next.
    Why had he all but jumped up and run when they were finished?
    Though she certainly wasn't an expert at these kinds of things, surely the man did more than complete the act and then dash away.
    There were no words of endearment, nothing. Just a frightened, half-scared look in his eyes that hadn't been there before. Did he think she meant to force him to marry her? Did he think she was going to spend the rest of her life with a man who didn't want her?
    Rose bent over and picked up her drawers and then angrily yanked her chemise over her head. There was tenderness between her legs, and her breasts were irritated and sensitive. So this was what having sex with a man was all about. Thirty minutes of tussling about on the ground, only to be left sore and alone. It just wasn't worth the effort.
    Who was she kidding? It had been worth it. Every wonderful, touching moment in Travis's arms had been worth it. Every aching sore spot or muscle had been worth being with Travis. Making love with Travis had been absolutely breathtaking—up until the moment he'd left.
    She pulled on the dress and slowly started to button the wet garment. She sighed. Maybe he hadn't enjoyed being with her. Maybe she hadn't pleased him the way other women had. Yet, he'd moaned and groaned until she'd thought he was going to die. And then she'd felt as if she had died right there in his arms and fallen back to earth.
    Rose glanced around the area, looking for any leftover evidence. Would people know what had happened here today? Did she look different?
    The cool breeze blew against her skin, and she held her arms out to the sky. Now she was a woman through and through. She was a woman, he was a man, and what they shared had been beautiful.
    At least until he'd rushed off, leaving her to wonder what had chased him from her embrace. She dropped her arms and glanced at the pond.
    Travis had affected her life in many ways, and for some reason she'd allowed him to take control. But no more.
    He'd