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

engagement," Rose said, stunned.
    The older woman just laughed. "Oh, well."
    Eugenia fairly beamed as she took Rose around, introducing her to the various family members. Rose felt honored that Eugenia and her family treated her as special, but she couldn't help but wonder about Travis. What was his reaction to the way his mother was including her? How did he feel about his family accepting her with open arms, while he stood on the outskirts, watching?
    She glanced around, looking for him, and saw Travis sitting in the shade of an elm tree, talking with an older gentleman.
    Tucker sauntered up beside Eugenia, smiling, and gave his mother a hug. "I see you're showing Rose off to the family."
    "Yes, and everyone has been happy to meet her."
    "I've heard. People are asking me when's the wedding."
    Rose started to laugh. "That's ridiculous. The man can barely tolerate me and would just as soon see me hanged as marry me."
    But the thought of marriage to Travis put little flutters in her stomach, and she glanced over to the tree where Travis stood, tall and handsome. Like the elm tree Travis stood beneath, he was sturdy, tough, and as shielding as the limbs that shaded the earth beneath. Everything a woman would want in a man.
    Marriage was not a part of her plans. She had an acting career to think about, and adding a husband to her life would not be practical. But still, the thought of her and Travis was enticing.
    Tucker smiled. "I don't think it's quite that bad, but I have to admit, Travis isn't quite ready to take the plunge with you or anyone else, for that matter. But it shouldn't be long now."
    "Travis could never accept me as his wife. He's looking for that perfect lady and that's not me."
    Tucker smiled. "He'd soon be bored."
    Eugenia glanced at her youngest son. "I'm going to finish introducing Rose to everyone. Rumors and people playing at matchmaking are just part of the problems of being unmarried. Travis is certainly not immune." She paused, peering at her youngest son. "And neither are you."
    Tucker gave her his best smile. "Forget it, Mother."
    As they walked away, Rose glanced back to see Travis still talking to the older gentleman. Their eyes met and held for a moment. The urge to run her fingers along his rough cheek and over his full lips made her breathing quicken. For several seconds, they stared at one another, until Eugenia brought her attention to yet another relative.
    ***
    Travis stood underneath the large elm tree, talking to his uncle, watching Rose. Rose was the talk of the reunion. All day he had observed his family accept Rose with open arms. All day he had overheard the whispers regarding weddings, engagements, and that Eugenia would finally have a daughter.
    All day he'd wondered how they could so easily accept Rose, a con artist and a thief, into their midst. But she had smiled and laughed away their inhibitions. She'd listened and cajoled away their fears. She'd charmed and bewitched her way into their hearts. Just as she was trying to inveigle her way into his heart. But he wouldn't let her.
    He had never felt at ease around his kin the way Rose was being embraced. In fact, he could almost feel their displeasure and wondered how he had gotten to be the bad boy. He'd done nothing wrong.
    Except taken her virginity and not offered her marriage. Though his family had no way to know that, it still stung him.
    "Boy, if you keep staring at that woman like that, her clothes are going to fall clean off her," his uncle said, bringing him back from his daze.
    He glanced at the elderly man who was his father's brother. "Sorry, I just like to keep an eye on her. Make sure she's staying out of trouble."
    "That's a good thing to do for a woman like that one. So when are you going to marry her?"
    Travis glanced at his uncle in disbelief. "Marry her?" He paused, trying to overcome the surge of anger. "Why does everyone assume I'm going to marry her?"
    "It's in your eyes, boy." The old man leaned close.
    "You're gazing at her like she's naked. That's what most folks do when they're as love-struck as you are."
    "No. I don't love her."
    The old man smiled a wizened grin. "Okay, you just want her real bad."
    Travis smiled, unable to deny the truth.
    "Marry her, then. You need a wife, she needs a husband."
    "No. She's not...."
    "She's not what?"
    Travis glanced at Rose, his heart pounding in his chest. God, he'd taken her virginity. They'd had the best sex of his life and yet he couldn't marry her. At the