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

placed on her neck and ear roused her from a deep sleep. For just a moment she wondered where she was. Then memories of the night before came rushing back, and she burrowed deeper under the covers, her mind still in a sensual daze.
    She felt his lips graze along her naked shoulder, and all she wanted to do was snuggle closer to him. Her eyelashes fluttered open, and she glanced up at the man whose arms she lay in and met his clear, brown-eyed gaze. God, he was handsome all sleep-tousled, warm, and sensuous.
    "Wake up, sleepyhead," he said softly, his breath tickling her ear. "I hate to kick you out, but it won't be pleasant if someone found you in my room."
    "Hmm. I know," she said, burrowing a little deeper, not yet ready to slip back to her room. Day after tomorrow, she would depart and leave him behind. Each moment they were together she memorized, to enjoy later when she was alone.
    Yet she couldn't stay and face Travis every morning, see him every day, without giving away the knowledge that she loved him. She couldn't stand the thought of being cast aside, once he found his perfect wife. These last few moments were all she had left, and she wanted to enjoy the feel of his arms around her, snuggle just a little longer with him beneath the covers.
    "What time is it?" she asked sleepily.
    "Time for you to wake up and talk to me before you go back to your room."
    The moon shone through the open window, clearly enough so that she could see his eyes in the darkness. He looked so serious that she turned her head to his chest instead and nestled deeper down into the covers.
    "Rose, don't go back to sleep."
    "I'm not, I'm listening," she said drowsily.
    "I've been thinking. Most women would have expected marriage after what we've done," he said, his voice tense.
    "Hmm."
    "I ... I think we should get married," he said nervously.
    Suddenly her body tensed, and she jerked up from his chest. She stared at him. Had her ears been deceiving her?
    "Did you just ask me to marry you?" she questioned.
    "Yes," he stated.
    "But Travis ..."
    "Will you marry me, Rose?" he asked, gazing at her.
    Rose felt her body start to tremble, and her eyes filled with tears. She threw her arms around him. "Yes! Yes."
    Marriage! Travis was asking her to marry him. She laughed giddily, a rush of happiness stunning her. They were going to marry.
    "We can tell Mother this weekend and then see about the arrangements. By next weekend, we could be man and wife. There would be no more sneaking around," he said, smiling.
    Travis's lips covered hers in a kiss, and Rose thought she'd never been happier. No other time in her life had she experienced so much turmoil and now blissfulness. She felt as though she was still asleep and wanted to pinch herself to make sure this wasn't a dream.
    But there was so much to discuss. She put her hands between them and broke off the kiss, her heart pounding, her breath coming in short gasps.
    She pulled back away from Travis. "Why are we waiting until the weekend? Why not tell everyone now?"
    "We'll go into town on Sunday and have dinner with everyone and announce it at the dinner table. It will be a nice surprise."
    She thought for a moment. "Um. That would be fun. Who all will be there?" she asked.
    "Mom and Tucker. Maybe my aunt and uncle, but I know Tucker will be there," he said, running his finger down her cheek.
    "Do you think we can keep it a secret until Sunday?" Rose asked.
    Travis rubbed his hand along her back in a caressing manner. "I know I can, but what about you?"
    "It's going to be hard. And your mother will probably be suspicious, especially if we're getting along."
    "Then I'll pick a fight," he said teasingly.
    "Just try it, mister. I'll come to your room tonight and punish you," she promised.
    He kissed her neck, the curve of her shoulder, easing his way beneath the covers. "Sounds like fun. What do you want to fight about?"
    She gasped as his lips found her nipple and he nipped the delicate bud with his teeth. She couldn't think. She could barely talk. "Right now I ... just want you to continue what you're doing."
    ***
    Saturday afternoon, the hot summer sun beat down unmercifully on the land and the people. Rose sat inside the parlor trying to read a book and stay cool, her thoughts on Travis and their upcoming wedding. A week from today she would become Mrs. Travis Burnett, and she felt her lips turn up in a secretive smile.
    The knowledge was fairly bursting from her, yet so far she had managed to