Read Online A Convenient Bride by Cheryl Ann Smith - Free Book Online
Authors: Cheryl Ann Smith
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snorted and turned away.
Brenna nodded a second time and ambled off. After slaking their thirst in the creek, he tied the pair of horses to a tree and untied the pack from behind his saddle. For a young woman who had been raised to a life of ease, she could certainly take a battering. Her bum alone had to ache.
As if to prove his point, she rubbed her backside as shestepped into the shade of a large tree. He chuckled low. If nothing else, she had her father’s strength.
The thought of Walter jerked his eyes from her backside. He could not forget who Brenna was. If anyone deserved his loyalty, it was Walter. He’d helped Richard when he was battling his demons and nearly everyone else had turned away from him. No matter how the kiss between them had left him out of sorts, he’d not betray his friend by taking liberties with his daughter.
This was easier to think than to actually carry out. Her appeal did not wane despite the layer of dust on her skin or the tangled locks of hair clinging to her damp skin.
He joined her where she leaned against the tree. Her eyes were half closed, the fan of black lashes shading her beautiful green eyes.
“The meal is sparse but should keep us until we stop for the night.” He shook out his coat. “Come, eat.”
She pushed from the tree and took a place on the coat. “I could eat a whole cow,” she said, behind a yawn, and indicated a small group of bovines across the field.
“Unfortunately, we only have bread, cheese, and wine.” He placed a cheese wedge between two bread slices and handed it to her. “The cows are thankful.”
She paused in mid bite and stared. “Did you make a jest?”
He brought the wineskin to his mouth. “I have been known to do so now and then.”
A smile weaved its way across her sun-kissed face. His breath caught with his focus on her mouth, the sort of full mouth that was made for wicked things.
Seeing the destruction of his friendship with her father looming, he cleared his throat and turned away.
Brenna shifted, and her knee came dangerously close to his thigh. “There is more to you than what you let me see.”
He ate and said nothing. His silence did not discourage her attempt at conversation. She’d been quiet all morning. Whether it was the sunny meadow, the food, or her renewed energy from resting in the shade, something shook loose her tongue, and her target was him.
“I’d enjoy seeing you dressed in something other thanfaded breeches and a dusty coat,” she continued. Her gaze drifted over him. “You should find another tailor.”
He frowned. Her look was pure innocence. “You clearly need a wife.”
Manners kept him from looking skyward. “I promised to consider marrying you if you helped me find Anne. ‘Consider’ being the word of choice. Thus far, you have done nothing but follow along and test my patience.”
The chance he’d marry her was minute. He’d vowed to never remarry, and he intended to keep to that promise.
Of course, a marriage of convenience would certainly chase off the several marriage-minded women of his acquaintance who had no qualms about openly seeking him out as a potential mate.
That alone should make him consider her proposal.
“And yet, you keep me with you. Why, I ask?” She took the wineskin and sipped. “Perhaps you are not finished kissing me?”
Richard scowled. Why couldn’t Walter and Kathleen have whelped a less beguiling and aggravating child? By the time they reached Gretna Green, he’d likely be more inclined to strangle the chit than to wed her.
“Did you miss the lessons on proper behavior?” he said. His guilt weighed heavily on him. Her reminder did not ease his regret. “You must forget the kiss. It was a mistake, yours if I recall, and will not happen again. You are Walter’s daughter. I will not ruin my friendship with him by kissing you again.”
Brenna stared. “I talk of kissing, and you talk of my father. Interesting.” Her eyes seemed to slip into his
Brenna nodded a second time and ambled off. After slaking their thirst in the creek, he tied the pair of horses to a tree and untied the pack from behind his saddle. For a young woman who had been raised to a life of ease, she could certainly take a battering. Her bum alone had to ache.
As if to prove his point, she rubbed her backside as shestepped into the shade of a large tree. He chuckled low. If nothing else, she had her father’s strength.
The thought of Walter jerked his eyes from her backside. He could not forget who Brenna was. If anyone deserved his loyalty, it was Walter. He’d helped Richard when he was battling his demons and nearly everyone else had turned away from him. No matter how the kiss between them had left him out of sorts, he’d not betray his friend by taking liberties with his daughter.
This was easier to think than to actually carry out. Her appeal did not wane despite the layer of dust on her skin or the tangled locks of hair clinging to her damp skin.
He joined her where she leaned against the tree. Her eyes were half closed, the fan of black lashes shading her beautiful green eyes.
“The meal is sparse but should keep us until we stop for the night.” He shook out his coat. “Come, eat.”
She pushed from the tree and took a place on the coat. “I could eat a whole cow,” she said, behind a yawn, and indicated a small group of bovines across the field.
“Unfortunately, we only have bread, cheese, and wine.” He placed a cheese wedge between two bread slices and handed it to her. “The cows are thankful.”
She paused in mid bite and stared. “Did you make a jest?”
He brought the wineskin to his mouth. “I have been known to do so now and then.”
A smile weaved its way across her sun-kissed face. His breath caught with his focus on her mouth, the sort of full mouth that was made for wicked things.
Seeing the destruction of his friendship with her father looming, he cleared his throat and turned away.
Brenna shifted, and her knee came dangerously close to his thigh. “There is more to you than what you let me see.”
He ate and said nothing. His silence did not discourage her attempt at conversation. She’d been quiet all morning. Whether it was the sunny meadow, the food, or her renewed energy from resting in the shade, something shook loose her tongue, and her target was him.
“I’d enjoy seeing you dressed in something other thanfaded breeches and a dusty coat,” she continued. Her gaze drifted over him. “You should find another tailor.”
He frowned. Her look was pure innocence. “You clearly need a wife.”
Manners kept him from looking skyward. “I promised to consider marrying you if you helped me find Anne. ‘Consider’ being the word of choice. Thus far, you have done nothing but follow along and test my patience.”
The chance he’d marry her was minute. He’d vowed to never remarry, and he intended to keep to that promise.
Of course, a marriage of convenience would certainly chase off the several marriage-minded women of his acquaintance who had no qualms about openly seeking him out as a potential mate.
That alone should make him consider her proposal.
“And yet, you keep me with you. Why, I ask?” She took the wineskin and sipped. “Perhaps you are not finished kissing me?”
Richard scowled. Why couldn’t Walter and Kathleen have whelped a less beguiling and aggravating child? By the time they reached Gretna Green, he’d likely be more inclined to strangle the chit than to wed her.
“Did you miss the lessons on proper behavior?” he said. His guilt weighed heavily on him. Her reminder did not ease his regret. “You must forget the kiss. It was a mistake, yours if I recall, and will not happen again. You are Walter’s daughter. I will not ruin my friendship with him by kissing you again.”
Brenna stared. “I talk of kissing, and you talk of my father. Interesting.” Her eyes seemed to slip into his
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