Read Online Southern Seduction by Brenda Jernigan - Free Book Online
Authors: Brenda Jernigan
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didn’t turn. Instead, she marched across the manicured lawn. The one thing she would not do was bow down to Travis no matter how badly she needed a home.
Chapter Five
Travis stood on the porch, gripping the iron railing as if he could break it in two, and the thought had occurred to him. He needed to release some of his frustration. Ringing the lovely lady’s neck was another option that had crossed his mind.
He barely noticed the crisp air or the beautiful morning as he watched the woman striding across the lawn. What he did notice was the sun playing in her glorious golden hair until it looked like wheat ready for harvest.
Travis cursed himself for his weakness. Why was he even looking her way? The last thing in the world he wanted or needed was to get involved with this woman. He had a fiancée. And Brooke was a threat to his carefully plotted plans ... or was she merely another obstacle to be overcome ... and nothing more.
He descended the front steps at his own pace. He’d be damned if he’d race to catch up with the exasperating woman. What the devil was she up to anyhow? He’d hoped that by ignoring Mrs. Hammond she would simply go away, but evidently that tactic hadn’t worked. She was still here worrying him like a thorn in his side.
He did admit that Brooke Hammond was different than other women he’d known, and that bothered him. She disturbed him in every way she could. Not only was he becoming more and more attracted to her, but he couldn’t figure her out. However, he was fast learning that she was one stubborn woman. Worse, she seemed to know how to work her way under his skin.
And he didn’t give a damn how pretty she was. She was trouble – plain and simple.
At least that’s what he tried to convince himself. What he did give a damn about was how much the blasted lady stayed on his mind. Even in his sleep he could see those enticing, glittering gold eyes of hers dancing before him. And the light fragrance she wore seemed to be everywhere in the house. Strange. He paused and thought for a moment. He couldn’t recall Hesione’s scent.
It was as if he couldn’t get away from Brooke. She had infested the very air he breathed. Normally, he could shove thoughts of women completely out of his mind. However, with Mrs. Hammond, none of his usual tricks worked. She was like the plague.
He looked up and came to an abrupt stop. Apparently, he’d reached the stables without remembering the walk. Blast it all, he needed to get hold of his mind and his body.
He could only hope that after the infernal Mrs. Hammond saw how complicated running a plantation was, she’d turn tail and go running back to England and her tea parties and whatever it was she’d done before coming here. Women had no place interfering in the operation of a plantation. Especially his plantation!
Entering the barn doors, he immediately spotted Brooke and knew his shot-lived reprieve was over. She was waving her arms in exasperation as she argued with his head groom. Evidently, she was trying to convince Old Sam she needed a horse.
“Why you be wantin’ one o’ Master Travis’s good horses, Missy? Not dat I got a t’ing ag’in you, but I don’t know who you are, you hear,” Sam said in his thick Cajun accent.
“Why does that not surprise me?” Brooke muttered sarcastically. “I’m, Brooke Hammond, part owner of Moss Grove.”
Old Sam chuckled. “Well now, you be funnin’ me. Ever’bod’ knows Master Montgomery owns Moss Grove. Dere he is now. Ask him, you’se’f, you hear.”
Brooke swung around and focused her attention on Travis, glaring angrily at him. He almost laughed out loud at the murderous look on her face. Instead, he smiled. Unfortunately, his obvious amusement just made her all the more irritated. Finally, Travis asked, “Is there a problem, Sam?”
Sam shoved his hat to the back of his head. “Ooowe, to be sure,” he said. “This young lady wants t’ ride one o’ yer
Chapter Five
Travis stood on the porch, gripping the iron railing as if he could break it in two, and the thought had occurred to him. He needed to release some of his frustration. Ringing the lovely lady’s neck was another option that had crossed his mind.
He barely noticed the crisp air or the beautiful morning as he watched the woman striding across the lawn. What he did notice was the sun playing in her glorious golden hair until it looked like wheat ready for harvest.
Travis cursed himself for his weakness. Why was he even looking her way? The last thing in the world he wanted or needed was to get involved with this woman. He had a fiancée. And Brooke was a threat to his carefully plotted plans ... or was she merely another obstacle to be overcome ... and nothing more.
He descended the front steps at his own pace. He’d be damned if he’d race to catch up with the exasperating woman. What the devil was she up to anyhow? He’d hoped that by ignoring Mrs. Hammond she would simply go away, but evidently that tactic hadn’t worked. She was still here worrying him like a thorn in his side.
He did admit that Brooke Hammond was different than other women he’d known, and that bothered him. She disturbed him in every way she could. Not only was he becoming more and more attracted to her, but he couldn’t figure her out. However, he was fast learning that she was one stubborn woman. Worse, she seemed to know how to work her way under his skin.
And he didn’t give a damn how pretty she was. She was trouble – plain and simple.
At least that’s what he tried to convince himself. What he did give a damn about was how much the blasted lady stayed on his mind. Even in his sleep he could see those enticing, glittering gold eyes of hers dancing before him. And the light fragrance she wore seemed to be everywhere in the house. Strange. He paused and thought for a moment. He couldn’t recall Hesione’s scent.
It was as if he couldn’t get away from Brooke. She had infested the very air he breathed. Normally, he could shove thoughts of women completely out of his mind. However, with Mrs. Hammond, none of his usual tricks worked. She was like the plague.
He looked up and came to an abrupt stop. Apparently, he’d reached the stables without remembering the walk. Blast it all, he needed to get hold of his mind and his body.
He could only hope that after the infernal Mrs. Hammond saw how complicated running a plantation was, she’d turn tail and go running back to England and her tea parties and whatever it was she’d done before coming here. Women had no place interfering in the operation of a plantation. Especially his plantation!
Entering the barn doors, he immediately spotted Brooke and knew his shot-lived reprieve was over. She was waving her arms in exasperation as she argued with his head groom. Evidently, she was trying to convince Old Sam she needed a horse.
“Why you be wantin’ one o’ Master Travis’s good horses, Missy? Not dat I got a t’ing ag’in you, but I don’t know who you are, you hear,” Sam said in his thick Cajun accent.
“Why does that not surprise me?” Brooke muttered sarcastically. “I’m, Brooke Hammond, part owner of Moss Grove.”
Old Sam chuckled. “Well now, you be funnin’ me. Ever’bod’ knows Master Montgomery owns Moss Grove. Dere he is now. Ask him, you’se’f, you hear.”
Brooke swung around and focused her attention on Travis, glaring angrily at him. He almost laughed out loud at the murderous look on her face. Instead, he smiled. Unfortunately, his obvious amusement just made her all the more irritated. Finally, Travis asked, “Is there a problem, Sam?”
Sam shoved his hat to the back of his head. “Ooowe, to be sure,” he said. “This young lady wants t’ ride one o’ yer
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