Read Online The Outlaw Takes A Bride (The Burnett Brides) by Sylvia McDaniel - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sylvia McDaniel
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revealed.
Her cheeks flamed in embarrassment.
Glancing quickly at Tanner, she noticed that his eyes had widened, their color changing to a smoky blue, which left her feeling warm as he gazed at her. Even if he’d seen nothing, the thought of his gazing at her breasts left her with a feeling that was completely unfamiliar but nice.
She flicked her tongue across her bottom lip to moisten them, feeling a flush of heat she’d never experienced before, and wondered at the emotions Tanner evoked in her. A breathless stirring seemed to encompass her as she returned his stare.
Nothing could come of her growing awareness of Tanner. She had no choice but to wed the man she was to meet in Fort Worth. Tanner was just a man who had taken care of her since she’d been shot, and she must be feeling grateful for his kindness. That’s all it could ever be.
She was lying to herself, but she didn’t dare explore her feelings for Tanner any further. He swallowed, glanced away, and she felt a keen sense of disappointment. No, she refused to feel anything for this man. She had a respectable man waiting to marry her, and she was not about to let him go. She needed a husband, a supporter, or she would be destitute.
Tanner cleared his throat. “I’m going out for a while. You’ll be safe here alone.”
“Where are you going?” she asked, and then realized her mistake as he sent her a look that showed his disapproval.
“I’m sorry, that’s none of my business. I ... I guess being cooped up here in this room has given me a case of nosiness. You go out. I’ll still be here when you get back.”
As if he’d just been released from prison, he stood, grabbed his hat and gun belt off the table, and began buckling it around his hips. He made his way toward the door, his actions hurried. She knew without asking that he wanted to get out of this room, and she was envious of his freedom.
“I don’t know what time I’ll be back,” he said as he walked out the door, not looking back.
Beth stared at the closed door that Tanner had just gone through and felt more alone than on the day she buried her parents. She had to get out of here before she did something she’d regret, like exploring the feelings this man stirred within her.
***
The next morning, Beth awoke to the sound of the door closing. The sun was shining through the open windows, and she knew that Tanner had just left. She couldn’t help but wonder where he’d gone the night before and whom he’d been with. She had no right to question his whereabouts or even wonder what he’d done, but still she was intrigued. And as much as he’d been on her mind the last few days, she had no business thinking about this man.
Living in close proximity with Tanner had certainly awakened parts of her she thought had died with the war. But Georgia lay behind her, and she couldn’t lose sight of her goal—to reach Fort Worth and marry. And the attraction she felt for Tanner was beginning to plague her every waking moment and could not be acted upon. In fact, the sooner she left, the better.
He was such a complex man, part nurse and defender, part rogue and gunslinger. Whenever she thought she was beginning to understand him, he seemed to change right before her eyes. He was intriguing in a way she’d never before thought a man could be. And she had to get away.
Beth reached over and touched her shoulder. It was still sore, but she felt stronger, the swelling was going down, and it hadn’t bled in several days. Why couldn’t she leave today? Right now?
Surely she was strong enough to get dressed, sell the pieces of jewelry that had been stowed in her luggage, and walk to the stage office. Once she was on that stage, she could rest all the way to Fort Worth. If there was a stage leaving today, she could be on it. And suddenly the need to be gone from this town, this room, and Tanner was urgent.
The sooner she was away from Tanner, the less she would feel compelled to act upon
Her cheeks flamed in embarrassment.
Glancing quickly at Tanner, she noticed that his eyes had widened, their color changing to a smoky blue, which left her feeling warm as he gazed at her. Even if he’d seen nothing, the thought of his gazing at her breasts left her with a feeling that was completely unfamiliar but nice.
She flicked her tongue across her bottom lip to moisten them, feeling a flush of heat she’d never experienced before, and wondered at the emotions Tanner evoked in her. A breathless stirring seemed to encompass her as she returned his stare.
Nothing could come of her growing awareness of Tanner. She had no choice but to wed the man she was to meet in Fort Worth. Tanner was just a man who had taken care of her since she’d been shot, and she must be feeling grateful for his kindness. That’s all it could ever be.
She was lying to herself, but she didn’t dare explore her feelings for Tanner any further. He swallowed, glanced away, and she felt a keen sense of disappointment. No, she refused to feel anything for this man. She had a respectable man waiting to marry her, and she was not about to let him go. She needed a husband, a supporter, or she would be destitute.
Tanner cleared his throat. “I’m going out for a while. You’ll be safe here alone.”
“Where are you going?” she asked, and then realized her mistake as he sent her a look that showed his disapproval.
“I’m sorry, that’s none of my business. I ... I guess being cooped up here in this room has given me a case of nosiness. You go out. I’ll still be here when you get back.”
As if he’d just been released from prison, he stood, grabbed his hat and gun belt off the table, and began buckling it around his hips. He made his way toward the door, his actions hurried. She knew without asking that he wanted to get out of this room, and she was envious of his freedom.
“I don’t know what time I’ll be back,” he said as he walked out the door, not looking back.
Beth stared at the closed door that Tanner had just gone through and felt more alone than on the day she buried her parents. She had to get out of here before she did something she’d regret, like exploring the feelings this man stirred within her.
***
The next morning, Beth awoke to the sound of the door closing. The sun was shining through the open windows, and she knew that Tanner had just left. She couldn’t help but wonder where he’d gone the night before and whom he’d been with. She had no right to question his whereabouts or even wonder what he’d done, but still she was intrigued. And as much as he’d been on her mind the last few days, she had no business thinking about this man.
Living in close proximity with Tanner had certainly awakened parts of her she thought had died with the war. But Georgia lay behind her, and she couldn’t lose sight of her goal—to reach Fort Worth and marry. And the attraction she felt for Tanner was beginning to plague her every waking moment and could not be acted upon. In fact, the sooner she left, the better.
He was such a complex man, part nurse and defender, part rogue and gunslinger. Whenever she thought she was beginning to understand him, he seemed to change right before her eyes. He was intriguing in a way she’d never before thought a man could be. And she had to get away.
Beth reached over and touched her shoulder. It was still sore, but she felt stronger, the swelling was going down, and it hadn’t bled in several days. Why couldn’t she leave today? Right now?
Surely she was strong enough to get dressed, sell the pieces of jewelry that had been stowed in her luggage, and walk to the stage office. Once she was on that stage, she could rest all the way to Fort Worth. If there was a stage leaving today, she could be on it. And suddenly the need to be gone from this town, this room, and Tanner was urgent.
The sooner she was away from Tanner, the less she would feel compelled to act upon
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