The Christmas Bride - A Western Romance Novella (Book 4, Burnett Brides Series)

by Sylvia McDaniel

  “Not yet,” Wyatt said. He stood, and before she could protest, before she could tell him no, he pulled her into his arms. His lips covered hers as his sweet mouth demanded his reward.

  His mouth moved over hers, savoring and tasting her as if she were a dish he hungered for, and she couldn’t help but let him. This time her brain had longed for this second tasting. This second chance to experience the feel of his mouth on hers, the way he tasted and the gentle way he held her in his arms. The way her body was humming in areas she’d long thought were dead.

  His kiss was thorough and tender and created images of the two of them naked, reaching for that ultimate satisfaction.

  Somewhere a door slammed.

  Eugenia pushed back, her hand coming up to her lips. “Oh my.”

  She stood there for a moment, trying to regain her bearings, trying to restrain her stampeding heart and regulate her out of control breathing. Finally, she turned to him, straightening her clothing nervously. “We need to tell the others. They’re waiting, and we’re in here…”

  He brushed back a lock of hair from her face. “You look fine, Eugenia. This part of the program was just for us.”

  He smiled and strolled over to the door and held it open for her. Eugenia stood there trying to get her raging breathing under control, her body thrumming with awareness.

  She couldn’t remember ever receiving a kiss like that. One that burned all the way from her toes up to the top of her head, leaving scorched places in between.

  Finally, he turned to her, a smile on his chiseled, handsome face. “You coming?”

  This could not happen. He could not court her. He could not change her mind, and he could not set her aflame like that again.

  “Of course, I’m coming,” she said with a snap.

  Oh my, that man could kiss.

  #

  Wyatt held the door for Eugenia and watched her flounce through the opening, her long skirt rustling over her petticoats, her taste still on his lips.

  He had to restrain his laughter. He couldn’t remember when he’d had so much fun chasing a woman. And her resistance made the pursuit even more of a challenge. Sure he wanted her to succumb, but not yet. Not until she was ready to be naked and willing beneath him, because there were enough sparks flying between them to burn the sheets up. Lord, that woman set his limbs afire.

  “Everyone gather around,” she said, her face flushed from his kiss. “The auditions were outstanding this year. All of you did a great job, but there were five children we thought fit the roles perfectly. The rest of you will still be in the show, but you will either be in the choir or extras.”

  The kids stood waiting, listening to her attentively. “This year’s cast is, Timothy for Joseph, Bethany for Mary, Frank for the speaking wise man, and Ellen and Carolyn as the angels.”

  The children gave a round of applause and clapped the winners on the back.

  “We’ll begin rehearsal on Tuesday.”

  As the kids began to leave, Audelia, mother to Ellen, whiner extraordinaire, approached Eugenia, her ever present frown on her beautiful face.

  “Eugenia,” she said. “May I have a word with you?”

  “Yes, Audelia. How can I help you?”

  “My daughter Ruth would have been great as Mary, and yet you put Bethany there. Why did you choose Bethany over her? Ruth is so much prettier and would do such a good job.”

  Eugenia glanced at Wyatt and raised her brow at him. Wyatt knew better than to fly into that hornet’s nest. “I agree Ruth is beautiful, but I needed her voice in the choir leading the younger children who don’t know the music as well.”

  “But that’s not fair,” she said.

  “Ruth is too big to play Mary, and I thought that this year Bethany earned her position in the play,” Eugenia told the woman, laying out her reasons for why she’d given each child his part. Seemed reasonable to Wyatt.

  Audelia sighed. “I think you’re missing an excellent opportunity to have a wonderful production this year. We’ll be back for rehearsal on Tuesday.”

  “Thanks, Audelia. I’ll look forward it.”

  She grabbed her daughter, who stood against the wall, her cheeks red with embarrassment, and led her from the auditorium.

  Wyatt walked up beside Eugenia. “Does she think our production is going to New York or San Francisco? It’s a church play.”

  Eugenia shook her head. “Every year it’s something with her. Her daughter is a sweet girl, but her mom will drive us crazy before the end of this.” She glanced at him. “You certainly didn’t step in there and try to explain it to her.”

  “I’m not here to run the play. I’m here to be supportive and help you. You’re in charge,” Wyatt said, knowing instinctively that if he’d interfered, Eugenia would have resented his meddling.

  She made a harrumph sound. “I’m having a hard time believing that.”

  He shrugged. “Think what you want. I’m just telling you like it is. I’m here as support.”

  Why was she having a hard time accepting that he didn’t want to lead the play? Could this possibly be a problem with Eugenia? Did she always need to be in control? That could certainly be a problem in any relationship.

  #

  Sunday morning after the service, Wyatt hurried outside the building. He watched as Eugenia walked over to her family.

  “Good morning, Eugenia,” Wyatt called.

  Outside, people stood in the bright, warm, Texas sunshine waiting for everyone to gather. Buggies were loaded with families as they prepared to ride out in search of a Christmas tree. Every year the church made cutting down the annual tree an outing, except years when the weather had forced them indoors.

  “Morning, Wyatt,” Eugenia responded.

  Wyatt watched as Eugenia walked to her buggy. Beth had laid the bundled up sleeping baby on the bench. There was no place for Eugenia to sit as Rose, Lucas and baby Desirée occupied the front row with Travis. Tanner, Beth, and baby Carter were in the back.

  He walked over to their buggy. “Hey there, folks. You guys are a little cramped.”

  “Good morning, Wyatt,” Beth said.

  Beth smiled at him, and he knew without a doubt the woman had deliberately put the sleeping baby on the bench.

  “Eugenia, baby Carter is sleeping. Why don’t you ride with me?”

  Her steely blue eyes gazed at him and then back at the sleeping child. She glanced between him and Beth, and he knew she was deliberating whether or not to tell Beth to pick the child up.

  Finally, she sighed. “All right, I’ll ride with you, Mr. Jones.”

  She turned and marched to his buggy. He tipped his hat to Beth and smiled. Then hurried to catch up to Eugenia.

  He helped her into the wagon, noting the tense line of her jaw, the way her mouth was set in a determined line.

  After he climbed up into the buggy, she turned to him. “I don’t know how you’re doing this or even why you arranged this little buggy ride. But I will talk to Beth and tell her to stop the matchmaking. It’s not becoming, and she doesn’t know what she’s doing.”

  He pulled the wagon into the line of other wagons all heading the same direction and laughed. He hadn’t seen Eugenia since their first rehearsal and then only briefly. He’d missed her quick mind and sharp wit. “That’s funny coming from a woman who matched all three of her sons and who’s known for her matchmaking.”

  “Beth’s an amateur.”

  Maybe she was, compared to Eugenia, but she’d helped Wyatt by leaving no room in the buggy for the older Burnett.

  “How does it feel, Eugenia?” he asked her, clicking to the horses as they fell into line with all the others. “How does it feel to know that someone is pursuing you and your family has now turned the tables on you?”

  She turned and gave him one of her cool, assessing looks.

  “Wyatt Jones, you better back off right now, or there’s going to be a fight. And I don’t play fair.”

  He laughed, throwing his h
ead back, enjoying riling her so that he could cool her back down. “I love a good challenge. Especially one that will be worth all the trouble to get what I want in the end.”

  She peered at him, her brows raised in that haughty way that made him want to kiss her and leave her breathless. And, oh God, how he wanted to kiss her.

  “Keep on looking at me that way and I will pull this buggy over and kiss you senseless,” he said. His eyes strayed to her lips, remembering their feel, their taste, and how he wanted to kiss her again.

  “Wyatt! I’m just looking at you. I’m not looking at you with want.”

  Oh no, her hazel eyes were wide and doe eyed as if all she needed was someone to kiss her, and he wanted to be that someone.

  “The hell you aren’t. You tell me to my face that you are not interested in me, and I will back off and leave you alone. But your kisses tell me you’re not immune to this passion I feel flowing between us, and your eyes are saying come and get me. Tell me, Eugenia. Tell me to go away and I will.”

  She licked her lips, her eyes suddenly looking wild and confused, like a trapped animal. He almost felt sorry for her. Almost.

  “We’re working on the Christmas play together. I can’t tell you to go away,” she insisted.

  He shook his head. “Don’t use the play as an excuse. You could tell me at any time to walk away if you wanted to, or you could quit the play.”

  He watched as her body stiffened. “Is that what this is all about? Trying to make me quit so that you can take over the play?”

  Deep rolling laughter emanated from within his chest, yet there it was again, her insecurity over him wanting to control the play, when he could care less. Somehow he had to make her understand.

  “Honey, I’m only doing this play because it’s a place where I can spend time with you. I couldn’t care less about this Christmas production. I’m there to make you realize that it’s time we faced this attraction that we recognized years ago and refused to act on when we were both married.”

  She opened her mouth, but no words came out, which was quite extraordinary for Eugenia.

  “If you tell me there has never been an attraction between us, I will stop this buggy right now and escort you back to your son and daughter-in-law.”

  She stared down at her hands and then lifted her steely blue eyes to him.

  “Yes, I feel the attraction Wyatt, but I can’t act on it.”

  “Thank you for that admission,” he acknowledged. A burst of hope filled his chest, and he no longer felt the biting chill in the wind. “But why can’t you act on it? What’s stopping you, Eugenia?”

  A shout came from the buggy in front of them, and Wyatt knew they’d arrived at the cedar grove right outside of town, where they would cut the church tree and have their picnic. Just when they were finally getting somewhere, they would have to stop and join the others.

  He pulled the buggy to a halt and glanced over at Eugenia. She licked her lips nervously and then she faced him, her expression tense and angry as a trapped mama bear.

  “I hated being married.”

  Before he could respond, she jumped out of the buggy and walked away.

  Hell-fired! How do I get around that?

  Chapter Five

  Eugenia watched Wyatt taking his turn at cutting down the large tree they’d found for Christmas. Yes, it wasn’t a pine. It was a cedar tree, but in Northwest Texas that was the best they could hope for unless someone took a trip to East Texas.

  “Wow, I think he’s stronger than Travis,” Rose said, stepping up to Eugenia.

  Unable to look away, Eugenia perused the way Wyatt swung the ax at the base of the tree. His muscles rippled across his back, his strength showing in the swing of the ax as it struck the cedar.

  “Yes, he’s strong,” Eugenia said, incapable of saying much more as she starred as Wyatt worked.

  The man was such a danger to her. Even now, watching him, her body tensed, her breathing quickened, and she seemed to glow when he was around. His quick wit and mind left her wanting to spend more time with him. His kisses were mesmerizing and left her craving things she’d long forgotten.

  “He’s certainly a good-looking man,” Rose said as they stood there watching him cut the tree.

  And then that practical voice, the one that reminded Eugenia of how different her life was now and how much she enjoyed being in control of her own destiny, reminded her of her life today. With no one there to tell her how to live each day, with no one demanding her time, with no one limiting what she did.

  “Yes, he’s not bad looking,” Eugenia said, wondering how those muscles would feel beneath her hands. Would his back be strong and taut, his muscles toned? Her stomach tightened at the thought of him naked.

  With a shake of her head, she put her hand to her mouth. What was wrong with her to be thinking thoughts like that of Wyatt?

  “Some lucky lady is going to make him a fine wife,” Rose said softly.

  Sure, Eugenia missed the companionship of marriage, but there were so many times Thomas had commanded she do things his way.

  “There she goes,” Wyatt called to the crowd as the big cedar fell to the ground.

  Eugenia’s gaze found Wyatt staring at her, his eyes filled with questions. She’d shocked him with her announcement of how she felt about marriage. She’d known it and frankly thought maybe her confession would scare him away.

  “There are a lot of good things to consider about the man when you look at Wyatt,” Rose commented to Eugenia, her ploy obvious, but Eugenia was entranced staring at Wyatt.

  “Yes,” Eugenia said, only half listening to Rose.

  His eyes gleamed, and as he stood there breathing hard, leaning on the ax handle, somehow Eugenia knew without a doubt that she’d only intrigued him with her confession.

  Wyatt strode over to help the men lift the tree and gently lay it in the back of the wagon. He stepped behind the group of men and watched as they tied the tree down for the return trip to town.

  His gaze met hers across the space, his eyes warm, the look sending a trail of heat down her spine as she returned his stare, feeling so confused as to what she wanted.

  “He certainly watches you,” Rose said, glancing back and forth between the two of them.

  “Uh-huh,” Eugenia replied, refusing to say more.

  “I heard he stood by his wife right up until the day she died,” Rose said, holding Desirée’s hand as the little one tried to toddle off.

  “Yes, he did. Beatrice was a friend of mine. Thomas and I had dinner at their house several times.” Eugenia still scrutinized Wyatt as he helped the men pack away the tools.

  Rose gazed at Eugenia. “He’s a good man.”

  “You’re right. He is a good man,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. She needed to get away. She needed to quit watching this man. “And you’re being way too obvious. I need to unpack our food.”

  Eugenia walked away, not wanting to talk any longer about Wyatt. Needing to escape the ring linking her to Wyatt growing tighter and tighter.

  A few minutes later, dinner was served buffet-style from the back of one of the wagons. Everyone had contributed something, with several serving fried chicken, sliced ham, and potato salad in addition to all the pies anyone could ever dream of in one location.

  Women spread blankets on the ground for their families to sit on while the children scampered around in the chilly December air.

  A picnic in December was rare, but the Texas sun blazed down on them, giving them a wonderful, toasty day. Not unheard of for December, but still a rarity.

  Wyatt walked towards Eugenia carrying two plates of food. “Have you eaten yet?”

  “No,” she said, and her heart warmed at the sight of him and at his thoughtfulness. She’d been watching her grandson kick a ball with some of the other children and had yet to get in line.

  “I brought you a plate. I thought maybe we could sit on the back of my wagon. I pulled it over close to Travis and Rose,” he
said, his gaze sizzling and inviting, giving her pause to consider his request.

  “Thanks,” she said, wanting to refuse, but unable to decline his company.

  Eugenia took a seat on the tailgate of his wagon and stared across the blanket at her children. Sarah had stayed home with Kira, the young Chinese girl she’d rescued, by her side. At eight months pregnant, she’d chosen not to attend the tree cutting, but Tucker had brought Lucas. Tanner and Beth were there with baby Carter and then Rose, Travis, and Desirée.

  She loved her children, their wives, and her grandchildren more than her next breath, and she knew that because of her marriage to Thomas, they were in her life.

  Eugenia glanced at Wyatt. He sat watching her, looking at her with such an intent gaze.

  “Oh, go ahead and say it,” she said. “You’re shocked I hated being married.”

  Living with Thomas was hard, and when he passed away, she’d grieved. Their marriage had been a sturdy rock, a firm foundation that they’d built their family and ranch on. The years had been good, but now she realized she needed more than a bossy man.

  Wyatt continued chewing his food, glancing out at her children and their families. “Nice looking family you have, Eugenia.”

  She just didn’t know if she could do that again with another man. She just didn’t know if she wanted another man giving her directions. She just didn’t know if she wanted to give her heart to another man to have him leave her to grieve again.

  Eugenia let her fork drop onto her plate. “You’re not going to say anything about what I told you this morning?”

  He turned his attention back to her, his cinnamon eyes twinkling, the corner of his mouth turned up in that sassy-sexy grin that made her want to kiss it away. “It’s hardly the time or the place to discuss this matter.”

  She drew her brows together. “Why?”

  “And after I thought about it, why should I be shocked? It’s obvious you’re resisting every attempt I make,” he said, not gazing at her, but down at his plate. “Did you try that chicken salad? That’s really good.”

  Was he deliberately acting nonchalant about her revelation this morning just to goad her into confessing?