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

S
itting at the kitchen table, Wyatt and Gus finished off the last of the latest casserole dish delivered this afternoon. Gus sat back and rubbed his stomach with his hand. “I think you should marry this one.”

But this wasn’t Eugenia’s casserole. And he was waiting for her to bring him a casserole, proving that she wanted a relationship with him.

Wyatt turned to look at his foreman sitting across from him and raised his brows. “Just because she can cook in the kitchen, doesn’t mean her skills in the bedroom are any good.”

The memory of his kiss with Eugenia overcame him, spreading warmth through him like the heat from a fire on a cold night. He’d known there was a natural attraction between the two of them, but when their lips had touched, he’d about gone up in flames. He’d been unprepared for the reaction of her mouth beneath his. The sweetness of her lips, the crush of her breasts against his chest, the feel of his arms around her.

“True, but this chicken and rice casserole is so damn good that the bedroom wouldn’t matter.” Gus all but licked the plate, his fork scrapping across the china.

Wyatt slid his chair back from the table, stood, and stretched. “
Hrmp
. You’ve not had great sex in a long time if you think food is better.”

“Well, it has been awhile,” Gus admitted. “How was dinner with Eugenia’s family Saturday night?”

Wyatt laughed. “Great. Eugenia didn’t know I was coming, and she wasn’t happy to see me.”

The look on her face when she’d seen him walk through the door would have sent most men running. She was a fiery woman who presented a tough shield, but he couldn’t help but think that once he melted her armor, she’d be soft as a buttercup.

Just the thought of breaking through to that warm, soft woman had his heart racing and his blood rushing.

“Why are you chasing after a woman who doesn’t want you?” Gus shook his head at what Wyatt knew he considered outrageous.

But there was a reason to his continued pursuit of a woman who’d turned him down more than once.

“I may be crazy, but I think she does want me. I think she’s just resisting, and I don’t know why. Once I learn why she’s saying no, then she’ll soon say yes.”

There was a fire in Eugenia that drew him like a clueless moth to an inferno. He knew once he walked into the fire, he’d be consumed, but out of the flames he hoped a happy couple would emerge.

Eugenia was a strong woman who spoke her mind, letting him know exactly where he stood. Yet when he kissed her, all that strength became soft and tender in his arms.

Gus pushed away his plate, lingering at the table. “Is she really going to be worth all this trouble? You’ve got women banging on the door with casseroles dishes in hand. All you’d have to do is get down on one knee, and any one of them would say yes. How hard is that?”

But Wyatt didn’t want just any woman who would have him. He wanted a woman suited to his personality and who would love him unconditionally. He needed a strong personality, like Eugenia.

“Where’s the challenge? And once that ring was on their finger, they’d whimper every time I said no. I want a strong-willed woman who is going to agree with me when she thinks I’m right and challenge me when I’ve done wrong. I want a partner, not a lap dog.”

“So you’re in this for the chase. Once you’ve caught her, what are you goin’ to do then?”

Ohhhh…he knew exactly what he’d do to Eugenia then. There was no doubt in his mind.”Of course I love the chase, but there are qualities in Eugenia you’re overlooking. She’s a protector, a fighter for the people she loves, and I know when she loves a man, she’s beside him to the day he takes his last breath.”

“You didn’t have that with Beatrice?”

“Beatrice was a great woman. She was strong and independent until she took ill. She loved me, and I loved her until the good Lord took her from me. I need a woman who has spirit, and I know Eugenia has enough stoutheartedness to support an army.”

For a moment they sat in silence with Gus contemplating, a frown on his wizened face. They’d been friends for a long time, and the man obviously was troubled by Wyatt’s infatuation with Eugenia.

“Eugenia’s boys okay with you courting their mama? Two of those boys were once gunslingers. They’re a pretty tight bunch. You need to tread lightly with Mama.”

Wyatt shook his head, remembering how the family had greeted him with warmth. Even her sons had acted happy to see him. “You’re worrying for nothing. I think the daughters-in-law are on my side, and the boys all treated me neighborly at dinner Saturday night. Once Eugenia is purring in my hand, I think the family won’t be a problem.”

Eugenia had raised her sons to be strong, just like herself, and he admired that in her. For years he’d watched her fight and protect those kids, and he was certain she’d be doing the same for her grandchildren.

“So, did you make progress last night, or was she madder than a hornet that you were there?”

Wyatt smiled at the memory of how he’d left Eugenia. “Oh, I made progress.”

“Then why’d we get another widow woman’s casserole dish?” Gus asked, his brows drawn together in wrinkled confusion. “If she wanted you, she’d send her own casserole.”

“All in good time,” Wyatt said, knowing that Eugenia was far from admitting she wanted him. “Eugenia’s testing me. And that’s all right. I know she’ll be in town tomorrow, and I’ll return the empty casserole dish.”

Wyatt couldn’t wait to return the empty casserole dish and let Eugenia know he still wanted her, no one else. He wanted to watch the way her brows would raise on her face, and her luscious mouth would form that perfect O when she realized he wasn’t giving up.

“You’ve got more patience than I would have with that woman. I sure hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.”

Wyatt smiled. “I do, and this is going to be fun.”

#

Sunshine streamed from the cloudless Texas sky, chasing the chill from the air. Eugenia hurried down the wooden sidewalk past the bank, a saloon, and the hat shop toward the mercantile store in downtown Fort Worth. She had to pick up some thread for the baby quilt she was crocheting for Sarah, and then she was going to head over to the restaurant and meet Myrtle for lunch.

She wanted to know how the casserole delivery went. She needed to make certain that Wyatt had gotten the message loud and clear. Stop courting her and focus on another woman that wanted his attention.

As if in a daydream, she saw Wyatt walking toward her, his steps steady and sure, his hat low on his head. He smiled that cocky grin of his, and her heart leaped in response. She glanced at his mouth, remembering the feel of his lips on hers, and immediately knew that to protect her freedom, she needed to get as far from him as she possibly could.

She turned and began to walk as fast as her short legs would carry her in the opposite direction.

And then he was beside her. In little or no time, he’d caught up to her.

“Good morning, Eugenia.”

“Wyatt,” she responded, surprise ringing in her voice, though she knew she lied.

“Are you avoiding me?” he asked, grinning at her as if he wanted to devour her. And part of her wanted to feel those lush lips of his covering hers again. Why this man?

“Never,” she said. Her stomach clenched in a painful knot at the lie. But it was for her own protection.

“Then why did you turn around?”

“I’d forgotten that I needed to go to the feed store,” she said, trying to make an excuse.

He threw back his head, laughing, picked up her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm. “The feed store is in the opposite direction.

Drat!

“Wyatt,” she hissed. “People will see. They’ll think…”

God, why did the touch of his skin make her pulse race like a thoroughbred in the final lengths? And his smell was a combination of leather and soap. A smell that conjured up images of him wet and naked, leaving her breathing a little faster.

“That we’re a couple,” he responded. “Then they’ll be correct.”

She glared at him, purposely giving him her stop-what-you’re-doing look. “No, we’re not a couple. What is it going to take for you to realize I’m serious.”

She decided to take a different approach. She stopped in the middle of the street, pulled her hand from his arm, and stared at him. “I’m sorry, Wyatt, but I’m not attracted to you as a man. There could be nothing between us.”

He burst out laughing. “Now, Eugenia, don’t treat me like I’m a fool.” He leaned in close to her and said just low enough for her ears, “I know when a woman is excited, and the kiss we shared the other night would have set the sheets on fire. There is enough attraction between the two of us that we could go without wood for the winter. You’re definitely attracted to me.”

Eugenia wanted to scream at the man, though his soft-spoken words made her loins begin a slow burn. Instead, she turned and started walking down the street.

“Where are you going?” he asked, hurrying after her.

“To the mercantile,” she said, her feet hurrying as fast as she could without running.

“I’ll accompany you and then I have to go. Unless you’d like for me to drive you home.”

She turned and glared at him. “No.”

He smiled, picked up her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm. “You know I enjoy these little skirmishes of ours. Our life together will be interesting.”

She raised her brows at him and gave him her best no-nonsense mother look. “If you want to walk me to the mercantile, there’ll be no discussion of marriage or our life together.”

Her skirts swished, and their boots made a rhythmic sound on the wooden sidewalk. The smell of fresh bread from the bakery wafted through the air, tantalizing with its yeast.

“Would you have dinner with me?”

Oh, he was going to get so tired of hearing her say no that he would soon go away.

“I’m sorry, I’m busy.”

“Every night? Every afternoon?”

“I’m afraid so.”

He sighed. “You’re not going to make this easy are you?”

“Nope,” she said, wanting to smile at the frustration she could hear in his voice. “I would suggest Myrtle Sanders. I’ve heard she bakes a great chicken and noodle casserole, and she’s looking for a husband. She’s a good woman.”

If he wasn’t interested in Myrtle, she’d find him someone else. Anyone to get this man married and unavailable.

“It was a chicken and rice casserole. Very tasty, but I’m not interested in her. I find her dull compared to you.”

They arrived at the mercantile, and she glanced at him.

He reached into his duffle bag, pulled out an empty casserole dish, and handed it to Eugenia.

“Myrtle Sander’s casserole dish.” He winked at Eugenia, tipped his hat, and smiled. “Again, it’s you I want Eugenia, no one else. No more casseroles unless it’s yours.”

He turned and walked away, his large frame strolling down the sidewalk as if he didn’t have a care in the world while her heart raced, begging her to go after him. Her lips wanted to sip from his again, and her hips wanted to slide against him.

Why couldn’t he get the hint? Yet a part of her was doing a little dance inside. If she ever considered marriage again, it would be with Wyatt. But that didn’t mean she was ready to accept his advances.

But there was something about the man that reawakened her body, reminding her of the joys of being married. She liked her life. She liked the control she had in doing what she wanted and not listening to any man telling her what to do.

She wouldn’t have that if she married Wyatt.

#

Wyatt strode down the sidewalk, tempted to look back and watch Eugenia but refusing to give her the satisfaction. Was he wrong to pursue her? Did she really not want his affections and wasn’t attracted to him?

Part of him said to walk away while he still had his pride. While another part of him said to wait. The best was yet to come. Eugenia had her reasons for never wanting to marry again, and he just needed to find out what happened to make her leery of marriage.

Walking down the sidewalk, past the shops and the saloons, he neared the office of Dr. Sarah Burnett. Just as he walked past her door, she came out.

“Mr. Jones,” she called. “How nice to see you again.”

“Mrs. Burnett. How are you feeling?”

She smiled. “Great for being over eight months along.”

“Good to hear,” he said, wondering if it would be improper to ask about Eugenia. There was that nagging question of why she didn’t want to remarry.

“I just hope he or she isn’t born on Christmas,” Sarah said.

“Why not?” Wyatt asked, curious.

“I would hate for the baby’s birthday to be a holiday. But whenever it decides to arrive is okay with me. I’m ready.”

“Babies do come in their own time,” Wyatt said, remembering the birth of his daughter and how much he’d wanted more children. Beatrice’s health had kept them from having more babies.

Horses and wagons passed them by, the clop, clop, clop of hooves resounding on the hard mud of the street while they stood on the wooden sidewalk in front of her office, chatting like two old friends.

“We were all so glad to have you out to dinner the other night,” Sarah said, smiling at him.

“Thank you. I enjoyed myself. Your family seems very close.” He had enjoyed the family and Eugenia’s company. He could see himself fitting into that group.

“Yes, we’re a tight bunch, but there’s always room for more. We all enjoyed getting to know you better. And Eugenia came in all flushed from the cold after your stroll.”

That flush was caused by her response to his kiss, not the cold. What if they thought he was being too bold? “Eugenia’s quite a woman. But I’ve got a small problem. If you have a moment, could I ask you a question?”

“I’m in no hurry. What’s your question?”

Maybe Sarah would tell him the reason Eugenia refused to consider marriage again. Maybe she knew.

“Do you know of any reason Eugenia wouldn’t want to marry again? I knew that Thomas was a hard man, but I always thought they had a good marriage.”

Sarah smiled. “Tucker says his father was as hardheaded as they come and that he pretty much ruled the house. But Eugenia and he were happy. She was heartbroken after he died.”