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

there’s going to be a fight. And I don’t play fair.”
    He laughed, throwing his head 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
     
    E ugenia 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