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

as quickly as possible to the door to avoid what she knew was coming. “I guess we better go announce the winners.”
    “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.