Free Mail Order Bride – Charlotte's Summer: Clean Sweet Western Cowboy Romance (Seasons Mail Order Brides Book 1) by Annie Lane

very late, so there was plenty of hot water to fill their tub. I must have soaked for the best part of an hour before I went to bed.”
    Thomas nodded, blinking faster than he ever believed possible. At the mention of a bath, his thoughts had turned to her undressing, which had led to thoughts of her being naked in his bathroom, and then that led to thoughts of their upcoming wedding night. Knowing she was looking at him again with those pretty flushed cheeks made him panic. He’d never been with a woman before. He knew the physicality of it though and he looked forward to consummating his marriage just as much as any other young man his age might do, but it still unsettled him some with the idea of getting it just right, for Charlotte’s sake if nothing else.
    For the time being though, since he wasn’t married just yet, he thought it best to remove temptation altogether and walked past Charlotte to open another window. If he didn’t get some fresh air swirling around the room, and Charlotte’s beautiful smell out of his nose, then he felt that he might just be setting himself up for embarrassment.
    He gestured for her to return to the kitchen and when she took a seat at the table, her eyes were drawn to the only sign of life she’d found in the entire house so far. Sitting right there in front of her, were three shiny red apples. They looked delicious, fat round ones, like they’d just been picked straight from a tree, and her father’s words came rushing back to her in such a way that it left her a little breathless.
    Apples … Branches … Fruit.
    If that wasn’t a sign then she didn’t know what was.
    Thomas poured Charlotte a cup of coffee, setting the cream and sugar down in front of her, completely oblivious to the way she was staring so intently at the table. “I better beat us up some fresh eggs, it won’t take me too long, drink your coffee up while you wait. I’ll just grab the last bag of flour down from the pantry so I can knock up some flapjacks too. You like flapjacks, Charlotte?”
    Charlotte glanced up at him and watched him work. She released a breath, one she didn’t even realize she was holding and shrugged, feeling herself blush for what must be the hundredth time. “I … I don’t think … think I’ve ever tried them.”
    Spying the way Thomas’s muscles shifted as he hoisted the flour bag from the top shelf had pleased her in ways she’d never experienced. His shirt had risen a little from his britches too and she’d caught a small glimpse of his lean, flat stomach. Thomas knew Charlotte was watching him again and decided he’d better busy himself with making the breakfast before his thoughts started wandering again.
    Whether he wanted to admit it or not … he was falling for Charlotte Bates.

Chapter 14
    T homas furrowed his brow when his attention was drawn to the distinct sound of galloping hooves coming toward the farm and any feelings he had brewing away inside him were soon squashed by the sight. A thin fume of dust rose over in the valley and caught his eye through the open window. Without a second guess he knew exactly who it was, and by the time he’d lead Charlotte back out onto the porch – conceding he’d need to make the introductions sooner rather than later – he looked up to find Earl and Junior pulling their sweating horses to a halt just a few yards away.
    “Howdy, Mr. Ackerman, we came over to get us a look at…” Before Junior could finish the sentence, the back of Earl’s hand clipped his son’s ear and near knocked him straight off the rear of Lightning. The boy rubbed his head as he sat up tall again in the saddle. “Aw shucks Pa, whatcha go and do that for? I was only tellin’ it straight like ya always taught me.”
    “I warned you twice before we even left the house. Watch ya manners.”
    “Yes, Sir.”
    Junior jumped from the horse and fiddled with his hair to keep it from falling in his face. He desperately needed a haircut but they’d