Free The Outlaw Takes A Bride (The Burnett Brides) by Sylvia McDaniel Page B

seemed a scary unknown, but this intrusion was just another indication of how little she knew Tanner. Combined with yesterday morning’s kiss, maybe it was time to move on.
    And that kiss had just about caused her to pass out yesterday morning. It had stayed in her mind all day. She reached up and touched her lips as if she could still feel the impression of his mouth. Never before had she enjoyed a kiss as much as that one. In fact, none of her previous experience at kissing had ever affected her like Tanner’s kiss. When he’d put his lips to hers, she’d felt as if she were coming undone in his arms.
    What was she doing? Although she had a man waiting for her, her thoughts were more and more on the man she owed her life to. Tucker awaited her, but Tanner intrigued her.
    The door opened, and Beth quickly closed her eyes. He walked in and went directly to the bed. He leaned over her, and she smelled his masculine scent, a unique blend of man and leather. The sound of his boots rapping against the floor faded, and she knew he had walked to the window. Soon he began to pace relentlessly, his boots tapping patterns on the floor. She opened her eyes a peek and glanced at the worried look on his face, wondering again at her protector. Who was this man that had managed to awaken her youthful interest in men once again? Something she’d all but given up hope of feeling again.
    A shiver passed through her. What did she know about Tanner? He was a man who said he was in the banking industry, yet his appearance and mannerisms were not like any banker she’d ever met And he didn’t seem the type of man who could sit quietly in an office and deal with people all day long. No, the man she was beginning to know was more of an outdoorsman who would seem more at home herding cattle than sitting behind a desk.
    There was a ruggedness about him that somehow didn’t belong in a bank.
    She opened her eyes and watched as he paced the floor. He’d yet to see that she was awake, that she watched and wondered what it was that troubled him and brought that worried countenance upon his handsome face. His blue eyes were darkened with worry, and she knew that something distressed him.
    “What’s wrong?” she asked unable to watch him pace any longer.
    His head jerked up, and he stared at her. “You’re awake.”
    “Did we have a visitor?” she questioned.
    “Just a man from the hotel,” he replied.
    She knew he was lying. Whoever the man was, he hadn’t been from the hotel. Beth was holding Tanner back from something, and she didn’t know what. But he needed to be rid of her, and that disappointed her. Though why she should be saddened, she didn’t know. After all, only yesterday she herself had been trying to leave.
    “Funny, I thought I heard raised voices. I thought I overheard the word bank and considered maybe the man was from your employer.”
    Tanner’s stare was relentless and cold enough to make her shiver, but she met his gaze head-on with a look of her own. He was lying; she knew it, and she wanted him to know she realized his deception.
    Finally, he turned and gazed out the window. She hadn’t accomplished anything, and it was plain he wasn’t going to divulge any information that would satisfy her curiosity.
    She sighed, her frustration mounting.
    “I’m feeling better. Don’t you think we could go for a walk? It’s the only way I’m going to get my strength back.”
    He turned his head and glanced at her. “Are you sure?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good. The sooner you get your strength back, the sooner I can put you on the first stage to Fort Worth.”
    She should feel glad, but somehow she didn’t. There was nothing for her here, yet this man drew her, surprised her and frustrated her.
    “What about you?”
    He shrugged. “For now my destination has changed. You’ll be going to Fort Worth without me.”
    Tanner turned to face the window once again. She gazed at his stance, his hands were on his hips, his legs