Southern Seduction by Brenda Jernigan Page A

dangerous.”
    “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know, but it was so smoky in there that I couldn’t see anything. I must have stumbled. I must have gotten too close.”
    “That’s no excuse for your carelessness.” Travis was quick to point out. “You could have been burnt to a crisp.”
    “And no doubt that would have pleased you,” Brook e snapped.
    Travis gave her a slow grin as he came to within an inch of her face. “It might have been one way to rid myself of you.”
    Even though she wanted to hit him for his remark, she wanted to kiss him even more. And that made no sense at all to her. But it just might take that smug look off his face.
    “You’re not that lucky, Mr. Montgomery,” she said with a slight smile. “You’ll never be rid of me.”

     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    That’s what I’m afraid of , Travis thought to himself as he watched Jeremy help Brooke mount. Travis knew he didn’t need to touch the woman -- it was too dangerous -- and he wasn’t too sure he wanted his friend touching her, either.
    Brooke didn’t so much as look his way before she galloped off . . . not that he cared, he tried to convince himself. He was used to getting what he wanted and ignoring what he couldn’t get, but in this case, he was finding it difficult to put Mrs. Hammond completely out of his mind. He had a sinking feeling that no matter how hard he tried, he’d never be completely rid of Brooke, as she had warned him.
    Jeremy rejoined him. “You have some partner there, I’d say,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at the departing woman. He nodded his approval, and that irked Travis further. “What are you going to do with her?”
    “Scare her away.”
    Jeremy chuckled. “I hate to tell you this, but she doesn’t look like the type that scares. In fact, I’d say she looked pretty determined just now when she rode off.” He folded his arms across his chest. “So, how did the intriguing lady come to be your partner? I can’t fathom you finding her on your own, nor can I believe you actually want a business partner.”
    “I assure you,” Travis took a deep breath, “I have little trouble finding a woman when I want one,” he muttered, his male pride wounded.
    A slow grin spread across Jeremy’s features. “The problem is you don’t want one,” he said. “And for a man who doesn’t want a woman at all, you now have two.”
    “My father chose Brooke,” Travis answered tersely between clenched teeth. “Why the hell he did such a foolish thing, I cannot imagine. My father might have been many things, but a fool wasn’t one of them.” Sarcasm lay heavy on his tongue. “I guess it was his going away present.”
    “Well, your mother chose Hesione,” Jeremy pointed out. “Your parents must have figured it was time you got married and each had their own idea of who it should be. I should know.” He laughed. “My parents have done the same thing with me in the past. I’ve just been lucky and avoided taking the plunge yet. However, I do believe your father’s choice is far superior to your mother’s, and a hell of a lot better than my mother’s last choice,” he said with a wry chuckle.
    Travis quirked his brow and answered sardonically, “That is my fiancée you are insulting.”
    Jeremy paid no heed to Travis’s warning. It was no secret that Travis didn’t have feelings for Hesione. “And if you were honest, you’d agree with me. Do you love her?”
    “ Who?”
    “Hesione of course,” Jeremy said with a smile.
    A number of emotions flickered across Travis’s face as he tried to formulate an answer, “What I feel for Hesione has nothing to do with the matter. She’s agreeable, so she will suit. Hesione will make a perfect hostess for Moss Grove because she comes from one of the finest families in New Orleans.”
    “Perhaps, once you marry her it will put you back in good standing with your grandfather?”
    “My grandfather . . . .” Travis actually winced at the truth though