Lilac Temptress by Elizabeth Davis Page B

considered his wish for a
moment before making her decision. “You ought to leave, Mr.
McCalister.” She defeated him.
     
     

Chapter 5
     
    Rogues ogled, shouted and indulged in
Sierra’s performance. She danced aggressively, spinning, rounding
her hips, and shoving her heals into tabletops. But her mind was
blank. She was in her second number and couldn’t remember the words
to the song she sang, so she made them up. If only she could put
that wretched man, Drake, out of her mind, she brooded.
    Unfortunately for them, the men trying
to capture her attention barely existed. Her thoughts were focused
on Drake and the distress in his voice earlier that day while he
pleaded with Adrienne to let him ascend the stairs and go after
her. Part of her wanted him to pursue her, shed admitted to
herself. But Drake had finally departed the brothel, and now she
harbored a secret hope that he might stride through the tavern
doors once more, and she wondered what he might be doing now, and
if he thought of her as often as she thought of him.
    She spared another glance at the
doors, hoping against reason that this time his muscular frame
would fill the entryway. There were a couple of new
faces—passersby, she mused, but not her handsome stranger. Then, as
if summoned by her sheer will, he sauntered in. Her eyes locked on
his briefly before she turned from their brilliance, as if they
were blazing hot enough to singe her.
    “ Fancy seeing you around
here again,” Stella said with a smile, and seated Drake at one of
her tables. “What will it be?”
    “ Whiskey,” Drake said,
automatically.
    “ Whatever you want,
sweetheart,” Stella cooed as she turned on her heels to fetch his
drink, returning moments later.
    Drake reached for the glass without
taking his eyes off Sierra. The way that she danced and sang—it was
almost lewd how she flung herself at men, groping them as she
swayed to and fro. She seemed to drape over every man except him,
deliberately bypassing him while she worked the crowd. Drake
stewed, sweeping a damning look over her body.
    He could not stand
witnessing her detestable behavior and he was unprepared for it.
Whatever she was trying to do to him was working. Pangs of jealousy
and resentment clawed at his chest. He loathed the way she made him
feel. He watched her allow a fellow to run his hand over her leg,
which was perched on his table at eye length. The man shoved bills
between her thigh and garter before Drake could blink. In that
moment, he forced himself to see her for what she was, a parading
whore. Some Lady, he seethed. More like a
trollop.
    “ Hello handsome.” A
revealingly clad woman stood in front of Drake’s table,
interrupting his treacherous thoughts. “I’m Liandra.” She invited
herself to take a seat next to Drake. Her face was painted heavily
with purple eye shadow and pink rouge, and her full lips were as
red as the ripest of apples. She wore a green taffeta costume,
overflowing with cleavage revealed by the shape of its low-cut,
heart-shaped, torso. Another pretty girl took a seat next to
Liandra, facing him, perfectly adorned in make-up and wearing a
similar costume.
    “ My friend here is
Jasmine,” Liandra said, straight glistening teeth showing as she
perused him.
    “ Oh, hush up, Lian. I can
speak for myself,” Jasmine remarked, her eyes twinkling at
Drake.
    “ Hello ladies,” Drake
grinned charmingly. “Can I buy you both a drink?” he offered, more
interested in the company of these pretty women than watching
Sierra throw herself at every man in the saloon.
    “ We didn’t come for
drinks.” Jasmine smiled evocatively. Her impressionable eyes were
direct and hinted at what she was after.
    Drake understood her well enough to
know what she wanted. He smiled a toothy grin at her. Finally, he’d
enjoy some small pleasure in this town, he thought.
    “ We would like to keep
company with you elsewhere. Let’s say we have a little private
party of three?” Liandra