Lilac Temptress (10 page)

“
You ought to ask her,”
Drake responded. Certainly the boy needed to be put in his place.
He had no business inquiring about a man’s private
affairs.

“
I thought I might ask you.
I saw the way that you were looking at Sierra in the bar while Wil
stood next to her. You didn’t seem to like the kind of attention he
was giving her.”

“
What if I was watching
them?” Drake questioned. Kyle certainly had a discerning eye, and
now had his interest.

“
Stay away from her. Just
finish up your business here and leave town,” Kyle warned, his
words filled with venom.

Drake tried not to laugh at the boy
who was barely a man, yet Kyle spoke with so much authority. “Give
me one good reason to stay away from her.”

Kyle studied Drake. Surely Sierra must
have been interested in him. To her, this man must look like a
knight in shining armor that swept into town, much like Jason had.
But this man was not like Jason. No, this man presented himself as
distinguished, self-assured and honorable, and by the looks of his
fine clothing, very well off. Kyle got the distinct impression that
this man was not to be trifled with, and was relentless in his
pursuit of what he wanted. He’d have to be, to have stood so
confidently in the presence of William’s stooges.

“
Already I can see she’s
got you wrapped around her little pinky,” was all Kyle could think
of to say in response. It’s easy for her you know, to lure a man.
Cast a spell on him. Trap him. How long did it take you to fall for
her? Was it her singing that hooked you, or the way she moved when
she danced? I heard Wil say that he told you and your friend to
leave town last night, which means that you must have come into the
bar. Sierra performed last night,” Kyle spoke out loud as he put
two and two together. Drake didn’t answer.

“
Yeah she got to you,” Kyle
assumed, still scrutinizing Drake. “Mr. McCalister, Sierra is
trouble. Don’t waste your time with her.”

“
I understand you care
about your sister, but I don’t need your permission to see her.
Now, I think you’ve said enough.” Drake ended the conversation in a
tone that let Kyle know that there would be no further
discussion.

Kyle turned away when he saw that he
could not convince Drake to stay away from his sister, and headed
back toward the tavern. When he approached the entrance Sierra
brushed past his shoulder.

“
Sierra, where are you
going? You can’t be finished working yet?” Kyle snatched her arm
back.

“
I am finished for now,”
Sierra said with smirk, and a toss of her red curls.

“
Please don’t tell me
you’re going after McCalister,” Kyle griped.

“
Why shouldn’t I? After
all, you chased him down the road, didn’t you?”

“
I want to know what’s
going on between you two.”

“
I don’t have to report to
you Kyle,” Sierra snapped.

Irked to his limit, Kyle struggled to
maintain his composure. “There can’t be secrets between us,” he
said firmly.

“
I promise to tell you
everything later.” Sierra twisted her arm out of his grasp. “I have
to go now if I’m to catch him.” Sierra walked away from Kyle
swiftly trough the tavern’s exit. Her walk became a light skip
until she finally spotted Drake ahead. “Drake, slow down!” she
bellowed.

Drake turned around,
surprised to see Sierra running after
him
this time. Finally she was coming
out of her ‘not interested’ performance and showing him some
attention. He smiled to himself and stopped walking in order to let
her catch him. It wasn’t unusual for women to chase him.

“
Is now a good a time as
any for you to see me? Because I can assure you, Mr. McCalister,
that you will not get any further tonight than you did last night,”
Sierra exclaimed wryly. “I’ve only come to tell you this to spare
you from losing any more money than you already have; and knowing
that you would like to see me again—I suggest that you see me now.
Tonight, I will not be so inviting nor will I let you into my
bedroom, no matter what you might pay. So if you like, you may walk
with me for a little, while I take a break from my
work.”

Already back to the
heartless woman I met on stage
, Drake
thought displeased. “Sierra, why must you ensnare a man so easily
and trample his heart so soon after?” He cocked his brow in
complaint.

“
And what would you have me
do with your heart?” Sierra mocked. “Last night never should have
happened, at least the part where you were in my room.”

Drake heaved a sigh. “Can you at least
tell me where are we going?” he asked curiously, ignoring her
iciness. He knew nothing happened last night that she hadn’t
allowed. If she wanted to play games, as most women did with him,
then he was more than up for the challenge.

“
You’ll know it when we get
there.” Sierra hesitated. “Are you coming with me or
not?”

“
How could I deny you?”
Drake replied with a subservient smirk. He politely allowed her to
pass and he followed behind her silently, enjoying watching her
walk. Every so often she nervously glanced back at him. He only
grinned at her slyly in return.

Sierra heard Drake’s feet come to a
sudden halt.

“
Why are you stopping?” She
spun around facing him.

“
After a few more paces,
we’ll be outside of town.” Drake eyed her suspiciously.

“
I promise I’m not
abducting you. I’m worth the walk,” Sierra sang her own praise,
immediately wishing she could take back her words, and also wishing
that she hadn’t let her ego get the best of her.

“
I bet you are.” Drake
grinned, flashing his teeth at her, and taking the bait. “How far
are we walking, anyhow?” he asked, removing his hat. He used the
back of his hand to wipe sweat from his forehead. “It’s damn hot
out here.”

Sierra stopped strolling
for a moment. Drake stood beside her. She noticed trickling
moisture forming at his temples as he loosened the collar of his
shirt around his neck. He unbuttoned just a few buttons, exposing
his collarbone.
He must find me very
difficult. At first, I was doing all I could to keep him away from
me, and now I’m handing him an open invitation.

“
It’s fifteen minutes into
the forest and once we’re in the shade of the trees you’ll feel
cooler. “I want to show you a place that I go.”

Their eyes met for a brief
moment.

“
You’ll take care of me
won’t you, since you are leading me through a harsh terrain that I
am unfamiliar with?” Drake teased, with a smile.

Sierra’s pulse quickened. She realized
that she loved his dimples piercing his cheeks. “There is little
risk to life and limb. Just stay close to me and try to keep up,”
she returned his smile with a slight one of her own.

“
Oh, but I will have no
problems staying close to you,” Drake assured her.

Sierra tried not to blush before she
turned and started walking again, though the tension between them
somewhat eased. Drake continued to follow, this time beside
her.

“
You know, I’ve not said
thank you.”

“
Thank you?” Sierra raised
her eyebrows, questionably looking at him.

“
If it had not been for you
telling me that William cared nothing for money, I might not have
changed my pitch. I might not have convinced him to
sell.”

“
You needn’t thank me. You
are a very persuasive man. I might have let you talk me into
anything.”

“
Is that so?” Drake’s lips
curled with interest.

“
Well, almost anything,”
Sierra chuckled lightly. They continued leisurely strolling and
eventually they detoured from the main road, taking a small path
into the cypress trees.

“
It’s not much farther.”
Sierra held out her hand for Drake to take it, but when his sweaty
palm gripped hers with such manly strength, she trembled. He was
only touching her hand, she told herself, but his hand was hot and
she felt fiercely exhilarated.

“
Are you well?” Drake asked
slightly concerned. He noticed her sudden quiver.

“
Of course I am. Why
wouldn’t I be?”

“
You’re trembling as if no
man has ever touched you before now,” he teased. He certainly knew
when he’d intimidated a woman.

“
Of course I’ve been
touched by a man,” Sierra rolled her eyes sideways. “It’s just warm
and your grip is very tight.” She didn’t like telling him a lie,
but it was better to make up any reason then to say that his touch
caused her lightheadedness.

“
How is this?” Drake
loosened his grip.

“
Much better,” Sierra said.
She led him off the path deeper into the forest, carpeted with soft
green grasses, overflowing in an array of aromatic wild flowers.
She let go of Drake’s hand and kneeled down to pick a few irises,
before standing again.

“
It is up ahead. Do you see
it?” Sierra pointed toward a stream.

As they walked closer, Drake could see
water rushing over boulders, forming a tiny waterfall that opened
into a small clear pond, before continuing smoothly down the
terrain.

Sierra agilely stepped on a few large
glistening stones that lie alongside the stream, making her way to
a particular rock that faced the pond. She sat down and sniffed the
flowers she had picked briefly before placing them beside her.
“Come on, Drake, and be careful the stones are slick,” she motioned
him.”

Drake waited at the foot of the stream
assessing the distance between where he stood and where Sierra sat.
He took one large, crooked leap, which managed to land him near her
rock, but his leg gave way beneath him causing him to stumble.
Luckily for him he caught himself, with his hands, from a hard
landing. His face immediately turned red with embarrassment, but no
harm had come to him save a wounded ego.

Sierra laughed aloud and Drake gave
in, laughing with her.

“
I’m not as young as I
might look,” Drake told her, grinning as he took his place, sitting
on the rock next to hers.

“
Whatever your age, you
look perfect,” Sierra said admiringly.

“
I’m glad you have finally
realized it,” Drake teased.

“
Well, I have taken some
notice.”

“
I’m happy that you have.”
Drake eyed the scenery and admired the work of Mother Nature. “This
place is remarkable—peaceful and pleasant.”

“
I used to come here with
Kyle when I was a little girl and we would swim in this pond. Now,
I mostly come here alone to enjoy the calm that this place offers.
I don’t know if Kyle still comes here anymore,” she spoke
softly.

Drake glanced at her, his eyes
darkened with curiosity. “Why did you bring me here?”

Sierra gazed across the pond. His
voice sounded deeper, resonating and sweet to her ears. “I just
thought it was time to share this with someone again.”

“
Of all the men you could
have brought out here with you, you chose me. Why?” Drake probed.
He would not let her escape his questions with casual answers. He
assumed she desired him, even if she would not admit it to
herself.

“
Honestly, I don’t know
why,” Sierra answered thoughtfully, realizing her truthfulness.
Drake was a man without equal and interesting and maybe she just
wanted to be near him, she admitted to herself.

“
Then I suppose I’m just a
lucky man.” Drake shifted to her rock, sitting closely next to her.
He was glad that she remained at ease, smiling approvingly at him,
before peering out over the water again. He watched while she took
off her shoes, placing them beside her, and then she lowered her
legs into the pond.

“
The water is always so
refreshing. Take off your boots and dip your feet in. The water
will cool you down. I think you might need it.”

While Drake pulled off his boots,
Sierra smelled her flowers again and then tossed them into the
pond, one by one. He rolled up his pants and slid his legs into the
water.

“
This water is fiercely
cold!” Startled, Drake wanted to draw his feet back, but would not,
lest Sierra liken him to a little boy who didn’t want to
bathe.

“
I warned you,” Sierra
giggled lightly before speaking again. “I do a lot of thinking
here.”

“
What about?”

“
About everything... about
my life,” she said softly.

Drake met her wistful eyes with a
steady stare and couldn’t help but want to touch her. He raised his
hand toward her cheek and toyed with a strand of her dangling soft
hair. “You were right in bringing me here with you.”

Apprehensively, Sierra tried to move
away from Drake, but he caught her arm and gently brought her back
to him.

“
Let me look at you. For
once don’t be so timid. Show me the girl who intimidates men and
leaves them groveling at her feet while she dances,” he pressed,
edging himself a little closer.