Lilac Temptress (4 page)

“
My father is from New
Orleans. He came to Jadesville with my mother and they both settled
here before I was born. Guessing by the look of you and your friend
in the bar tonight, you must be here on business from the railroad
company in Morgan City, Mr. McCalister,” she said changing the
subject.

A smile spread across Drake’s
features. “I am from New Orleans, actually,” he uttered. “And yes,
I am here concerning business on behalf of my Morgan City client.
Honestly, my father is a tradesman, and he has a hefty stake in
this railroad company. He would like to see the line
completed.”

“
And so your father sent
his infallible son to close the deal and save the day?” Sierra
quipped, lifting her eyes to meet his.

“
Well, I don’t think I am
infallible, but I am no amateur,” Drake said, his tone revealing
the modesty of his words.

“
You must take your
responsibilities very seriously.”

“
I am my father’s advocate,
among other things, in the family business. I have a certain skill
in working with people. I am representing the railroad company in
the interest of those who need it. The completed route will foster
and enhance the trade of goods, improving the standard of living in
this region.”

“
A philanthropist? You
sound passionate, but it’s not me that you need to convince,”
Sierra said placidly.

Drake shook his head and grinned with
amusement. “I am passionate about many things. Perhaps, I am
inclined to aid in flourishing the well-being of mankind,” he
countered.

Sierra stopped momentarily to consider
his words and the truth behind them.

“
My apologies if I am
boring you,” Drake said, though he knew she was intrigued. Her
haunting gaze and tilted head, reminded him of a person solving a
riddle.

“
You’ve done anything but
bore me, Mr. McCalister. It is really all quite fascinating.
You—impress me,” she said, realizing that it was too late to take
back her honest words.

“
Do I?” Drake laughed
heartedly. “How?”

Sierra answered him with a soft smile
in order to avoid saying something she might regret. This man was
too easy to talk with. “I’ve always wanted to go to New Orleans,”
she offered, diverting his question, and continuing her
promenade.

Drake smiled back politely, making
sure to keep up with her, deciding not to press her for an answer.
“So, why haven’t you gone?”

“
Wil needs me around here,”
Sierra said without further elaboration.

“
Wil?”

“
Yes, the man you spoke
with earlier this evening. William Hunter, the man who refused your
offer,” Sierra reminded him, and before he had the chance to ask
her how she knew his reason for being in Jadesville, she added,
“Wil always rejects the offer. He doesn’t like outsiders and he
thinks that I might get crazy notions in my head about running off
because of all the stories travelers have told me about faraway
places.” She tilted her head sideways at him. “You know, Mr.
McCalister, you won’t win him over with your talk of money. He
cares nothing for riches.”

“
Every man has his price, I
always say,” Drake sighed, thinking Girard may have been right. It
seemed William Hunter might be her benefactor.

“
Wil is not every man,”
Sierra corrected him.

“
I gather you know him
well. May I ask for your opinion—should I give up and leave town
tomorrow at first light, or stay and try to convince him to
sell?”

“
Does it really matter to
you what I think? You seem to be a man of great determination. If I
discouraged you and told you not to pursue your dealings, would you
heed my advice? What could I possibly say that would sway you?” Her
eyes pored over him, awaiting his reply.

Drake grinned, captivated.
He loved the sagacity and challenge in her voice that he rarely
heard from women. “What
you
think matters to me, most importantly. Do be
forthcoming.” Drake’s ensnaring eyes beckoned her response even
more than his words.

Sierra shivered, observing their
shine.

“
You’ve caught a chill.
Here, allow me,” Drake said, removing his frock coat and placing it
over her shoulders.

She enjoyed the touch of his helpful
hands wrapping her up. She noticed his perfectly manicured nails,
and it dawned on her that only the exceedingly wealthy would have
hands as well cared for as his. “Thank you.” Sierra smiled
gratefully at him.

“
You’re most
welcome.”

“
If I were going to
convince Wil to change his mind and give up his way of life, I
would convince him that he has no choice. Change is always
necessary. Things are not the same as they once were in the world,”
Sierra offered. Impressed by how seriously he seemed to regard her
opinion, she continued. “Wil thinks I’m idealistic. He says my head
is full of nonsense, and that there’s nothing impressive outside of
Jadesville, but I don’t believe him. When people leave this town
they never come back,” she shrugged.

“
Is Jadesville such an
awful place?” Drake asked, keenly aware of her
frustration.

“
For me, yes. For others
who don’t like change, maybe not.”

There was something about her upfront
demeanor that Drake found appealing. “Would you like me to tell you
something about New Orleans?”

She laughed softly at him. “I would.
But I’d rather you not. I might get a crazy notion and want to
follow you there.”

“
If you followed me, I
wouldn’t mind your company,” Drake answered honestly.

Sierra’s smile widened and she stopped
walking. Apparently they’d already reached her
destination.

“
We’ve arrived. This is
where I stay. Thank you for the escort,” Sierra said abruptly,
signaling the end of the conversation as she removed his coat and
handed it back to him. She quickly turned and walked through the
swinging doors. She didn’t have to turn around to know that he had
followed her inside.

Drake heard the soft sound of a piano
as he glanced around the room, silently bewildered. Several women
scantily dressed in brassieres, garters, lace stockings and
high-heels were involved in some deliciously naughty activity with
men scattered everywhere. As Drake observed some men being lured
upstairs to taste the goods, he realized that he was not only in a
brothel, but that he had also lost Sierra in the chaos.

“
Hello, handsome—I’m
Adrienne Wade, and who might you be?” A captivating woman, who
appeared to be in her mid-forties, sauntered up to him dressed
provocatively in a tight blue satin dress without the modest
confinement of a corset underneath.

“
McCalister.” Drake spared
her a grin, amused by her self-assuredness and obvious authority.
Even before she had introduced herself he knew she was in charge.
Adrienne was clearly the Madam.

“
What’s your type, honey?
We’ve got all kinds of girls for you here,” Adrienne spoke proudly,
roaming her eyes over his physique.

Drake almost bellowed outright because
he didn’t see this coming nor could he believe that he was standing
in a whorehouse. He hadn’t visited such an establishment since
adolescence, but he considered Sierra, and her tempting ways enough
reason to stay.

Adrienne enchantingly
smiled at him. His voice, baritone—affecting her senses, sounded
almost melodic to her ears.
What a luring
man
, she thought dumbstruck. She had known
many men in her line of business, but this man’s aura was oddly
comforting and arousing. He practically oozed of sex, charm and
strength.

“
Where’s the girl I walked
in here with?” Drake inquired of the madam who studied him. “She
will do for the night.”

Adrienne frowned, rolled her eyes
upward and sighed. “You mean Sierra. Sorry. She’s off limits. But
I’ve got other girls who might suit you just as well. Though I
don’t know what you would be doing in my place, a real looker such
as you. Not from around here, are you?

Her question stated—Adrienne took the
time to give the stranger a longer once-over. He had chiseled
features, full lips, and a decidedly manly physique that couldn’t
be hidden under his cotton shirt, slacks and dark waistcoat. He was
much too attractive to have to pay for companionship, Adrienne
decided. She would have offered herself for free if she thought
he’d take her up on it. A man like him didn’t come around an
establishment like hers very often, she mused. And, it probably
took a woman like Sierra to lure a man like this into her den.
Sierra would also be the only woman foolish enough to run from such
a prize, she surmised.

“
How much do you want for
her?” Drake persisted. He did not intend to give up so
easily.

“
Keep your money, honey. I
told you she’s off limits,” Adrienne said, realizing with a touch
of disappointment that he’d unlikely settle for anyone else. She
started to walk away when Drake gently gripped her shoulder. As she
whirled to face him with an unfavorable expression on her face, he
saw a rather large fellow quickly jolt to a stance out of his side
view. The strapping bodyguard was intimidating enough to cause most
men pause, but Drake was not easily put off.

“
It’s okay, Toby,” Adrienne
called out. The robust figure reluctantly settled back down into
his chair.

Realizing his misstep, Drake quickly
lifted his hand from her shoulder and straightened his posture.
“I’m a man who usually gets what he wants, Ms. Wade. I don’t expect
to leave here disappointed. What’s the most a girl makes here in
one night?” Drake couldn’t believe the gravity in his voice. Sierra
was only a woman, and not a reputable one at that. So why did he
want her so badly?

“
She ain’t cheap.” Adrienne
narrowed her eyes with scrutiny.

“
I’ll pay whatever she
would have made for the entire night.”

“
Well, I suppose I can’t
say no to that kind of money, can I?” Adrienne grinned, placing her
hands on her hips, waiting.

Glancing toward the staircase, Drake
reached into his pocket for his billfold and poured cash into her
hands.

Adrienne’s voice stammered with
excitement as she fondled the large bills. “She’s upstairs, to the
left, down the hall around the corner, last door.”

Holding his breath, Drake vaulted the
stairs in a few quick strides. His chest tightened in disbelief
that he had shelled out such a preposterous amount of money to
spend a few hours with this woman. Women usually flocked to him,
vying to be in his company. But what else could he do when he
didn’t have the time to pursue her for long?

He walked around the corner
and found the door to Sierra’s room. Eager with expectancy of a
racy and impassioned night, he knocked on the door. His breath
caught deep in his chest when she appeared before him wearing only
a skimpy violet robe with tiny pastel flowers embroidered around
the hem. She was even more beautiful out of costume than he had
imagined. Her thick spiraling hair hung loose to her waist, her
pale skin glowed. She smelled as clean as a morning breeze.
My God
, he thought,
fighting the impulse to reach out and grab her.

“
What are you doing here?”
Sierra gasped, alarm shown clearly on her face, and intensifying
every second. “I thought I left you downstairs. I thought you’d be
gone by now.”

“
You did leave me
downstairs, but I thought I might come up and see you.” Drake
intentionally let his eyes drift downward to her smooth thighs, her
naked calves and ankles, and surprisingly perfect feet—for a
dancer.

Sierra pulled her small robe around
her even tighter. “Do you always pursue women that you know very
little of?” she asked smugly. “Why didn’t Adrienne tell you I
wasn’t taking any company?” Her scathing features flushed with
color.

“
To answer your
questions, no, not always and yes, she did tell me. But I paid her
well to be with you tonight... I know you had a busy evening and I
can see that my presence does not please you Sierra, but I hope
that you might reconsider
having
me.”

“
Having
you—and what services do you require? Do you only
wish to talk some more, Mr. McCalister?” Sierra insinuated in an
icy tone. “Wait here,” she commanded as she stormed past him out of
her bedroom, leaving him no time to answer her rhetorical
questions.

Drake did as she said. It was obvious
to him that she was vexed rather than flattered that he had
continued to chase her, so he didn’t follow her, but instead took
the opportunity to browse around her room.

What is it with this
woman? Why is she so difficult?
He
discovered a tall bookshelf, surprised to find a tattered copy
of
Gulliver’s Travels
on the top shelf. He continued to read the titles
Alice’s Adventures Under
Ground
, the
Iliad
and the
Odyssey
, among other adventure works
of fiction. He wondered if she had actually read any of these books
or if she had just stared at the pretty pictures. Most women of
her
kind
were not
educated enough to be able to read or write. Seeing these books in
the room of a prostitute was a pleasant surprise.