[Harlequin] - Mary Meyers - Riverbend (txt), Ksiazki, txt
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RiverbendbyMary MeyersMILLS & BOON"Just play dumb, Jessie," Lee snarled."I've never met a man as rude as you, Lee Kincannon. And if I'm sodumb, and you're traipsing around after me like a pet dog, then whatdoes that make you?""I guess that makes me pretty dumb, too."He then began to trace the curve of her ear with his tongue.Jessamine's eyes widened. "What are you doing?""Your pet dog is licking your pearly little ear, Miss Jessamine," hewhispered. "Isn't that what pet dogs do?" And he proceeded to do itagain.Mary McBride comes by her romantic streak naturally--what else fromthe daughter of two people who met on a blind date on Valentine's Day?Mary lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband and two youngsons.Recent titles by the same author:FLYAWAY HOMETHEGUNSLINGERTHESUGAR MANMary McBrideMILLS BOONFor Leslie, of courseDID YOU PURCHASE THIS BOOK WITHOUT A COVER?If you did, you should be aware it is stolen property as it wasreported unsold and destroyed by a retailer. Neither the author northe publisher has received any payment for this book.All the characters in this book have no existence outside theimagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyonebearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspiredby any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidentsare pure invention.All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or inpart in any form. This edition is published by arrangement withHarlequin Enterprises H B.V. The text of this publication or any partthereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by anymeans, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without thewritten permission of the publisher.This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way oftrade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulatedwithout the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding orcover other than that in which it is published and without a similarcondition including this condition being imposed on the subsequentpurchaser.MILLS & BOON and MILLS & BOON with the Rose Device are registeredtrademarks of the publisher.First published in Great Britain 1998Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 ISRMary Meyers 1993ISBN 0 263 80506 9Set in Times Roman 101/ on'll I/4 pt.04-9802-90559 CIPrinted and bound in Great Britain by Ca/edonian International BookManufacturing Ltd, GlasgowPrologueAutumn, 1860"I don' know if this here fountain was such a good idea, Mr. Lee.Folks been drinkin' the champagne like it was water," the majordomoobserved, shaking his grizzled head.Lee Kincannon plunged an Irish crystal goblet into one of the rivuletsof pale liquid, letting some of it wash over his fingertips. "Folksare having a good time, Fayette," he drawled. "The war's gonna startsoon. They're making hay while the sun shines."The old man's ebony face distorted in disapproval. "They ain't makin'hay, Mr. Lee. They makin' asses o' themselves."Lee grinned down at the wiry former slave. "Since when do you careabout white folks acting like horses' behinds, Fayette?"Fayette's expression went blank for a moment, and then he blinked.""Don't s'pose I do," he said as his gnarled black fingers eased thecork from another bottle of champagne and he emptied it into thefountain.Lee reached out and caught some of the stream in his glass. "No. Nordo I, Fayette," he said. Taking a long draft of the champagne, hegazed around the crowded ballroom of the Imperial Hotel, where NewOrleans' finest--the cream of the social crops were waltzing, flirting,gossiping and drinking."Besides, Fayette," Lee said, "a goodly portion of these asses will betoo drunk to make their way home tonight, and they'll be settling theirnether parts upstairs in our beds." He winked broadly at the old manand lifted his crystal goblet. Good champagne is good business,Fayette."Lee Kincannon stood there for a while, listening to the delicatesplashing of the fountain. He was a head taller than most of the menin the room, his shoulders broader, his waist more trim. He wore hisblack frock coat, white silk shirt and black neck cloth like a Frenchmarquis, but always with the awareness that those fine clothes covereda body with more scars than anyone present--soldier or slave.Fools, all of them, he thought. These Confederate gentlemen believedthey could actually win a confrontation with the rich industrializedNorth. Hell, they might as well set fire to New Orleans, Natchez andLouisville tonight and get the whole thing over with. War, when itcame, was going to last a sight longer than the few months everybodypredicted, and be far bloodier than anybody dared imagine. Worst ofall, it was going to play hell with his business. Traffic on theMississippi would slow to a couple of steamers trying to play river tagwith scores of Union boats. His riverboats would be empty, and sowould his hotels. Or they'd all be commandeered by iron-assed generalsfor the comfort of their boys."Damnation!" Putting down his glass, Lee extracted a thin cheroot fromthe breast pocket of his coat and bit off the tip. Then, before hecould reach into his pocket once more for a match, a flame appeared,mere inches from his face."You'e swearing into thin air again, Lee," Alpha Parker said as shetouched a wooden match. to the end of his cigar. "Who are youthinking about this time, da ding Abolitionists or secessionists?"Lee blew out the match with a hard stream of smoke. "All of them," hesnapped. "The ignorant devils."Alpha stood as close to him as her wide emerald green skirt allowed,.leaning her upper body against his arm, gifting him with a full displayof her splendid cleavage. "Well," she said, "speaking of devils, wehave a little problem with one of them fight hem."Lee eyed her keenly. "Somebody been bothering you, Red?" It wasn'tunusual at one of these fetes for a so-called gentleman to get liquoredup and suggest that the luscious rod head resume her infamous career asRiverboat Red. Lee Kincannon shifted his relaxed stance, ready todiscourage the gentleman.Alpha laughed. "Settle down, Lee. Nobody's so much as patted mybackside."He slid his hand along the gathers at the rear of her skirt. "Too damnmuch silk here between a gentleman and temptation," he said."You're no gentleman, Lee," she said as she raised her eyes to meet hisknowing gaze. They had been together for a dozen years, since thenight a twenty-year-old Lee had won the Delta Star in a poker game. Thenext morning he had Alpha measured for a high-necked dress of bluevelveteen and lace and informed her she was through hustling gamblersfor a living. "Are you asking me to marry you?" she'd asked. "No,Red," he replied, "I'm going to do better by you than that. I'm goingto make you rich."And he had." Alpha Parker had received a pementage of each fiver boatand hotel Lee had acquired, in return for her talents as a financialadvisor, administrator, hostess and decorator--not to mention herfavors as a mistress. Lee had done very well by her indeed, but Alphawas still waiting for him to marry her.Her hip jutted against his now. "This skirt's not a permanentfixture," she purred, "if temptation's on your mind."Lee smiled down at her as he tucked a stray red curl back behind herear. "Always, Red. You know that." Then he sighed and looked out atthe ballroom. "But it's going to be a hell of a long night.""I know," said Alpha. "They haven't even dragged out the virginsyet."Lee grinned wickedly. "I believe they're called 'debutantes," MissRed."Her reply was a snort. "Five'll get you ten most Of them aren'tvirgins anyway."She was probably right, Lee thought, recalling the less than ladylikebehavior of several of the young women present this evening. Withgreen-eyed Alpha, however, that subject was best avoided. She was morethan a little possessive where he was concerned. "Any devil inparticular you wanted to discuss, Alpha, or was it merely deviltry ingeneral?" he asked her."Hell, I nearly forgot about her.""Her?""Miss Jessamine Dade," Alpha said.Lee recognized the name--not hers so much as her father's. JudgeLevander Dade was a political bigwig from Missouri. In fact, Lee hadbeen keeping an eye out for the judge all evening, hoping to get alittle help with permits for some fancy brickwork on the sidewalkaround his hotel in St. Louis. "And just what about this MissJessamine Dade?" he asked."Seems the little dear has disappeared.""What do you mean 'disappeared'?"The redhead retrieved Lee's goblet and downed a gOOd Portion of itscontents. "I don't know, Lee," she snapped. "Gone. Disappeared. Notwhere she's supposed to be. Her papa's fit to be tied, 'cause he cameall the way down here just on her account. Now she's up andvanished."Lee's dark eyebrows drew together. He didn't like problems, especiallyproblems with women. In this case, a young one. "Is she one of thegirls to be presented tonight?" he asked."Yup." Alpha's kohl-rimmed eyes twinkled at him over the crystal edgeof the goblet. "And this one probably is a virgin, mad as her daddy isabout her disappearance.""Where is the judge?" Lee asked, scanning the ballroom for signs ...
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