Just After Midnight: Historical Romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

their late-night show. Queen thought she should make an entrance and allow her new appearance to stir up the crowd. Megan wasn’t so sure, but she had decided to let Queen have her way in this.
    The musicians began to play a lively tune and Megan gave her hair one last, unneeded, pat. The time had come to show herself to the world.

 
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
     
    All night Alex had been drawn toward The Celebration as he made his rounds through the streets of Dawson City. As the clock neared midnight, he gave in to the urge and entered the dance hall, searching the crowd for Megan. He found it odd she wasn’t somewhere downstairs with such a large mob present. Perhaps she was ill. For reasons he didn’t care to examine, the thought nagged at him. He searched the rooms more thoroughly for a sign of her, pushing men aside so he could get a glimpse of those seated at the gambling tables and checking every bar to see if she might be working behind it. Just when he had decided to go upstairs and knock on the door to Brian’s old rooms, music filled the dance hall and the crowd turned toward the stairway.
    Alex walked farther into the packed room and followed the gaze of the crowd upward. His mouth fell open and he stopped abruptly to stare at the vision descending the staircase.
    A dress of white satin clung suggestively to her form, the neckline too low, exposing most of her creamy breasts for inspection. A necklace of cut glass blinked brilliantly around her slim neck. Piled atop her head, her red hair sparkled with the stones glittering throughout the silky mass. A single, looped curl fell to her shoulder, drawing all eyes to the white satin of her throat. She rested a hand gloved in white on the head of the massive black wolf at her side. He, too, wore a collar of sparkling light.
    Alex exhaled slowly, unable to believe this woman was the passably pretty Megan Daily dressed like a three-hundred-dollar whore for the entire Yukon to see.
    What the hell was she playing at?
    Megan descended the rest of the stairs and made her way toward the front of the room. A small, shy smile played about her lips but she carried herself proudly through the crowd. Several of the men reached out to touch her, but a low rumble from the wolf at her side had them snatching their hands quickly away.
    Megan gracefully ascended the stairs to the stage and positioned herself in the center of the floor. She raised her hand and, instantly, silence blanketed the room.
    “Welcome to The Celebration, gentlemen.” Her voice, low pitched and somewhat hoarse, had never sounded so seductive during the few conversations Alex had enjoyed with her. He frowned as the crowd went wild.
    Megan flinched at the roar from the men. After swallowing deeply, she again smiled and lifted her hand. After a few moments the room quieted and she resumed speaking.
    “I’m Meggie O’Day and you’ll be seeing a lot of me from now on.” She paused until the whoops and whistles died away. “Now, I give you the dancing girls of The Celebration.” As the girls danced onto the stage, Megan scurried behind the curtain.
    Alex clenched his teeth, staring at the curtain where Megan had disappeared. For just a moment when she’d stood on the stage, an image of Joanna had replaced Megan, his sister the object of hooting, drooling men, and the thought sent a sheet of hot, red rage throughout his body, warring with his guilt. Breathing deeply, Alex attempted to bring his emotions back under control. Joanna was dead, he reminded himself, and nothing he could do now would save her—but he could save Megan.
    Determined to find out, Alex strode toward the stage. Ignoring the steps, he leapt onto the structure and walked into the wings.
    Megan stood alone, deep in thought. When Alex grabbed her shoulder and spun her around to face him, she gasped. The wolf snarled, crouching low to spring, and Alex froze.
    “Don’t move,” Megan said softly.
    “I don’t plan to.” Alex held his breath.