Lips That Touch Mine Read Online Free PDF Page A

perfectly sculpted that
she could almost smell their fragrance. It intrigued her that the
reprobate could have whittled something so exquisite.
    The man intrigued her, too.
    Boyd Grayson seemed every bit the charmer and
hell raiser she disdained, but what she couldn't see clearly was
the shadow he carried with him. There was another man standing
behind his dashing personality, and she suspected he was totally
unaware of it.
    "All right, ladies." Mrs. Barker clapped her
hands. "It's time to begin our work." She led the procession of
women down the steps of the Taylor House and into the saloon. They
filled the bar, surprising the three Taylor brothers, who knew that
no self-respecting woman would enter such an establishment. Mrs.
Barker immediately informed the men of the object of their visit,
appealing to them personally to cease the sale of intoxicating
liquors.
    Mr. Taylor cast a helpless glance at his
brothers. "We feel obliged to keep liquor in our hotel for our
guests."
    "We didn't come to argue, gentlemen. We're
simply here to urge you by the promise of God to heed our
pledge."
    After more praying and gentle persuading, Mr.
Taylor finally said, "If the rest will stop selling alcohol, we'll
stop, too."
    Claire stood with her mouth open, as stunned
as the rest of the ladies. None of them had expected such easy
capitulation.
    "That includes the drug stores," Mr. Taylor
said, breaking their stunned silence. "When every establishment
selling intoxicating beverages ceases distribution, I'll stop
selling it as well."
    His maneuvering wasn't what they had hoped
for, but it was a beginning. Mrs. Barker asked him to reconsider
the matter and said they would call on him again the next day.
    They called at Smeizer & Hewes next, but
Mr. Hewes stated he had a license and would continue to sell
according to its provisions. Next door, Willard Lewis said he would
close his saloon if the rest would shut up their businesses as
well. The ladies also visited J. D. Maynard's Drug Store. He argued
that he couldn't run his shop without selling liquor, but promised
not to sell to any drunkards. The ladies then walked to Baldwin's
Drug Store, the Harrison Hotel, Duane Beebe's Saloon, Don Clark's
Drug Store, and Wriensler's Saloon where they received similar
replies.
    Finally, they marched up West Hill to the
Pemberton Inn. Claire sensed this would be the biggest challenge,
and her own personal battle, but she was determined to win.
Straightening her shoulders, she entered the saloon—and came
face-to-face with Boyd Grayson.
    He stood behind the bar, hip cocked, a crisp
white towel slung over his arrogant shoulder as he filled a mug
with ale.
    He turned and smiled, saluting Claire and her
fellow marchers with the foaming mug.
    She tightened her stomach to stop the
flutter. Why in God's name did she have to be battling the most
handsome rakehell in town?
    o0o
    A literal herd of women crowded Boyd's
saloon. He whistled in amazement. Every woman in Fredonia must be
marching. But the only face he could seem to focus on was Claire's.
She wore her hood up, but thick honey-gold hair brushed her cheeks
and fell softly across the breast of her coat. Her eyes held a
silent challenge that warmed his blood.
    Her face was pink from the cold, but he
imagined it flushed with passion, her hair loose and her eyes half
closed as he kissed her neck, her breasts, her...
    Her naked image came to him so clearly it
flooded his body with heat. He clenched his fingers around the mug
handle, struggling for any thought that would drag his mind away
from undressing her.
    She smiled at him. "You look shocked, Mr.
Grayson."
    He was shocked all right. By his own desire.
He'd never felt such intensity in his life. "I was expecting ten or
twenty women," he said, struggling to regain his balance.
    Her lips tilted in a superior half-smile.
"There are over one hundred of us."
    "And there'll be more," said Mrs. Barker. She
and Mrs. Williams then pleaded with him to close his saloon