Pure Desire [Pure 3] (Siren Publishing Allure) by Carolina Barbour Read Free Book Online

swishing back and forth and fanning the air, stirring around the dust and heat. The concentration of the weather surpassed unbearable, and if he longed for anything presently, it would be the temper-controlled environment of Sanguine. To feel the rush of pureaire pumped from the huge generators running beneath the grates to blast him and cool his body. He pushed his hat further down on his face. It helped to ease the constant beat of the sun against his skin. A small measure of relief, he ached to inhale without feeling as if he sucked in air through a syringe.
    When he returned home, he’d value things he’d taken for granted.
    Noor swatted at the annoying little flying things continual buzzing around his horse. “I’m looking for a woman,” he said. He didn’t have time to miss an opportunity to gather intel.
    Channing grinned. “I know a few around these parts who are more than willing. The color of your skin doesn’t matter, as long as you have money.”
    He hadn’t considered his complexion would be a problem until Channing made the comment. His mother had ebony skin, and out of all his siblings, he had a similar complexion but never considered it a factor until now.
    Now that Channing brought it to his attention, he had to make sure he had a viable response if someone questioned his ethnicity, which was likely in this period. With what Channing just revealed about prejudices, he realized it might be a major issue when he found his target if he decided to pass off his race as a mixed breed. He glanced at Channing. Their skin tones weren’t an exact match. His was a deeper hue resembling weak tea but passable if he had to go that route to explain his ethnicity.
    A sudden thought occurred to him. If his coloring was an issue, it could present a problem in acquiring the target if she had this prejudice nonsense in her head.
    The thought he might have to force the woman to come to Sanguine never crossed his mind. Nothing physical, of course, but strong persuasion might be necessary. “Money is not an issue,” he said dryly, thinking about the new possibility that might add complications to the mission.
    Channing glanced at Noor, his eyebrow raised marginally. “You came all this way to find a woman? What, you don’t have many eligible females readily available from wherever you reside?”
    He could tell Channing joked, and he answered the question evasively. “I’m looking for a special female.” Specifically, the Agaci legacy, he thought. Of course, he knew that would be asking too much, and not to mention an insane blunder to reveal too much too soon to a stranger.
    Channing’s expression pleasant, he said, “Aren’t we all? There’s something about you, Noor, I can’t put my finger on it, but you’re different. However, not to appear gauche or tenacious…my normal preference when a puzzle is presented to me, you have a right to your privacy. Perhaps, more so, you did me a huge favor with Harland and his misfits, even though saving my life doesn’t compare to finding you a woman. It’s only proper to return the favor.”

     
     

Chapter Five

    Noor glanced at the two-story wooden structure with the brightly illuminated windows, railed porch where several horses were tied to a wooden post, and barrels of water in front before they entered the establishment.
    As soon as they entered through the swinging double doors of Beck’s Saloon, the crowd inside paused. All eyes focused on Channing and gave him a cursory glance before the piano player started pounding the keyboard and the buxom blonde with ruby red lips and strong vocals began singing again. She was off tune, but in the smoke-filled noisy room, no one seemed to notice. The bartender poured shots, the group at the table continued playing cards, and the atmosphere returned to normal except for a few men who kept a wary eye on them.
    “I thought for a minute there was going to be trouble,” he said.
    Channing gave him a lopsided grin and set