Read Online Miss Lizzy's Legacy by Peggy Moreland - Free Book Online

bar, a lusty smile on his lips while his eyes were closed, his arms wrapped around a woman’s waist while they danced cheek to cheek, groin to grinding groin.
    â€œDisgusting,” she muttered, yet picked the picture up to study it closer. He was wearing his black hat. Naturally. The brim was pulled low over his forehead, but not far enough to hide his face. The woman had poured herself over him like water and by the expression on Judd’s face, he didn’t seem to mind getting wet. In fact, his nose was buried in her hair and his lips a breath away from her ear.
    Callie’s fingers tightened on the picture, creating a crease across the dancing couple. A slow warmth spread through her abdomen. She remembered only too well how it felt to be held by him, the muscles in his arms rippling as they wrapped around her, his breath warming the skin at her throat.
    She remembered his kiss, too. The feel of his lips pressed against hers, his taste. Like forbidden sex, she remembered. Wild and dark and passionate. Though she wanted to, she knew she would never forget.
    A knock sounded at the door.
    Her thoughts mired in memories of the man pictured before her, she called absently, “Who is it?”
    â€œJudd Barker,” came the muffled reply.
    Callie’s eyes widened, and she dropped the picture as if it had come to life in her hands. Quickly, she began scraping up the scattered papers. “What do you want?” she asked, stalling for time.
    â€œI need to talk to you.”
    â€œWhat about?”
    â€œCould you open the door?”
    Grimacing, Callie lifted the bedspread and shoved the clippings between it and the sheets, then smoothed her hands to cover the conspicuous lumps. Straightening her clothes, she hurried to the door and opened it.
    Slightly breathless, she looked up at him, hoping she didn’t look as guilty as she felt. “Yes?”
    He pulled off his hat and held it at his waist. “Mind if I come in?”
    â€œI was just about to—”
    â€œWhat I have to say won’t take but a minute.” Without waiting for permission, he strolled past her.
    Frowning at his back, Callie closed the door. With Judd inside, the room seemed to shrink to at least half its size. She knotted her fingers, then unknotted them to gesture to a chair. “Would you like to sit down?”
    He turned, slowly working the hat by its brim between his hands. “No, I’d rather stand, if you don’t mind, and take my punishment like a man.”
    Callie stared, her forehead wrinkling in confusion. “What punishment?”
    A sheepish grin chipped one corner of his mouth. “I hope nothing more serious than a tongue lashing, although my mother’s already done a pretty good job with that.” He dipped his head to stare at his hat, then lifted his gaze just enough to peer at her over his eyebrows. “Seems as if I owe you an apology. A big one.”
    Callie folded her arms at her breasts. “Oh?” she said, arching a brow.
    â€œYeah. I thought you were some sleazy reporter who’d tracked me down to write a story about me.”
    â€œAnd what made you think that?”
    â€œThe cameras in your car.”
    â€œWhat made you change your mind?”
    â€œMy mother. She showed me a brochure of yours. Some showing of yours in Dallas. Had pictures of your work and all.”
    Callie knew the one he spoke of. The showing had been less than a month ago and brochures had been mailed out to art dealers and patrons all over the country.
    â€œAs a result,” she replied, “you’ve decided to believe that I’m in Guthrie only to trace my family?”
    â€œThe pictures seem real enough.”
    Callie narrowed her eyes at him. “You still doubt my intentions, though, don’t you?”
    When he didn’t reply, she puckered her lips in a knowing frown. “I thought so.”
    Judd shifted uncomfortably under her steady perusal,