Rio by Georgina Gentry

the hall and took his arm. He wore an expensive dark, short Spanish jacket and handmade black boots. “
Dios.
You look like a goddess.” He grinned and winked. “All the young men will be watchin’ you tonight.”
    They started down the hall.
    “So who’s joining us for dinner? Some dull old rancher who’ll want to talk about shipping cows to market?”
    “Don’t laugh, young lady. That’s what puts money in the bank to pay for those fine dresses you always want.”
    “I don’t want to seem ungrateful,” she said quickly and gave him her most fetching smile.
    “Don’t worry about it. We’re glad to have you on the Triple D. What would we do without you to teach all our vaqueros’ children?”
    “It’s little enough for everything you’ve done for me,” she said as they went out on the street and Trace hailed a carriage.
    “Delmonico’s,” Trace said to the driver as he helped them in.
    “Delmonico’s?” Turquoise almost squealed with delight. “Isn’t that supposed to be the finest supper club in Austin?”
    Trace grinned. “I figured you’d like it. Probably horribly dull with a bunch of stuffed shirts having dinner, but I hear the food is good.”
    She leaned back in the seat, happy now. She’d always dreamed of eating at Austin’s best restaurant. According to Fern’s gossip, it was the place to be seen.
    It was dark when the cab drew up in front of a bustling establishment with many fine carriages out front. Her heart was beating with excitement as her guardian escorted her inside. It was spacious with fine carpets and many candelabra lighting the walls with a soft glow.
    A snooty head waiter came up to them. “You have reservations?”
    “I am Trace Durango and yes, there’s a gentleman waitin’ for us.”
    Turquoise looked around. In the candlelit room, there were crowds of expensively dressed people. She glanced about as the head waiter led them across the fine carpet toward the back. At the same time, she saw two men sitting at separate tables alone. One of them was Edwin Forester and the other was Rio Kelly.

Chapter 5
    Turquoise hoped beyond hope they were walking toward Edwin’s table, but of course they walked right past it to another where Rio Kelly sat. He stood up awkwardly, wearing a rather frayed Spanish short jacket with silver conchos. “
Buenas noches,
senorita, senor.”
    Trace waved him back down. “Don’t be so nervous, Rio. We’re just havin’ dinner, after all. I think you two have met because of Silver Slippers.”
    “Hello, senorita.”
    She nodded to the vaquero and felt a bit sorry for him. There was sweat on his dark face and he looked as awkward and out of place as she had felt last night. He was cleaned up and she had to admit he was handsome, but his suit was out of fashion and frayed on the lapels. Trace pulled out a chair for her and, forcing herself to smile, she sat down in such a way that she could see Edwin. “Good evening, Senor Kelly.”
    She stole a glance at Edwin. He was dressed in a fine suit with a red boutonniere. Could he possibly have known she would be here? Just as she wondered that, a gorgeous blond girl and two older women joined him for dinner. Theelegant blonde seemed familiar somehow. His whole party looked much at ease in the elegant café.
    Rio cleared his throat. “You look very beautiful tonight, senorita.”
    “Oh, please.” Trace snorted. “Stop fillin’ her head with compliments. She’s difficult enough to live with.”
    She felt herself flush and was so angry at her guardian, she gritted her teeth. “Thank you for the compliment, senor.”
    She picked up her menu and ground her teeth at the thought of the aristocratic blonde at Edwin’s table. Now she remembered why the girl looked familiar. The beauty had been one of the debutantes.
    Trace turned to see what Turquoise was staring at and frowned. “Oh, Edwin Forester and his mother, the Iron Lady.”
    The older woman did look imposing with her stern face,