Rio by Georgina Gentry Page B

Trace nodded.
    Turquoise looked over at the Forester table. A waiter carried some flaming dessert in a silver dish to Edwin’s table, causing admiring looks from the other diners.
    Turquoise fiddled with her sherry and sulked. What was the point in begging off with a headache if she was just going to be stuck in the hotel while Edwin dined with the beautiful blond daughter of a rich banker?
    She watched the two men at her table enjoy their desserts and wished she’d ordered something. Then the men pushed back their dessert plates and sipped their coffee.
    “Well,” Trace said, “it looks like the orchestra is about to start. Rio, I’m sure my ward would love to dance.”
    The orchestra began a waltz.
    Rio asked, “Miss Turquoise, would you care to—”
    “I don’t think so,” Turquoise said and then saw Edwin leading the gorgeous blonde out on the dance floor. “No, wait, I’ve changed my mind.”
    Rio pulled out her chair and took her hand, leading her onto the dance floor. Once again she was enveloped in his big arms and she remembered how strong and masculine he was. His coat might be old and frayed, but he waltzed beautifully. She could feel his warm breath against her hair and tried to put more distance between them. “You waltz well, senor.”
    “
Gracias.
Some of the cantina girls taught me.” He grinned down at her.
    She felt herself flush. “I’m sorry. I did not mean to pry.”
    “Then you shouldn’t have asked.” He grinned. “You think I do not notice you watching the senator dance with the banker’s daughter?”
    Was it so obvious?
    “I didn’t mean to be rude,” she murmured.
    “You have been nothing but arrogant and rude to me since the first time we met.” He whirled her around the floor and held her closer. She seemed to fit right intothe embrace of his muscular arms. “Senorita, if I had any pride, I’d abandon you on the dance floor and walk out.”
    She looked up at him. “And make a laughing fool out of me? You wouldn’t dare.”
    “Don’t tempt me, Turquoise,” he whispered against her ear. “I’ve already taken more off you than any woman I ever met.”
    “If you’re afraid of what my uncle might—”
    “I am afraid only of God and the devil. Now be quiet and pretend you are enjoying dancing with me.”
    She saw Edwin whirl by and saw he was trying to catch her attention, but there was nothing she could do about meeting him, so she ignored it. The blonde must have recognized her, though, because the girl said something loudly about a “gaudy turquoise dress” and laughed cruelly.
    Turquoise’s face burned but she stuck her nose in the air and pretended she had not heard. She’d looked like a fool, she knew, at the debutante ball and now here she was dancing with this vaquero in his frayed jacket. Then she realized women were giving Rio admiring glances and trying to catch his eye, but Rio seemed to ignore them all.
    It was a long evening. Uncle Trace danced with her once, then complained he was tired and retreated to the bar. Rio danced with her over and over. Once Edwin passed their table and paused. “Would you save me a dance, Miss Sanchez?”
    Before she could answer, Rio snapped, “The lady is with me, senor.” His tone left no room for argument.
    Edwin scowled and walked away.
    Turquoise seethed. “You might have let me decide that.”
    “Your guardian left you with me for safekeeping and he would not be happy to return and find you in the arms of that shady skunk.”
    “Edwin Forester is very high class,” Turquoise said, miffed.
    “And white?” Rio suggested.
    She felt tears come to her eyes. “Can’t you understand what it’s like to have a Mexican name, but look white? People whisper behind my back about who fathered me.”
    “People whisper about my father, too,” Rio said softly and took her hand.
    “But it’s worse for women, and the senator treated me with great respect.”
    “Maybe so, but I hear he dallies with all the pretty