Kathryn Albright - The Rebel and the Lady

The serving woman placed a glass of red wine in front of Señorita Torrez. She raised it to Juan, ready to thank him, only to see him scowl and shake his head. Searching the candlelit room, her gaze finally collided with Jake’s and held. She recognized him all right. Awareness pulsed between them. He gave her his best lady-killer smile and rose from his seat, ready to join her. “Gentlemen?” he said by way of goodbye to his table partners. “It’s been an education…”

She frowned and put the glass down. Then she pushed it to the farthest corner of the table.

Jake sat back down with a thump.

“You gonna let that stop you?” Crockett said, barely keeping the smirk from his face.

“Just a setback. She’s playing hard to get.”

Travis leaned forward. “What you don’t seem to get , is that she’s way out of your class.”

“Nothing with skirts is out of my class. But I am choosy.” He’d give her a few minutes, lull her back into thinking she’d get her way and that he’d given up.

“Thought you were heading out in the morning. Why are you interested in dallying with that filly when you’re leaving for San Patricio?” Crockett asked.

Damned if he knew. Just something about her he couldn’t let go. She lowered her fan slightly and he noticed a flush to her cheeks as another glance darted in his direction. Maybe she wasn’t as immune to him as he’d thought. “My horse could use one more day to rest.”

“You try the turpentine like Doc Pollard said?”

He nodded, turning his attention back to Travis. “Too early to tell if it’s helping. Well, gentlemen, I’d like to stay and discuss things, but a challenge waits.”

He raised his glass of whiskey. “To Washington—his great deeds, those remembered and those that aren’t.” He tossed the drink to the back of his throat, his courage bolstered by the liquid fire.

Half the room must have heard him. They all joined in with a hail of some kind. Then another man called out, “To freedom for Texas!” Tejanos and Texians alike raised their mugs. The band began a lively tune in the middle of the ruckus.

“Now you’ve started it,” Crockett said with a grin.

The sound was deafening. Jake rose, dropped a couple coins on the table to pay for his drinks and headed over to the señorita ’s table.

As he approached, annoyance flitted across her face, quickly covered by a polite facade. Most women welcomed his interruption. This was a new experience—a diverting one, if nothing should come of it. When he stopped in front of her, she seemed reluctant to make the introductions to her cousin and the other man, Diego. However, they both stood and shook hands with him, remembering him from Travis’s office.

“You know my cousin, Señor Dumont?” Juan asked.

“We met yesterday. I spoke with her outside the hospital.”

Juan turned to the woman for an explanation. “You did not mention this.”

“There was no need. It was nothing.”

Jake raised his brows. “Nothing isn’t exactly how I’d put it, Señorita Torrez. You nearly scalded me!” He caught Juan’s eye. “And I won’t be explaining where!”

Juan frowned and turned to her. “Victoria? Explain yourself.”

Jake hid a quick smile. At least he’d learned her first name now, even though it had earned him a killer glare.

“Señor Dumont was kind enough to help shoo away a mongrel intent on the soup I carried to the hospital. I thanked him at the time. I did not expect to see him again.”

“Soup?”

“For the injured men. Your cook asked me to take it. She could then get an earlier start to her home.”

“It seems I owe you thanks,” Juan said with all the finesse of a gentleman.

He did not invite Jake sit down with them. That being the situation, Jake charged ahead. “Instead of your gratitude, I’d rather have your permission to dance with the lady.”

Juan raised his brows, and Jake could see him preparing a refusal.

“You don’t need to worry about my intentions, Captain Seguín. I have none. I’m leaving the day after tomorrow as soon as my horse heals up. Just one dance—in honor of the occasion.”

Her lips twitched at his last comment.

Encouraged by the reaction, he said again, “One dance. After all, it is a party.”

“I am not swayed by this Washington celebration,” she said. “I think you Anglos use it as an excuse to drink. However, if my cousin will allow it, I will consent to one dance.”

More surprised by her acquiescence than he’d admit, Jake waited for Seguín’s response. Finally the man nodded.

Diego frowned, rising to his feet. “You do not need to do this, Victoria.”

“It is only one dance,” she said as she stood. “And he was kind to help me yesterday. I probably would have dropped the soup and burnt myself if not for his quick action.”

Jake shot a triumphant smile at her two body-guards and then followed her to the small open area used for dancing, his gaze on the seductive swaying of her gown. When she turned to face him, he looked into eyes the color of dark mahogany, fringed with long coal-black lashes and wondered at his good fortune—or perhaps her lack thereof. He raised his hand for her to take. “Bad pennies or pezos in this case.”

With an elegant movement, she drew up the side of her skirt and then slowly placed her other hand in his. “ No entiendo . I do not understand.”

Despite her cool, smooth touch, he felt warmth rush up his arm. “They do turn up.”

At his words, Victoria pressed her lips together. No matter her grimace, Jake found her tantalizing. At her best, she must be about five foot two, he figured. The top of her head reached his shoulder. She held herself in rigid control as she followed his lead, and still she was the most graceful thing on the dance floor.

“Relax, Victoria. Unlike the dog earlier today, I won’t bite.”

She scowled. “You use my given name freely.”

“It’s a beautiful name—like you.”

That earned him another frown. Was she really so used to men who took a year to say hello? Well, he wouldn’t change to suit her. He didn’t have the inclination or the time. “I take it the dog hasn’t bothered you again?”

“No, señor . After you handled the situation, it gave up completely.”

He smiled. “I have that influence at times.”

She caught the innuendo and gave him a slow, assessing look. “You are a very confident man.”

“Persistent, too. I don’t take no for an answer, but a challenge.” He swirled her around the small floor, enjoying the feel of her in his arms. She followed his lead effortlessly, her eyes taking on a shine. She was enjoying this, even if she wouldn’t admit it.

“An answer to what question?”

He stared at her full lips. “Why, what every man here is wondering as they watch us dance.”

She raised a dainty, perfectly arched brow.

“Will the lady allow him a kiss?”

Her lips pressed together again, this time stifling a smile that threatened.

He knew he was being forward—cavalier by any woman’s definition, but his mood had lifted considerably when she’d consented to the waltz. After all, it was all about the chase, and she seemed to be enjoying it. With effort he dragged his gaze away from her lips and focused on her eyes.

“With you, I think the answer I seek—” he leaned close, close enough to be tickled by a few wisps of her hair, and whispered into her ear “—is a yes.”

She stiffened slightly within his arms.

“I’ll take care of that later, darlin’.”

“You are too bold, señor . Perhaps I would consider a kiss if you could ask for it in my language. Until then, my answer is no.”

He grunted.

A smug smile lifted her lips.

Oh, she was tempting, definitely tempting enough to learn a few phrases. “How many kisses? Surely a phrase is worth more than one kiss?”

“For now, let’s just enjoy the dance.”

Her breath came in shorter gasps as he twirled her around, making sure to keep her just this side of dizzy. She relaxed the rigid hold she had on her body, her cheeks flushing with color, as she let herself enjoy the music.

“That’s better,” he said, drawing her close again and breathing in the perfumed soap she’d used earlier in the day. “Now, tell me what brings you here to this cow town in the middle of winter.”

She gave him a sweet, evasive smile. “A visit with my cousin, of course.”

“You expect me to believe that?” He paused, studying her face—the straight classic nose, the large smoky eyes. That she couldn’t meet his gaze gave him his answer, but she sure was striking when she was telling a tale.

“Of course I do.”

“What if I said I thought you were lying?”

She faltered in her steps. “You do not know me well enough to say whether I am or not.”

“True—and I’d never argue with such a beautiful señorita , but still you haven’t given me the entire truth.”

The mysterious half smile she bestowed upon him made him catch his breath. “And why should I pour out my heart to you when you will be gone once your horse has healed?”

The candlelight reflected on the soft contours of her face as he drew her closer. “I can only think of one reason.”

Her gaze dropped to his mouth.

Damned if she wasn’t curious! Tempted even. Anticipation had him pulling her nearer. Maybe she’d consider dropping the Spanish lesson after all.

“The music has stopped, Señor Dumont.”

Her words were like the shake of a rattler’s tail—stopping him cold. He looked up to find the men in the band heatedly discussing their next song. He swallowed hard. “So it has,” he said, surprised at what he’d been about to do. It wasn’t like him to lose track of his surroundings. He’d been ready to kiss her right there on the dance floor in front of everyone. A foolhardy thing to do considering her status. The men with her would probably demand a duel or, God forbid, marriage at such an overture.

“If I had let you kiss me, I would have had to slap you, to keep my honor.”

“It would have been worth it.”

Her dark eyes sparkled.

Confidence surged through him. He was enjoying this. For the first time in a long while he was with a woman he could respect and appreciate. Better to keep her off balance with a little cockiness than to let her think he was serious. He was the last person she should get serious about. “One more turn about the floor?”

“Victoria?” Juan said from behind him, his voice stern. “Come back to the table now.”

She looked at her cousin, then back to him, and stepped from his arms. “ Sí . Thank you for the dance, Señor Dumont.” Her head high, she placed her hand on Juan’s arm. “Would you care to join us?”

Surprised, his gaze shifted to Juan. The man was not pleased with her request but was too polite to argue.

“You may tell us about your poor horse,” she continued, and with a beguiling smile in his direction, she headed back to the table where Diego waited.

His horse was the last thing on Jake’s mind at the moment. He watched as Victoria disappeared in the midst of the other dancers on her way across the room. Here was a challenge he couldn’t refuse even though it led nowhere. She fascinated him, and apparently she wasn’t completely immune to him, either. He followed her back to the table and settled into the chair across from her.

Captain Seguín motioned for a round of drinks. He waited until the waitress had deposited the mugs of ale and for Victoria, wine. “What is this about your horse?”