San Antonio Rose (Historical Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page A

didn't miss a step when he
sat down at the front table after his officers had
roughly expelled the three men who'd occupied
the chairs.
    Emerada could feel Santa Anna's eyes on her,
so she began to perform for him alone. She removed her filmy red mantilla and tossed it into
the crowd, where a fight broke out among
those who wanted to possess it.
    She tapped her feet and flung her head back
so that her hair flowed about her waist like a
dark, silken curtain. Her arms arched over her
head, and she twirled gracefully. Gathering her
gown, she raised it high enough to show her
ankles, and a roar of approval rippled through
the room. With sensuous movements, Emerada edged closer to Santa Anna, her gaze
locked with his.
    She discovered that Santa Anna was a handsome man, but of course he would have to be.
She thought of all the young girls who had succumbed to his charms, much to their regret when he deserted them. She must not forget
that he was greedy, ambitious, unscrupulous,
and a man who could kill without remorse. She
suspected that he could also be very charming-she was depending on that.

    The guitarists slowed the melody and played
plaintively. Emerada's hands gracefully moved
to match the tapping of her feet. Then the guitarists fell silent, and Emerada dropped into a
curtsy.
    The cheers were deafening, and a tribute of
flowers was thrown onstage. Emerada chose a
single yellow rose and turned to the stairs she
had descended earlier.
    She held her breath, wondering if Santa
Anna was going to send someone after her-he
just had to!
    "Excuse me, senorita." A voice spoke up behind her. "May I speak to you?"
    She turned to find one of Santa Anna's aides
behind her. She bestowed her most haughtiest
stare on him. "I am very weary, senor. And I do
not talk to soldiers."
    "Senorita, perdoneme. You misunderstand
my intentions. His Excellency has asked if you
will please join him at his table," the officer
said, graciously bowing.
    Emerada met the dictato's gaze, and he
stood up and smiled at her, his expression one
of expectancy. She gathered her courage and
went back down the stairs. The day she had
waited and planned for had come, and she prayed that she would have the courage to do
what she must do.

    As Emerada approached Santa Anna, her
smile was alluring, her body arched, and she
allowed her gown to slip off her shoulder to reveal the merest hint of soft breasts. Although
she wore the expression of a seductress and her
eyes held an invitation, she was trembling, not
with awe for the dictator, as any onlooker
might think, but with loathing. She detested
the part she was playing, and what she would
be forced to do to gain the confidence of this
man whom she despised above all others.
    Emerada reminded herself that Santa Anna
was no fool. She was playing a dangerous
game that might cost her her life. But no matter what the cost, no matter how much she had
to degrade and humiliate herself, she would
play this game to win!
    Nothing must go wrong!
    She dropped into a low curtsy, and before
she could rise, she felt Santa Anna's hand on
her arm, guiding her upward.
    "Bravisima, senorita. Magnifica! You are even
more wonderful than I have heard," the dictator said with passion. "I am honored to have
seen you dance."
    Emerada studied him for a long moment. He
was a handsome man in spite of his flamboyant uniform. His eyes were soft and deep
brown, showing no evidence of the cruelty he
was capable of. She moved forward, allowing him to hold a chair for her, a chair that had
been hurriedly vacated by one of his officers.

    "Thank you, Presidente." She could not bring
herself to smile at him: "You are more gracious
than I had heard." Her words sounded more
biting than she had intended.
    Santa Anna frowned for a moment as he absorbed her words, wondering if he'd just been
insulted. Then, when she looked up at him coquettishly, his amused laughter joined hers.
    She was daring and