Who Rides the Tiger Read Online Free PDF Page A

glanced at Vincente Santos. He was watching her. He seemed to be constantly watching her, she thought, and it embarrassed her. She had never experienced such intense appraisal before.
    'Must you?' she asked.
    'Must I what?'
    'Stare at me.'
    'Why not? I like staring at you.'
    Faced with such candour, Dominique was at a loss for a reply, and he said: 'Leave your drink here. Let's dance.'
    The cabaret was over and the band was beginning to play. The music from guitars, organs and drums was vibrant and pulsating with rhythm, and the lights were lowered as couples gathered on the dance floor.
    'I don't. That is—' she began, as he took her hand and drew her through the tables where people were sitting to the far end of the room.
    'You don't what?' he asked softly, as he turned and slid his arms around her, pulling her close against the hard muscular strength of his body.
    Dominique shook her head. With Vincente's eyes upon her, so near now, she found it difficult to think coherently.
    'I've never danced to beat music before,' she confessed. 'I'm quite a square really.'
    He gave a soft laugh. 'Oh, Miss Mallory, whatever gave you that idea?'
    They moved slowly, and Dominique found after all that it was easy to follow Vincente's movements. Besides, the dancing seemed of secondary importance to their actual situation. If John could see me now, she thought, a trifle wildly. He would be absolutely astounded! And with good reason, she added silently. She had known what kind of a man Vincente Santos was from the moment she saw him watching her in the airport bar. Why then had she succumbed to the temptation of going out with him? Was it because all her life she had thought before acting, never doing anything on impulse? Or was it simply because the strength of his personality and the way he had taunted her had aroused her indignation, and she had wanted to prove she could be as impulsive as anyone else? Certainly he made the men she had met back in England seem a trifle tame by comparison, and there was an addictive sense of excitement in taking such risks. After all, tonight would soon be over and then she would be with John again, and Vincente Santos would fade into obscurity.
    Once, while they danced, she glanced up at him, her hair brushing his cheek, and he looked down at her with his tawny eyes, eyes that seemed too penetrating, and his mouth was very close to hers. Hastily, she looked down again, endeavouring to control the fast beating of her heart. So far and no further, she told herself firmly.
    The dance was soon over, and as they were leaving the floor they were halted by an excited cry from a woman who was also leaving the dance floor with her escort. Tall and slender, with jet black hair piled high with jewelled combs into a French knot, she was easily the most beautiful and exotic creature that Dominique had ever seen. Her gown, a long clinging affair of heavy crepe which moulded her perfect body, was in a brilliant shade of red, and it contrasted vividly with her magnolia colouring and dark hair.
    'Vincente!' she exclaimed, flinging her arms about his neck and kissing him rapidly on both cheeks and then lingeringly on his mouth. 'But I did not know you were in Rio! Why did you not let me know? I have been back two weeks from Europe, and I am desolate. You have not been to see me!'
    Vincente glanced at Dominique over the woman's head, seeing her embarrassment, and then disentangling himself firmly.
    'I have been busy, Sophia,' he said, his voice cool, so that the woman looked at Dominique and gave her a studious glance.
    'Oh, yes,' she said questioningly. 'I can see you have. I would have thought she was a little young and unsophisticated for your tastes, my sweet!'
    Vincente's eyes darkened. 'Did I ask for your opinion, Sophia?' he remarked icily.
    'No. But then I feel I have the right to voice my inmost thoughts to you. After all, you invariably come back, chert?
    Dominique turned away, sickened by this exchange. She made