CHAPTER SIX
Diego glanced around as a disconcerting hush fell over the dining room after
Victoria had uttered her insult. Don Alejandro and Señora Gomez both
looked horrified. Felipe was staring at the floor, unsuccessfully trying
to hide the twinkle of mischief in his eyes. The alcalde had the gall to
smirk as he stood between the two women who were staring malevolently at
each other.
"How dare you!" Violetta said indignantly, shattering the silence. "You.
. .you. . .tavern wench! That brat did this on purpose."
"You bumped his arm. I saw you do it," Victoria announced, evidently letting
the ‘tavern wench' comment roll off her back. "You have no one to blame but
yourself." She smiled cattily at the other woman. Diego wondered if she was
telling the truth or merely covering up for Felipe's well-timed clumsiness.
"Ladies. . .Ladies. . ." the elder de la Vega began. But that was as far
as he got before Violetta reached out and grabbed a handful of Victoria's
hair, tugging it viciously.
"Ow! Let go, you cow." Victoria swatted at the other woman's hand futilely
then seized a hank of the young widow's hair.
Violetta squealed with pain. The women struggled for a few moments as everyone
watched in a fascinated stupor. The beautiful widow then began groping blindly
on the table, finally wrapping her fingers around the stem of a wine glass.
Diego, guessing her intent, shoved aside a grinning de Soto before grabbing
Violetta's wrist, making her let go of the glass. He then thrust himself
forcibly between the two women and began pulling at their arms, hoping they
would let go of each other's hair.
But he only succeeded in making them yank harder. It didn't help matters
they were both pressed up against his body, and he could feel every curve
and every bit of soft flesh they possessed. He closed his eyes for a moment,
willing himself not to be aroused. A very naughty thought crossed his mind,
one which indicated he was failing miserably.
Giving his head a shake to clear the image of naked, writhing bodies, Diego
pushed the women farther apart, forcing them to let go of each other. They
were panting from their exertions, glowering at the other with venomous expressions
as he put even more space between them and him.
He turned to the lovely innkeeper first. "Victoria, apologize," he ordered
before addressing Violetta. "Then you will go with Maria and she will help
you with your gown." He crossed his arms over his chest and waited. For a
moment, he thought Victoria was going to defy his request.
"I'm sorry," said Victoria. "That was so very rude of me. Please forgive
me." The fact her words were spoken through clenched teeth and dripping with
sarcasm did not escape Diego's notice, but he was not going to point that
out to her. Not as angry as she was at the moment.
"All is forgiven Señorita," Violetta replied, her face wreathed in
a smile of insincerity. She gazed up at Diego as if for approval.
"Yes, right," he said before indicating the housekeeper standing behind the
young widow.
"This way, Señora" Maria led Violetta from the dining room. The widow
tossed her head, shooting a malicious glance in Victoria's direction, as
the housekeeper whisked her away. Diego watched them go, then focused his
attention on the remaining people in the room. His father was helping Señora
Gomez back into her chair. De Soto and Felipe were still standing by the
table, the former wearing an amused expression. Victoria was glaring at him
in a manner which made him grateful looks could not kill.
"Well, then," he began, cutting through the awkward silence as he pointed
to the table where the remains of their meal sat, "shall we continue?"
"I have lost my appetite," the lovely innkeeper declared. "Excuse me, por
favor." She started to sweep out of the room, but de Soto held out his hand.
"If you are ready to leave, I will be happy to escort you back to the pueblo,"
he offered gallantly.
"Gracias," replied Victoria before flinging another look in Diego's
direction, one filled not only with spite but with a little bit of triumph.
"If you are sure you wish to leave."
It had not crossed Diego's mind until that moment Victoria and the alcalde
had traveled to the hacienda together, therefore they would also be returning
to Los Angeles together. Alone. At night. In the dark. He glanced at the
pair of them and a frisson of premonition shuddered through him.
Don't be absurd, he scolded himself as they said their farewells after being
escorted to the front door. There could never be anything between Victoria
and Ignacio. She despised the man. And de Soto would never consider marriage
to a lowly tavern owner. He, no doubt, had much loftier goals.
But who said anything about marriage? the voice in his head queried.
Maybe something baser was in play here. Once again, the image of naked, writhing
bodies appeared in his mind, only this time it was Victoria and de Soto passionately
entwined.
With his own desire for food greatly diminished by that thought, Diego signaled
a discreet ‘Z' to Felipe, who seemed startled by the gesture. But as they
shuffled back to the dining room to finished their interrupted meal, the
lad nodded, loping off in the direction of the library.
Diego groaned inwardly as Violetta returned minutes after they had resumed
eating, wearing a different unstained gown. And not one of her usual modest
black or dark gray ones either, but one of amethyst silk which clung to every
curve and contour of her body and displaying a dazzling amount of décolleté.
Quickly jumping to his feet, Diego was grateful to pull out her chair before
swiftly resuming his own seat and dropping his napkin in his lap before he
embarrassed himself. Diego began to run mathematical algorithms through his
brain in the futile hope of distracting himself from seemingly acres of bare
ivory flesh he could see from the corner of his eye.
"Violetta," her mother scolded, "you should not be wearing that dress. It's
not proper."
"It's been two years, Mama," her daughter replied, "I think I have mourned
enough." She smiled coquettishly at Don Alejandro, then at Diego.
"I think it looks lovely," said the elder de la Vega. "Don't you, son?"
"Yes, lovely," Diego choked out before returning his attention to the congealing
food on his plate and praying silently this torturous dinner would be over
soon.
Z Z Z
Much later that evening, Victoria set her broom aside and stretched her back
as she glanced around her empty tavern. She had sent Alicia and Pilar home
as soon as she had arrived back from the disastrous dinner party. Cleaning
and clearing up for the night had helped her work out some of her anger.
But she was still upset. How dare that woman say those horrible things about
Felipe? And why on earth had Diego allowed her to do so? Was he so enchanted
by her charms he thought she could do no wrong? Oh, how stupid men were,
to be lured in by a pretty face and a large bosom and not care about the
nature of the woman to which they were attached.
Giving her head a toss as she climbed the stairs to her quarters, she wondered
just what had the alcalde been up to when he had escorted her home that evening.
He had spent the two miles between the hacienda and the pueblo peppering
her with questions about the de la Vegas' guests, especially Señora
Murillo, and whether or not Diego was interested in the brazen hussy (her
words, not de Soto's). Questions for which she did not have answers, even
if she had wanted to provide them.
Then there had been that moment when the alcalde had helped her dismount
from her horse. His hands had lingered on her waist a second or two longer
than what was proper and had slid down to her hips for an instant so fleeting
she thought she must have imagined it. Victoria remembered glancing up at
his face and seeing a look in his eyes that, well, had not been unlike how
Mendoza eyed a plate of fresh tamales.
Ha, as if, she scoffed as she opened the door to her room, closing it after
she stepped inside. As if she would ever be interested in such a petty tyrant.
Pushing aside such a ridiculous notion, she yawned and began to undo the
bow which loosened her blouse. Lifting it over her head, she placed it on
the back of her vanity chair. Her skirt, petticoats, and corset soon joined
the blouse. Victoria then reached for the hem of her chemise.
"Stop."
With a gasp, she turned in direction of the husky whisper, her breath quickening
along with the beat of her heart. "Who is it?" she demanded, her words barely
audible.
A tall shadow shifted near her window, moonlight revealing a man dressed
head to toe in black.
"Zorro." Not knowing whether to be relieved or angry, she crossed her arms
so her hands covered her breasts which were clearly visible through the thin
cotton fabric.
"A thousand pardons, querida," he replied, removing his hat. "I should have.
. made my presence known sooner. It. . .I. . ."
"Get out." Victoria cut him off before he could tell her more lies. She knew
exactly why he had let her undress as far as she had before calling a halt.
Men, she thought - and not for the first time - were pigs.
"Victoria, por favor. . ."
"Do you think," she stated peevishly, "that you can just break into my room,
watch me take my clothes off, and I will just accept whatever poor excuse
of an apology you have to offer, and then everything will be fine between
us?" She paused to take a breath. "Well, Señor Fox, you are sadly
mistaken. I am going to need more than mere words to forgive you this time."
With a huff, she spun around and snatched her shawl from the end of her bed.
Once she had wrapped it around her shoulders, she glared at him and pointed
toward the window. "I am going to guess that is how you got in?" He nodded.
"Then that is the way you can leave. Now," she added emphatically as he remained
as still as a statue.
Zorro moved toward her cautiously, ignoring her rather clear instructions.
"Mere words are not good enough to make you forgive me?" he queried, an odd
tone in his voice.
She shook her head, not trusting herself to speak as he inched close enough
for her to feel the heat of his body, to smell his familiar scent of leather
and horse and man, to see a wicked light dancing in his green eyes.
"Well, then, it's a good thing I am a man of action, is it not?" he drawled.
His lips came down on hers before she even had a chance to form a reply.
His large hands, which she realized were gloveless, were roaming up and down,
cupping her breasts and bottom with equal enthusiasm. He pressed closer,
and she could feel his arousal against her stomach.
His mouth left hers and began kissing a spot behind her ear before moving
its way down her neck. Oh, it felt so. . .so. . . So like someone was trying
to avoid discussing his previous night's visit.
Victoria pressed her hands to his chest and pushed. He instantly sprang back,
his hands raised in front of him as though she was aiming a weapon at him.
"That's not what I meant either," she retorted.
"I did not mean. . . Please forgive me," he said, eyeing her cautiously.
"Keep your apologies. I don't want them."
"Victoria," he pleaded as he lowered his arms, "tell me what you want me
to do. I will do anything. . ."
"Prove you came to see me last night and not her." She spat out the last
word as if something bitter had filled her mouth.
"Prove. . ." echoed Zorro. "How do you propose I do that? No matter what
I say, you will not believe me."
"Probably not," she agreed.
"All right, I did not only come to visit you last night, I also came to investigate
your guests."
"Ha!" Feeling vindicated, she shook her finger at him. "I knew it. I knew
you were. . ."
"But then I scrutinize all your tenants," he cut in.
"What?" Victoria stared at him incredulously. "Do you think I cannot take
care of myself? I have. . ."
He interrupted her once again. "No, I know you can take care of yourself,"
he declared. "I just believe that you shouldn't have to."
"Oh," she said softly, hearing the sincerity in his voice and seeing it in
his eyes. Her anger melted away, knowing in that moment he truly did love
her, as he constantly showed her with his deeds if not with his words. Rising
up on her toes, she first kissed his cheek, then moved her lips to his mouth.
He gathered her up in his arms, holding her tightly against his hard body.
This time, he was the one who put an end to their passionate encounter before
it grew out of control. "I must go," he murmured, kissing her once more before
spinning away and climbing out of the window.
Breathlessly, Victoria plopped down on her bed and smiled. Take that, Señora
Widow, she thought smugly. Go spin your sticky web around some other man.
Zorro is mine.
Z Z Z
A short while later, Diego stepped into his room, closing the door behind
him, then came to an immediate halt. Wearing nothing but a diaphanous gown
which left nothing to the imagination and stretched out on his bed, was Violetta,
fast asleep.
Maldita sea, this was a complication he could do without at the moment.
Not only was he physically and emotionally drained from his encounter with
Victoria, he had been bursting with sexual frustration so profound, he had
planned to alleviate it in a manner he did not often employ.
He must have made some noise, for she began to stir, rolling onto her back
and giving him a clear view of all her womanly assets through the sheer fabric.
Her eyes opened lazily. "Diego? Is that you?" She shifted so she was once
again lying on her side. "I must have fallen asleep waiting for you."
Violetta leaned forward, her breasts nearly spilling from the low cut neckline
of her gown. "Where have you been?" she scolded with a purr. "Have you been
out being a naughty boy?"
Yes, he wanted to tell her. Yes, he had been out seducing the woman he loved
into forgiving him. But his throat felt constricted, his breathing shallow,
his heart pounding so hard he thought it might beat out of his chest. Diego
grew lightheaded as her gaze traveled up then down the length of his body,
her eyes lingering on the front of his trousers.
"Why don't you join me?" She patted the mattress beside her, inviting him
into his own bed.
"No, thank you," he ground out through gritted teeth. "In fact, I must insist
you leave at once."
"Why would I want to do that?" she countered. "I want you, Diego, and it's
obvious that you want me." Once more she ogled his groin, a smug smile growing
on her lips. "I think the two of us would get on quite well together, don't
you?"
She did not give him a chance to answer as she arose from the bed and sauntered
over to stand inches away from him. Violetta placed her hand on his chest,
moving her fingers to the buttons of his shirt, and began to undo them. Diego,
in an attempt to step away, instead smacked into his bedroom door. He was,
it seemed, trapped with no way to escape.
Pressing her body to his, Violetta smiled at him. "If you refuse what I'm
offering," she purred, snaking her arm behind his neck, "I will scream. And
you know what will happen then, don't you, Diego?"
His muddled mind did not have a chance to contemplate her threat before she
kissed him firmly on the mouth.