Page 92 of Rio's Release

“If he catches them together, this could be very bad. I don’t know what Luisa is thinking… courting such trouble.”

“She is thinking what we were all thinking,” one of the three teases with a giggle. “He is very macho.”

“Yes, that boy is gorgeous,” one sighs dreamily. “He had the prettiest blue eyes.”

Oh my God. They’re talking about Blue, the young guy who bartended at the clubhouse. I stand suddenly and pop around the wall, startling the girls who look at me with big eyes.

“I’m sorry. I heard you talking. My date is the president of the Saint’s Outlaws. I’ve got to find Luisa and Blue before they get into trouble. Can you show me which grove they headed toward?”

They look at each other, as if they’re not sure they want to rat out Luisa. Then the older one nods.

“Follow me.” She leads us outside and down a path, then points. “That grove there. They were walking down the path between the trees. They were about fifty yards in.”

Looking, I don’t see them now.

“Perhaps they returned.”

Or perhaps Blue has taken Luisa farther into the concealment of the trees.

“Thank you,” I whisper, touching the girl’s arm. “Cover for her if you are asked. I’ll do what I can to fix this.”

She nods, and I hurry down the path.

It’s dark except for the moonlit sky.

The music and laughter from the celebration fades behind me.

The farther I go, the more certain I am that they must have already returned to the tent, but a few steps more, and I hear a tinkle of feminine laughter. Pausing, I search for the sound, and see the flounce of a gown peeking out from behind the trunk of a tree up ahead.

When I reach the row of trees, Blue has the girl in his arms, and she’s smiling into his face. He lifts a hand and strokes hisfinger down her cheek and then lets it trail down her neck to graze along her exposed cleavage.

She cups his face and pulls him down for a kiss.

I wonder if it’s her very first kiss, and I wonder what Blue is thinking. What could have possessed him to bring Eduardo’s teenage daughter out here? Does he even know whose daughter he’s kissing or how old she is?

I hate to interrupt their romantic interlude, and I know this girl will be mortified when I do. Part of me is hoping Blue will pull her hands off him and step back, but with a glance toward the glowing tent in the distance, I’m not sure how long I can delay before someone discovers she’s missing.

I take a step, and a twig snaps under my heel.

Blue breaks off the kiss, his body stiffening when he sees me. “Shelby. What are you doing out here?”

“People are asking where she is, Blue. If Eduardo catches you with his seventeen-year-old daughter—”

Before I can say more, his sharp gaze hits Luisa. “You’re seventeen?”

“You need to escort her back before someone comes,” I say, then turn and walk away.

I’m sure they’re going to have a conversation, but I can only hope Blue heeds my warning. I pick up my pace and make it to the tent, finding Rio and Eduardo still in conversation, Zig included. With a quick glance, I see the others are still dancing.

Slipping into my chair, I lift my glass and take a sip.

Rio lays a hand on my leg, squeezing, then winks at me while Eduardo talks about some business in town, then pauses.

“Well, I’ll let you dance with your lovely lady. I’ve taken enough of your time.”

“Oh, no. Please don’t leave on my account,” I say quickly, trying to think of a way to delay him. If he stays at our table, he’s not likely to notice Luisa is not here. “Please, tell me about when your family came here and started this business.”

He smiles. “Of course. I hope it doesn’t bore you, though.”

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