Page 83 of The Virgin's Dance
Donna put her head on his, hugging him around his shoulders.
“José, of course she will. True love always holds out.”
The day flew by—the vows, the photos, the music.
After the ceremony, Maria, pulling away from the crowds for a quiet moment on the beach, took Donna by the arm. “Do I look okay?”
“You look exactly how I expected you to look, absolutely stunning.” They gave each other a warm and genuine hug.
“I don’t know what we would have done without you, Donna, without your help with all this.”
“And why doesn’t the bride have a drink in her hand?”
“I don’t know, but I’m thirsty as anything!” Maria chuckled.
“Let me get you something. Champagne?”
“Sure.”
Donna skirted through the crowds and into the kitchen. She took a glass for the bride and downed a glass herself, the bubbles filling her nose. Today she would not be sad, she willed herself, but her departure the next day hung over her head.
As she was stepping back out of the house, she heard a familiar sound: the frantic rhythm of drums and clapping and the sound of a guitar, and then the haunting wail of a flamenco singer. Carrying the two glasses, she reached the beach.
José’s father passed her, saying, “Have to keep the enemy close.” He gave her a conspiratorial wink.
Antonio was on the stage. He was dancing with two female dancers. In the dance they were fighting over him, pulling him one way and the next. The dance was more intense than she remembered. She drew closer and allowed herself to take him all in.
For a few seconds she was in his bed again, rubbing her hands across his tanned back the moment before he grabbed her by the wrists and pulled her under him. She could practically feel the happy weight of his body on hers.
She hated herself for still feeling this way.
And then, from the stage, his eyes locked on her. He had spotted her out of the crowd, and his gaze did not let up. Even when the dance demanded something different, he refused to look away. She stood still, unable to move or avert her gaze.
The pull between them was just as strong as ever.
The dance was over and there was a great applause from the townspeople.
Antonio bowed, and then almost leaped off the stage. He was by her side in a few seconds.
Donna began to turn away.
“Donna, please wait.”
She ran further across the beach to where the crowds had dissipated.
But he went after her.
She stopped and turned, angry again.
“Was it all just a game? Did you mean any of it?” She pushed against his chest. “Why? Why did you do it? You were having me followed, having your uncle take photos of me, watching me—”
“Please, Donna, please listen. My uncle is not a bad man. He was just trying to protect the community. He was trying to protect the family. Can you understand any of that?”
“Yes, I can understand that. I understand that you both wanted to do anything to protect your community. But you used me! Used my body like it meant something to you! How could you know me and pretend to feel something for me and use me like that?”
“I didn’t know you! I didn’t know you at the time. He thought if we could get close to José’s father then we could influence his decision on the village. I didn’t know Ivan was having you followed. I didn’t know he set the whole thing up until he told me, and then it was too late.”
“Too late?”
