Indian
Summer is
an historical romance set in St. Augustine, Florida in 1739, a year
before a major siege by the British. Gabriella Deza, the daughter of
the Spanish governor, is fast approaching womanhood. Her fifteenth
birthday looms on the horizon. She is completely taken by surprise
when her father's aide-de-camp, Manuel Enriques, declares his love
and asks to accompany her to her birthday party.
Indian
Summer isn't currently available, but will be re-released the summer
of 2017 along with the sequel, Savage Heart!
Excerpt
from Indian
Summer
"This
is my dance, I believe, Señorita Deza."
Manuel
locked eyes with the next candidate for treading on my toes, who
cowered under his look. Nodding rapidly, the little rabbit of a man
retreated to the corner behind Clara and seemed to take her as his
shield of defense.
I
graced him with my sincere smile and said, "I promise the next
dance is yours, señor."
He
bobbed his head rapidly again, retreating even further.
Manuel
spoke from the corner of his mouth as we walked to the dance floor.
"I don't think you will have to honor that promise, my sweet."
Chortling,
I replied with a coquettish toss of my hair. "Why, Señor
Enriques, do you intend to intimidate every man here?"
He
chuckled secretively as he turned me in a circle under his arm. "If
need be, my dear. If need be. I shall have you to myself." He
put special emphasis on “shall” as he spun me again and the music
began.
Quiet
at first, I listened with only half my attention. Suddenly, the
orchestra erupted in a wave of the most exciting music I had ever
heard! The guitars hammered loudly, the percussion began a beat I was
familiar with. The music echoed the pounding of my heart. Manuel
chuckled, seeing the surprised look upon my face.
"Do
you like my choice? It's a special request I gave them. A dance just
for us!" He spun me again, three times in succession.
"I
don't know this dance!" I gasped. "I don't know the steps!"
"Listen
to the music, Bella. You know this. You feel it in your blood! Would
I ever embarrass you? Follow my lead and you will be free!"
The
music continued slowly, just a hint of notes on a single guitar.
Manuel led me in a few gentle steps, ending in a deep dip. The tempo
changed, accelerating into a fast, syncopated rhythm. He swept me
into the most amazing dance! The music crashed into me in wave after
wave of excitement. The power of it washed over us, setting my heart
pounding in my chest with a beat at the same time unnatural, but as
much a part of me as breathing.
We
spun, stepped, dipped, clapped, stomped and when we got to the end I
realized I had just danced my first Flamenco. I had seen this dance
many times. The country folk in Spain danced this at their
celebrations. The music and tradition had followed us to this new
land, where they danced it at festivals. Manuel led me off the dance
floor, both of us a little breathless and perspiring. It was then I
noticed no one else had joined us in the dance. I looked up at him
with a question on my lips. He shrugged casually.
"I
asked for a dance alone with you. The gentlemen politely complied."
I
narrowed my eyes, feigning a glare. "How much did you threaten
them?" I was teasing and he knew it.
He
held his fingers about an inch apart. "Perhaps, this much?"
Our
laughter filled the courtyard as the next dance began. The orchestra
seemed rather let down after the Flamenco. I believe it had been the
highlight of their evening as well as mine.
"I
need something to drink." My throat was dry and scratchy and I
felt hot all over.
Manuel
bowed, kissing my fingers, making his way to the punch. As rapidly as
they could without being unseemly, my sisters rushed to my side.
"Bella,"
Maria chirped. "Where did you ever learn to dance like that! My
goodness, I've never seen anyone dance the way the two of you did!"
Their eyes glowed with happy envy.
"I
didn't really know the dance, but Manuel is a strong lead. Was it
really so exciting?"
"Exciting?"
Maria grabbed my hand to her heart. "My land, girl, I'm all of a
flutter! If a man were to ask me into the bushes now, I think I'd go
willingly." She giggled. "My insides are on fire."
Irena
didn't speak, but she didn't need to. Her blush from her cleavage to
her hairline told me she felt the same way. "That was the
naughtiest dance I've ever seen! And magnificent!" Irena's eyes
glittered. "I should feel as if I had lived a full life indeed,
if only I could dance like that once! I don't think Jason knows
Flamenco." She pouted, looking disappointed.
Maria
nudged her. "Jason is a fine man, Rena, but he has no 'Fire' to
him."
Irena
bristled at this. "He has plenty of fire!"
"Yes,
if you like a slow burn." Maria shrugged. "Now that Captain
Du Pont, there is a man with fire blazing in his soul."
I
thought my sisters were about to come to blows, when Manuel
approached us. He smiled warmly, extending a tray with three cups of
punch.
"Am
I interrupting something, ladies? If so, I'll take my leave.” He
made as if to walk off.
Maria
grabbed his arm shaking her finger at him. "No you don't, you
naughty man! What a spectacle you made out there!"
She
was teasing, I hoped he would be able to tell. In reply, he caught
her hand and spun her around under his arm. Then he lowered her into
a dip that had her nearly horizontal to the floor! All this with one
hand, for he still carried the tray and didn't spill a drop! Raising
her slowly, hardly seeming to strain with her weight, he locked eyes
with her and his gaze burned into her soul.
"No,
not naughty, my dear Maria. I'm wicked."
©
2017 Dellani Oakes