He followed her, persistent, his lean body graceful in the steps of the dance, but too close, too intimate. She could feel the heat from him, powerful, almost threatening.

“Are you afraid?” he taunted, and flashed a white smile at her when she stamped her feet and lifted her arms over her head, snapping her fingers with contempt.

“Of you? You flatter yourself, señor,” she replied in the same flawless Castillian Spanish he had used. He did not seem to be a part of these men here, though he had the same swarthy look about him. His features were more refined, with no trace of the Indian forebears that graced so many Mexicans.

He laughed softly, and there was a hint of approval in his eyes. “Little butterfly, you intrigue me. What is such a gracious creature doing in Ojinaga?”

She only smiled. Her body, shoulders a gleaming white above the yellow silk, moved with sinuous grace and utter abandon to the dance. The smile lingered, lashes lowered slightly to hide the green of her eyes, a provocative, seductive expression on her face as she danced.

There was not a man watching who did not think what it might be like to possess her, to have her naked, satiny body beneath him.

From the shadows just inside the courtyard gate, Steve watched with a wry smile. How many times had he come upon her like this, dancing with teasing abandon, her gypsy eyes half-closed and a dreamy smile on her mouth? More times than he could count. There were things about both of them that never seemed to change with time or tragedies.

And yet there were so many things that had changed. He knew now that he loved Ginny too much to give her up.

What would she say, and do, when he told her he had to leave her again, even if it was only for a little while? Would she trust him enough to accept it?

When she swirled in a blur of yellow silk and flashing legs, he stepped in, a hard glance challenging her partner to resist. For an instant, Steve thought he recognized the man, but that impression was swiftly banished as black eyes lowered, and with a murmured, “Señor,” the man relinquished his place and backed away.

As Ginny turned, her brows flew up in surprise and she faltered when she saw Steve. Then a smile curved her mouth. Silently, she gave him an alluring glance from beneath her lashes, provocative and teasing, the trick of a practiced courtesan. Moving to the driving tempo of the music, she tossed her head, then began to remove the pins from her hair one by one, scattering them carelessly on the stone tiles as glorious copper strands fell free. It was an invitation, seductive and arousing, and every man there was riveted to the sight.