Read A Masquerade of Muertos (Wisteria Tearoom Mysteries Book 5) for Free Online Page B

floor, where about half the dancers were doing the old high-school step-right, step-left kind of dancing.
    “Good, ’cause I wouldn’t know a polka from a hiphop.”
    “Do you dislike dancing?”
    He took a long time to answer, gazing at the dancers, his jaw working. Finally he looked at me. “It’s OK.”
    I was ready to give up and return to my uneaten tamal , but Tony tipped up his bottle, drained it, and left it under a bush, then offered me his hand and actually smiled. We stepped onto the floor just as the polka concluded. The band struck up a slow dance, and Tony’s smile turned to a grin as he slid his arm around my waist.
    “This is more like it,” he said, pulling me close.
    Yes, it was. A whiff of beer combined with Tony’s familiar smell to make me wish there weren’t so many people watching. I sighed as the tension drained out of me, and put my free arm around his neck as we rocked back and forth.
    “Were the mariachis your idea?” he asked.
    I shook my head. “Manny’s. He loves them. Nat does, too.”
    “Because...” He shook his head, and laughed softly as he gazed at the dancers.
    “It’s their wedding.”
    He looked at me, flashed a grin, then spun me under his arm. Caught off guard, I laughed.
    “You can dance!”
    “A little.”
    “I bet you broke hearts in high school.”
    “Nah. I was too moody. Usually I ended up with the broken heart.”
    I was silent, not thinking it prudent to pursue that line of conversation. We swayed gently and I closed my eyes. 
    This was good—this moment. If we could only have more moments like this.
    The song ended far too soon. Somewhere in there I rested my head on Tony’s shoulder; I had no idea when. As we stepped apart, he brushed his lips against my cheek.
    “Can we go somewhere?” he whispered in my ear as we left the floor arm in arm.
    “I have to stay until the party’s over,” I said.
    “What if we just went upstairs for half an hour?”
    I shot him a Look.
    “OK, OK. Just a thought.”
    I steered us toward our table, where Manny and Nat had retired after three dances. “I think I need some more champagne.”
    “I’ll get it,” Tony offered. He saw me to my seat, picked up my empty flute, and disappeared into the house.
    “You two looked cozy out there,” Manny said to me, grinning. “Gonna give me a new nephew?”
    Nat gave him an admonishing tap on the arm. I leaned forward to answer Manny.
    “You’re going to have to settle for just a niece for now.”
    He laughed, and raised his beer in salute. Tony returned with my champagne and a fresh plate with one tamal , red sauce, rice, and guacamole—exactly what I’d had before. He swapped this out for my cold plate and went off again to get food for himself.
    He might not be Mr. Congenial, but he was certainly observant. That was a cop skill. His using it to be nice to me gave me hope.

 
     
5
    C ake, and more champagne followed the meal. I was starting to feel a little tipsy by the time a sleek, black limousine turned the corner and glided up to the front gate, where it double-parked and turned on its hazard lights. Manny stood and, with a flourishing bow, held out his hand to Nat.
    “Your chariot awaits, fair lady.”
    Nat put down her fork. “Manny! I thought you were going to drive us!”
    He grinned. “I wanted to have too much alcohol for that. Better toss your bouquet, sugar. It’s time to go!”
    I hopped up, swallowing my last bite of cake, and hurried to gather the single females. A sweep of the garden netted Kris, Shelly, Gina, two of Manny’s nieces, and a couple of others. I nudged Rosa and Iz into the flock for good measure.
    Nat stood before the front door, framed by wisteria vines and watched by her adoring husband. She looked over the waiting maidens, and I saw her take note of my position before she turned her back to us. I almost stepped back, but there was no need. The bouquet sailed skyward and descended directly into Gina’s arms.
    Applause and