Preview: The story of Rosalita

All she wanted to do was dance.

Smoothing her cobalt blue silk dress, she fiddled with the lace on her bodice. Her stomach ached from the corset entrapping her ribs and the curls from her carefully orchestrated up-do itched the back of her neck.

"Stop," her friend Jane hissed, rustling in her own satin Burgundy gown as she reached over to take Rosalita's hand. "Rose, you look like a caterpillar squirming around like that."

"This was a ridiculous idea," Rose hissed, glaring at her period-correct shoes. "What moron decided on a masquerade ball set in the Edwardian period?"

"That would be the mistress of this manor," Jane drawled in a voice heavy with sarcasm. "Amelia Betton, president of the junior league."

Rose snorted and twitched in her chair, trying to get comfortable. Her feet itched with the need to move and her butt ached from sitting. "If this wasn't such a small town and she wasn't married to the mayor, we'd be eating barbecue and wearing boots right now."

"I think it's kind of fun." Jane self-consciously touched her own curls. "You look gorgeous, you know. Where's your mask?"

"Thanks," Rose replied automatically. "I didn't want to wear one. It itched and made my face sweat." She saw Amelia curtsy to her husband and start towards them. Groaning, she leaned her head down and pretended to be studying an intricate carving on her chair.

"Ladies," Amelia greeted them in a cool tone. "Enjoying your evening?"

"Yes, quite," Jane replied politely. Jane was always polite, Rose thought thankfully. If she wasn't, Rose would have probably been run out of town by now because of her inability to hold her tongue around idiots. And in this town, there were a lot.

"But why are you just sitting here?" Amelia asked, her face feigning concern. "Have you no gentleman to dance with? I'm sure some of the city council members would be happy to dance with such beautiful ladies."

"There's no need."

All three leaned to look at the voice behind Amelia. A tall man with dark curls bowed, his face obscure by a black velvet mask that revealed only his eyes and mouth. He was wearing a rich blue jacket and white breeches, accented with silver threads. His ice blue eyes caught Rose's. She couldn't breathe, and she knew it wasn't because of the corset.

"If you'll have me for this dance, my lady," he said, bowing slightly.

Rose tilted her head, catching Jane's astonished eyes for an instant before she placed her clammy hand in his. He pulled her onto the dance floor, twirling her into a slow dance. Her skirts flew around her as they moved across the floor in an easy waltz, their feet moving in step perfectly.

Rose stared into his eyes, biting her lip as she tried to read what was behind the wolf-like color. His lips curved into a smile.

"Reading my mind?"

"You wish," she replied, and he laughed. "I was just thinking you looked familiar. Have we met?"

"You could say that," he said, his smile quivering a bit.

"Do you work around town?" she asked, leaning closer to read his eyes. Unabashed, they focused on her.

"No."

"Did we go to college together?"

The smile grew bigger. "No."

Rose gave a triumphant shout. "I know! You've dated one of my friends."

His white teeth gleamed in the lights of the chandelier as he grinned. "No."

It was all she could do not to stomp her foot. "But we have met?"

"Yes."

"When?" Rose demanded. She was tired of playing games. All she wanted to do was go home, get out of this corset and eat three slices of pizza.

"Don't you remember?" His voice was low and his eyes twinkled. Suddenly, Rose gasped. She took a step back and he raised her arm to turn her in a different step.

"I told you I'd be back on Christmas..." he whispered.

To be continued.... You can catch this story and eleven others in my book of Christmas tales that will be coming out in a week or so!

Stay tuned! We have confessions of a Christmas ornament, another edition of twirl, a tasty recipe and more!