Santa Fe Fortune & How to Marry a Matador

know.”
    Fernando slowly slid the ring on her finger, finding it a little loose. He gave a worried frown. “We can get it sized.”
    “It’s perfect,” she said, her voice coming out as a whisper.
    “We’ll make it more perfect,” he said with a smile.
    Fernando gazed at her, and Jess saw tumbling summer hills, but this time she didn’t mind free-falling. It was delightful and heady and fun. The best part was they were doing it together.
    “I know I asked this before,” he said, “but we were both a little…you know…” He made a wavering motion with his hand.
    “I knew what I was doing,” she challenged.
    “Maybe. But you know it a lot more clearly now. Mrs. Jessica Bloom Garcia de la Vega,” he said, taking her hand. “Will you marry me again in the presence of our families and inviting all those we know to share in the joy of our love?”
    “Oh, Fernando,” she said, springing into his arms. “I’ll marry you as many times as you’d like.”

Epilogue

    The upscale outdoor wedding was conducted on the sprawling Garcia de la Vega estate. A stylized trellis studded with lovely white roses from Ana María’s garden arched over the altar, nestled within a special grove of olive trees. The two mothers got on fabulously, while Evie flirted outrageously with a very handsomely turned out Gustavo. Everyone delighted in the morning, which was bright and sunny, the sweeping azure sky not sporting a single cloud.
    Jess kissed Fernando for half an eternity, deciding to save the rest for their second wedding night. Repeating yourself didn’t seem so bad when one put this spin on it. Fernando pulled back, apparently having been tapped on the shoulder.
    “You’re supposed to save that part until after the pronouncement,” Father Domingo said.
    “I’m sorry, Father,” Fernando said, not sounding like he meant it. “You’ve got to admit the circumstances are extenuating. We are already married.”
    “In the eyes of the church,” Jess said with a sheepish smile.
    “And in the eyes of the law.”
    Seated wedding guests turned and looked at each other.
    “What do you mean?” Jess asked her loving husband.
    Fernando grinned, first at Jess and then at Father Domingo.
    “Confirmation arrived from Madrid this morning. In the form of our marriage license.”
    Jess gasped with happy surprise. “Really?”
    Fernando hung his head, then devilishly raised his eyes. “Actually, it came a few days ago, but it seemed fitting to save the news as a wedding gift.”
    “Shall we get on with it?” Father Domingo asked.
    “Yes, let’s,” Jess said, thinking she couldn’t love Fernando any more than she did at this moment.
    Father Domingo finished his benediction, then introduced Mr. and Mrs. Fernando Garcia de le Vega to the elated crowd as husband and wife. Applause and cheers rang out all around.
    Evie stood at Jess’s side, holding her bridal bouquet and beaming with delight. “So that’s how you do it.”
    “How I do what?” Jess asked as she linked arms with Fernando and turned for the recessional.
    Evie adjusted her train, then whispered slyly, “How you marry a matador.” Her eyes traveled to Gustavo, extra handsome in his boutonniere. “Think there might be one here for me?”
    “I don’t think Gustavo’s a bullfighter,” Jess whispered back, accepting her flowers.
    “I might have to check and see if he has a scar,” Evie said a little too loudly.
    Fernando playfully narrowed his eyes at his bride. “You haven’t been talking, querida ?”
    Jess just pursed her lips until they burst into a smile. “Not in detail,” she replied hastily. She may have bragged on him a bit, but a girl could hardly blame her. He was to die for, after all. And she hadn’t said a thing to anyone but Evie.
    “Good,” he said, snuggling her affectionately against his side. “Some things are meant to be just between a husband and wife.”
    “Fernando,” she said fondly, “there are many things just between us.”
    “As the years go by,” he said, “I hope there will be many more.”
    “Actually,” she said coquettishly, “there might be one more fairly soon.”
    Fernando’s face lit up like the most brilliant Andalusian sunrise.
    “Is that a fact?”
    “Just promise me we’ll work out a compromise on the bulls.”
    “ ¡Olé! ” he said, sealing his pledge with a kiss.
    Somewhere in the distance, champagne corks popped as Jess’s heart soared to the moon. Tomorrow morning, they were