Santa Fe Fortune & How to Marry a Matador

admiring your work.” She extended her hand. “Victoria Kent. So pleased to meet you.”
    “You too.” Gwen reached toward her, toppling slightly. Dan shot her a curious gaze as she drew in a breath and pulled herself up straighter.
    “And this is my sister, Emily,” Victoria said, introducing a shorter version of herself who ran about ten pounds heavier.
    “Good to finally meet the infamous Gwendolyn Marsh,” the other said. “Dan hasn’t stopped talking about you.” She looked Gwen up and down, then suggestively scanned Dan. “You must have made quite an impression on him.”
    Gwen felt her temples and cheekbones warm, sensing she’d been accused of something. She returned the woman’s gaze with combative caution. She hadn’t cared for Emily’s approach but understood circumstances dictated civility. “I’d like to think Dan understands art.”
    “That I do,” he said, graciously stepping in. “In fact, the moment I saw Gwen’s oils, I said to myself, these works won’t last long on the market.” He smiled pleasantly at Gwen. “I’m happy to say my assessment was correct. We have a very interested buyer coming by at nine thirty.”
    Victoria flushed, perplexed. “But I thought you told me that these were available?”
    “They are,” Dan answered evenly. “No one has made a final offer yet.”
    “I see.” Victoria exchanged glances with her sister. “If you’ll excuse us for a few minutes. We’d like to talk something over.”
    “Of course,” Dan said as the women retreated around the corner.
    Emily lingered behind her sister, sending Dan a slow, sultry perusal as she went. Gwen felt her skin burn hot. This was just the sort of thing that was destined to happen, over and over again, the moment she left town. “I think that Emily’s more interested in the gallery owner than my art.”
    Dan released a surprised laugh. “What? Are you kidding me?”
    “Come on Dan, you can’t pretend you didn’t see her give you that once-over?”
    “You’re besmirching the good name of a happily married woman.” Little lines tugged at the edges of his mouth as blue eyes crinkled. “Besides, I’m not even the gallery owner. But only you know that,” he closed with a wink.
    He was an impossibly maddening man. More maddening than Gwen had given him credit for. Either he was totally obtuse to attractive women hitting on him, or he was trying to deflect the situation by making light of it. “I don’t think it’s your artistic assets she’s interested in.”
    “Whoa! Hold the phone. You couldn’t possibly be…?”
    She crossed her arms in front of herself, that beautiful mouth drawing up into a pout.
    “What?” she asked, with defiant dark eyes.
    He couldn’t believe it, but it was true. “Jealous,” he said in a whisper. “Oh…my…God!” Dan slapped his forehead for emphasis, then lowered his voice. “I can’t believe it. You’re actually jealous of her…?”
    “No, Dan,” she spouted in hushed tones. “I’m not jealous. I just don’t appreciate her flouncing in here like this were some sort of club instead of a real business establishment. She nearly devoured you with her eyes, for heaven’s sake! ‘Mrs. I Come from Texas but Want a Big Night with a Big Man in the Big Town’!”
    “Santa Fe’s not that big.”
    “Oh, stop it,” she said, losing patience. A sheen overtook her eyes, and Dan suddenly feared he’d pushed her too far with his teasing. “All you can do is make fun…”
    Gwen turned away and set her chin to keep her jaw from trembling. She was on the verge of breaking down into a cascading waterfall of tears. How exactly professional was that? What was she thinking anyway? Of course Emily had ogled Dan. What woman in her right mind wouldn’t? Although Gwen would certainly thank them to keep their overt appraisals slightly more discreet. Emily had looked Dan over like a juicy tenderloin steak fresh from the fire. She’d even licked her lips, for heaven’s sake. Like she could practically taste him! Gwen squared her small shoulders, devising her plan. If the woman didn’t have enough to eat, Gwen would help her. “I’ll be right back,” she told Dan, striding past him and into the next room.

    Dan followed Gwen into the open space, concerned by the look on her face. He’d seen those gorgeous dark eyes spark with fire once before. The last time, the ammo had been aimed at him. Dan watched Gwen make a beeline for a small snack table stacked