Santa Fe Fortune & How to Marry a Matador

reminding herself to be grateful. She hadn’t come to Santa Fe to fall in love. She’d come here on a mission to help her sister, and that goal had been miraculously satisfied. Expecting that her own personal fulfillment would somehow profit from the situation was beyond sophomoric. This afternoon, she’d scout the town for small souvenirs for Elizabeth, Marian, and the kids. Then tomorrow she’d take in one last museum and finish packing. She’d have to make it an early night, since her Monday-morning flight left at seven and she had the rental car to return beforehand. Gwen smiled sadly at the empty spot on her left hand, understanding her time in the New Mexican sun was nearly done.
    She took in her surroundings, knowing she was going to miss it here. This had been a valuable trip, in more ways than monetarily. After years of uncertainty regarding her bad breakup with Robert, she’d finally gleaned the clarity to understand herself. Gwen now believed that she was a worthy and likeable person. She’d also developed a newfound strength. While she might be leaving Santa Fe with a heavy heart, she was also departing with a firm resolve. No man would ever take advantage of her or make her feel inferior again. She now knew who she was, and she loved that person. Others might love her or not, but that would never again change her own perception of herself. Gwen squared her small shoulders and sat up a little straighter in her chair, finally believing herself capable of facing anything, even saying so long to Dan.

    Gwen sat in the inn’s lobby on one of the big, comfy sofas, a sun-bleached deer skull over the kiva fireplace before her. Dan walked in and saw her sitting there as beautiful as daybreak. Sunlight streamed in through low-hung windows, catching the gold in her hair. Gwen heard his approach and turned big, dark eyes upon him. Eyes that made him wish he could turn back the clock and undo so many things..
    He came and sat beside her, tapping his suit pocket. “Our Texas Twosome came through,” he said, fighting the shake in his smile. He extracted the bank envelope and passed it over.
    “I can hardly believe it,” she said, bringing a hand to her chest. Chocolate-brown eyes brimmed with gratitude. “This will make such a difference to so many people,” she said.
    “I know,” he answered kindly. “But mostly I’m glad to see it make a difference to you.”
    She opened the envelope and withdrew the cashier’s check, a trickle of moisture escaping her eye. Dan reached up and gently stroked her tears back with his thumb. “Eyes as beautiful as yours don’t deserve to be crying,” he said, still cupping her cheek.
    “But these are tears of joy,” she said, collecting herself and dabbing her eye with a tissue.
    She met his gaze with a seriousness that almost broke his heart. “How’s Elena? Did the two of you work things out?”
    Dan swallowed hard past the burn in his throat. “We’re discussing what might be best for the child.”
    “Of course.”
    Dan held her gaze. “I promise you, Gwen, I didn’t know. Had no clue about the baby when I met you.”
    “I could tell the news came as a shock.”
    Dan cleared his throat. “Yes, well. Some things in life just do.”
    “Yes,” she said sadly.
    Dan rose slowly and held out his hand. “It’s been a pleasure, Ms. Marsh.”
    Gwen stood and took his grip. “The pleasure was all mine,” she said, her voice trembling.
    In spite of himself, he pulled her to him, the sweetness of her form molding to his one last time. Dan shut his eyes against the ravages of heartbreak, holding her tighter than ever.
    “Good-bye, cowgirl,” he whispered into soft gold curls. “I’ll never forget you.”

    Gwen spent the rest of the afternoon touring the town and picking up presents for her family in North Carolina. It was good she’d mapped out the day in advance. Otherwise, she wasn’t sure she could have gotten through it. Already, she’d memorized this city’s map, and her familiarization with its landscape helped her navigate the canyon stretching wide in her soul. Gwen ached from the inside out at the chasm that had been newly inserted between her head and her heart. While she understood and respected Dan’s choice, she couldn’t help but mourn the loss of the fabulous fantasy that a man as incredible as him might somehow be hers.
    Gwen rounded the bend to Loretto Chapel, a deep melancholy taking hold. Oh, stop it, she told herself, bucking