Santa Fe Fortune & How to Marry a Matador

suitcases. “It would have been good to have the invitation a day ago, or even two.”
    “Be fair,” he said, beseeching. “Up until this morning, I thought I was…in a family way.”
    She shifted on her feet, considering his proposition. Her jaw was set, but Dan could tell her resolve was crumbling. He gave her his best charming grin. “You can’t leave Santa Fe without seeing its most stellar attraction.”
    “Does this mean there will be starlight involved?”
    “It might.”
    “But my plane reservation,” she said, indicating her bags.
    “I’ll book you another.”
    “You or Holbrook and Holstein?” she asked with a saucy tilt of her chin.
    He stared into hypnotic brown eyes, wanting so badly to up and carry her away.
    “Me, Gwen. Dan Holbrook. The invitation is not professional. It’s strictly personal.”
    A beautiful smile broke across her sensuous lips. “Well, then,” she replied, handing him a bag. “It would be impolite of me to refuse it.”

    Dan cranked the ignition and wheeled them out of the city, the adobe-toned town fading behind them. Rolling hills dotted with sage brush and pine peaked higher as narrow buttes towered toward the sky. They passed one spectacular mesa after the next, their magnificence lording over the twilight as the sun sank low behind the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
    “How far outside of the city are you?” she asked.
    “About eighteen miles. We’ll be there any minute.”
    Gwen was over the moon, a billion thoughts and feelings racing through her head and heart. Paradise Ranch! Dan’s private sanctuary. He was actually taking her there. And much better than that, oh, so much better, was the fact that he was totally free. Gwen didn’t know the details about what had transpired with Elena, and in many respects she didn’t want to. The idea of Dan being with another woman in the most intimate way was not a thought she wanted to entertain. Gwen wanted Dan to be hers and hers alone; she sensed that in her soul now more than ever. She thrilled at the thought that he might feel the same about her. Wasn’t his taking her to Paradise Ranch proof positive of things moving forward?
    Gwen wasn’t sure how to phrase it, but she was dying to know more about the camp and the children who might be there. It was awkward, though, because Dan hadn’t yet said anything about it. Surely, it wasn’t some sort of secret. Dan’s philanthropic bent had been profiled in the media, for heaven’s sake. Should she tell him she’d read Santa Fean magazine and that she knew all about him being the “Best Billionaire Catch in the West”?
    “Will anyone else be joining us?” she finally asked.
    He wrinkled his brow, appearing genuinely confused. “I’m sorry?”
    “Out at the ranch. You know, the others… Little people?”
    Dan released a belly laugh. “Are these like midgets or Lilliputians?”
    “Dan! I’m asking about the kids!” she said in frustration.
    He turned to look at her a prolonged moment, then centered his eyes on the road. His lips pulled into a hard line as he appeared to think this through. “So you know about the camp.”
    “I didn’t think the information was classified,” she answered honestly. “It’s in prominent magazines, for heaven’s sake.” Gwen felt her cheeks flush. There, the truth was out.
    Gwen cast her gaze on Dan, seeing he’d reddened from his open collar up. Even the tips of his ears were crimson. “You read the article?” he asked, giving her an embarrassed glance.
    “In the Santa Fean , yes.”
    He firmly gripped the wheel. “Oh God.”
    “I was very impressed,” she told him. “Seriously, Dan. I believe it’s a wonderful thing you do for those children. I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want me to know?”
    “I did want you to know. In fact, I’d planned to tell you tonight.”
    “Will I be meeting any of the campers?” she asked hopefully.
    “I’m afraid not, Gwen. The camp runs in two sessions. Two weeks after school gets out in June, and then the first two weeks of August. With the timing of your trip, you’ve just missed it.”
    Gwen felt the corners of her mouth take a downturn. She was genuinely disappointed. “That’s too bad. I’d really hoped… I mean, I thought it would be fun… What I’m trying to say is that I love being around children. I’d actually gotten myself geared up and was looking forward to it.”
    Dan studied her with pleased surprise. “Were you really?”
    “Why,