Santa Fe Fortune & How to Marry a Matador

children. It was gorgeous, the air was clean, and there was plenty of running space all around. “I love Paradise Ranch, Dan. You’ve built quite a place.”
    “I’ll show you the rest of it tomorrow. It’s a little dark out now for the grand tour, but there will be time in the morning. That is, if you can give me the whole day.”

    Gwen ached to give him more than one whole day. How about the week, a month, a year?
    Dan set her suitcase on a large blanket chest. “You’re probably good and hungry. If you’d like to settle in, I’ll go start dinner.”
    “Thanks! I’ll be there in a second to help you.”
    “I’d like that,” he said. “See you in a bit.”
    Dan shut the door behind him, leaving Gwen alone with her racing heart. What was she doing? Contemplating children in this house? Her children and Dan’s…? She recalled how hesitant he’d been to tell her about Jocelyn’s condition and the chance of it being genetically passed on. If things were to progress and become serious with him, was this something that Gwen would be willing to face? She sat heavily on the bed and stared out the windows at the darkening sky. Of course she would, and in her heart, she knew it. Even initially put off, Elena had been willing to brave the odds once she’d believed her feet held to the fire. How could Gwen not step forward and be willing to take a chance, any sort of marvelous chance, to build a future with such an incredible man?
    Gwen had never even considered having kids with Robert. It hadn’t taken long for things to sour between them, so she hadn’t exactly felt in the baby-making mood. But Dan wasn’t Robert at all. Dan was wonderful and generous and kind. Gwen believed without a doubt that he’d make the most terrific father. She looked down at the empty spot on her ring finger, thinking she was blowing things out of proportion. It had taken her almost three years to shuck the bad marriage, for heaven’s sake. What made her think she might be ready for another one?
    She heard Dan whistling brightly down the hall as he banged about the kitchen, and couldn’t help but smile. Here was a man who had everything. He could even carry a tune. Gwen stood from the bed and went to freshen up in the bathroom. She needed to wash her face and make a fresh start, forget all about futures and making babies in New Mexico. Thinking nonsense like that could totally spoil her enjoyment of the moment. She’d accepted Dan’s invitation to Paradise Ranch in order to live for the here and now. Gwen had already wasted too much time living in the past. She wasn’t about to let pie-in-the-sky ideas about Dan ruin her prospects for a pleasant evening.
    She strode purposefully past the blanket chest, her purse with its emergency stow of makeup in tow. She couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to fill that cherry chest with a full layette in pale yellow, and nestle a bassinette in a sunny spot beside that broad window… Gwen raced for the sink and splashed cold water on her face, over and over again, until she felt the common sense flowing back into her. Gwen hadn’t even believed she’d had a biological clock inside her! Now that she knew it was there, how could she get the blasted thing to stop ticking? Dan was thrilled beyond belief to be off the prospective-daddy hook with Elena. There were no indications in sight he’d be willing to become a father with her.
    Gwen unzipped her makeup case, thinking she looked a mess. Here was the girl with Havarti hair who the incredibly gorgeous “Best Billionaire Catch in the West” had decided to ask over for dinner. She felt her cheeks warm, wondering what it was Dan saw in her. With so many women to choose from, he might have picked anyone. But he hadn’t, she thought, enjoying the play of a smile on her lips. He’d chosen her . Gwen busily got to work repairing her face, lest she delay and Dan second-guess his decision. There was one thing Gwen was sure of. She wasn’t going to let Dan regret taking her to Paradise.

    Dan smiled at Gwen as she entered the kitchen. “I was just starting to miss you.” She looked cuter than ever in jeans and those rocking boots.
    Her ivory skin flushed deep rose. “Sorry if I took a bit.”
    “Not at all! You’re timing’s perfect. I was just about to toss the steaks on the grill. Let me pour you a glass of wine, and you can come join me.”
    “Sounds great.” Beautiful dark eyes searched the kitchen. “Something