Santa Fe Fortune & How to Marry a Matador

heels, desperately in love with this man. That rendered her powerless to fight against those emotions. She could no longer deny what had been building in her heart all this time. “I love you too,” she said softly. “More than I ever thought I could love anybody.”
    His mouth hovered over hers as he brought both arms around her, holding her close. “You don’t know how happy I am to hear you say that,” he said, closing the distance between them. He kissed her with a passion then that caused her to feel light-headed and hot all over. She wrapped her arms around him as he held her tighter, their whole hearts, souls, and hungers pouring into their kiss.
    Rascal stomped on the ground and whinnied loudly.
    Gwen pulled back and grinned. “He’s not jealous?”
    “Doubt that,” Dan said with a chuckle. “He’s got his own little filly friend back at the barn.” He studied the horse, who was growing agitated. “Probably just cold, tired, and hungry. How about you?” he asked, jostling her playfully in his arms. “Ready to head back?”
    “That depends,” she said, cocking an eyebrow. “Will there be this kind of kissing back at the house?”
    Dan grinned and playfully patted her rump. “That can be arranged.”
    Fire shot through her veins and heated her belly. It wasn’t only kissing she wanted to do, and Dan’s patting her backside had driven that message home. Gwen wanted to be with Dan as completely as a woman could be. He loved her, and she utterly adored him. She ached for them to be closer than mere kisses. As hot and wonderful as those were, she knew now they could never be enough.
    Dan lightly stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “Penny for your thoughts, cowgirl?”
    “I was just thinking about how wonderful you are,” she said with a grin. She stood up on her tiptoes and gave him a quick, firm kiss on his ultra-sexy mouth.
    “Oh, good. That means we’re on the same wavelength.”
    He gave her a quick peck back, then took her hand in his. “Rascal’s getting restless,” he said, leading her back to the horse. “Probably misses his filly,” he said with a wink.

    Their trip back to the barn was even better than their journey out here. There was a new closeness between them as Gwen settled into Dan’s arms and they rode at a steady pace descending the mountain trail. She felt warm and safe nestled up against him, and the beauty of their surroundings was spectacular. The heavens twinkled above them like a black-satin sheath studded with diamonds. Cool breezes blew, rippling her hair and raking her senses with the scents of wildflowers and desert sage.
    Gwen wanted to freeze this moment in time and stay out here with Dan forever. This wasn’t just any ranch; it was like their own private paradise, a special place made for just the two of them. While Gwen knew it was loaded with campers during certain months, that didn’t negate the sense of privacy this vastness leant, no doubt the whole year through. This space was a bounty of wilderness and natural beauty so rich and raw it almost hurt to absorb it. There was so much to take in, from the gorgeous mountain peaks to the surrounding flat-topped mesas and impressive cylindrical buttes. To see them in the moonlight was both eerie and breathtaking at once. Gwen felt as if she’d been transported to a fantasy realm, one utterly in contrast to the small East Coast beach towns she knew.
    Gwen had never seen anything quite so romantic or been with a man she adored more. Dan’s kisses were hot and wonderful, and he’d said he loved her. She felt heady from the moment and the swirl of emotions churning inside her. When Dan had pulled her to him, she’d wanted nothing more than to feel closer still. Gwen was glad she’d waited for the right man and the right time. She felt her heart unfolding like a flower emerging from a frost and into the sun.
    “Still doing all right?” he asked, his breath tickling her neck.
    “Perfect,” she said, smiling back at him. “I love it here.”
    “I’m glad,” he said, tightening his arms around her.

    Dan dropped Gwen at the main house before riding Rascal back to the barn. He thought she’d be more comfortable waiting for him there, plus he needed time to sort through his thoughts. The way Gwen kissed him on the trail had set his heart on fire. She was so warm and yielding with that incredibly sensual mouth, her hot, curvy body molding against his. Dan had held her to him, his hands