Santa Fe Fortune & How to Marry a Matador

the most beautiful part of that world come and join him.
    If someone had approached Dan two weeks ago and said he’d be sitting here today having such thoughts, Dan would have called that person crazy. But that was before Ms. Gwendolyn Marsh blew into town, upending his heart like a wild, west wind. By getting to know Gwen, Dan had come to understand he could never get enough of her.
    He’d never forget that first romantic dinner by Loretto Chapel and the way he’d burned to kiss her. He wanted her a thousand times more now, and kissing Gwen was only one of about a million things on his mind. He longed to see that beautiful smile, day after day, until he’d run clear through his final calendar. He wanted to set her free from financial worry and fully support her art. He knew he could build a life with her, one that would make both of them happy.
    Dan didn’t know how she’d feel about moving to New Mexico, but he wasn’t willing to live without her. He had to find a way to make this work.

    Gwen awoke to a gorgeous sunrise streaming through the window. She hadn’t even realized she’d fallen asleep until the sound of cheery whistling stirred her from her slumber. Dan was in the kitchen banging around with pots and pans. He was also frying bacon, she thought, sensing the heavenly aroma. She sat up happily, feeling her stomach rumble. She hadn’t known when she came here that she’d be given the royal treatment. If she had, she wouldn’t have thought twice about accepting the invitation. She sprang from the bed, determined to dress quickly and join Dan in the kitchen. Today, they were going to discuss future plans, and she would see the rest of Paradise Ranch. That was something to get up for.
    Not ten minutes later, Gwen strolled brightly through the great room, spotting Dan standing by the stove.
    “Good morning, sweetheart,” he said in a way that made her heart flutter. He flipped flapjacks in a pan, then looked up with a grin. “Hope you’re hungry for a big breakfast?”
    “Starved,” she said eagerly.
    Dan motioned to the full pot across the room. “Help yourself to some coffee. Creamer’s in the fridge.”
    “What can I do to help?” she asked, pouring herself a cup.
    “You can set the table over there. That would be great.”
    Gwen found the plates and silverware, then carried them to the cute country table nestled by a big bay window overlooking the valley.
    “Everything smells delicious,” she said. “I don’t know why I’m so ravenous. I could eat a horse!”
    Little lines tugged at the edges of his mouth as blue eyes crinkled. “Right, but we won’t tell Rascal you said that.”
    Dan studied her as she buzzed around the kitchen filling juice glasses and folding napkins. She was just too adorable for words, surprisingly domestic-looking too. Didn’t matter that she’d apparently put her simple T-shirt on backward. It still fitted her nicely, even with the breast pocket worn in back. He weighed whether he should tell her, then decided not to. If she hadn’t figured it out by the time they headed for Santa Fe, he’d drop a subtle hint. In the meantime, there was no real point embarrassing her.
    “Have a seat,” he said, smiling down at her cowgirl boots. “I wouldn’t want you wearing those out before lunchtime.”
    Gwen laughed, and the musical sound made his heart light. What fun it would be to have her around always. Having breakfast with Gwen day after day would bring Dan nothing but joy. The thought that breakfast would merely be the start of many days that led to long nights in his bed, made Dan even happier. How he hoped she’d say yes.
    Dan carried a plate heaping with pancakes over to the table. In his other hand, he carted a platter loaded with bacon and scrambled eggs.
    “That’s a feast fit for a king,” Gwen said, her eyes growing wide.
    “We don’t have to eat it all, cowgirl,” he said with a wink. “Just take what you’re hungry for.” Dan’s appetites at the moment ran far beyond food. He ached to take that beautiful woman in his arms and kiss her good and hard like she deserved and was apparently getting used to.
    Gwen’s complexion colored from her lovely neck up, as if she’d known what he’d been thinking. If Dan were a betting man, he’d guess she’d been contemplating the same thing, too. Hell, maybe the two of them should just scrap breakfast and get busy loving each other like they were born to do. Dan reined himself in, taking a