Santa Fe Fortune & How to Marry a Matador

studied her with a mix of melancholy and annoyance.
    “I already told you I would not keep you here.”
    Jess’s words raced from her heart to her mouth, bypassing her brain. She felt consumed by emotion, abandoned yet again. In the light of the moon, she’d shared her dark history. No one who’d professed to love her had ever stuck around. How could she have imagined that Fernando was different? “But you promised…” she began, pain etched in her voice.
    “I know what I promised,” he said, pursing his lips. “I said that I would never leave you. And I meant it.” He paused for emphasis as Jess’s heart thumped against her chest. “But, it seems to me that things have turned quite the other way around. You’re the one running away.”
    Jess’s face flashed hot as her tongue went numb. Of course he was right, so what could she say?
    Fernando crossed to the armoire and withdrew a large feather pillow and a few blankets.
    There was a tug in her heart telling her she shouldn’t let him go. That she should insist he stay here so they could talk things out. But to what end? So that she might fall back into his sturdy arms and get swept into his bed?
    “I’ll sleep in the study,” he said, turning away. “Breakfast is at eight.”

Chapter Six

    Eve stretched an arm out from under the covers and nabbed her cell phone off the nightstand. Who could be calling at this ungodly hour?
    “Hello?” she said groggily into the mouthpiece.
    “Evie, it’s me. Jess.”
    Eve pushed herself upright into a sitting position in her yellow polka-dot pajamas. “Jess, what’s wrong?”
    “Nothing’s wrong. It’s all good. I’m going to fix it.”
    “The marriage?”
    “I talked to Fernando, and it’s all arranged. He’ll take me to Seville tomorrow to get things annulled.”
    “What day is it now?” Eve asked with a yawn.
    “Monday.”
    Eve sleepily studied the numbers on the nearby clock.
    “Good God, Jess. It’s two a.m. here.”
    “I know, and I’m sorry. I just…” Her voice fell off in a whisper.
    “Jess?”
    There was no answer at first, and for a moment, Eve feared she’d lost the connection.
    “Jess, are you still there?”
    “I’m here.” She sounded fragile and exhausted.
    “You don’t sound so hot.”
    “I didn’t sleep well.”
    “He kept you up all night—again?”
    “Yes, but not like that. I had the worst insomnia, Evie. The worst. As crazy as it seems, I’m feeling all torn up about this, like maybe I’m not doing the right thing.”
    Eve blinked hard, switching on the light. “You are talking crazy. Of course what you’re doing is right! You made a whopper of a mistake, and you’re lucky it’s not too late to have it undone.”
    There was a pregnant pause on the line that sent shivers racing down Eve’s spine.
    “Jess,” Eve said, her breathing measured. “Tell me you are not changing your mind?”
    “No, of course not!” she shot back a little too quickly. “Why on earth would you think that?”
    Eve massaged her forehead, worried for her best friend. Jess hadn’t just married a matador; she’d apparently lost all sense of reason.
    “What the name of that town where you are again?”
    “La Esperanza del Corazón. Why?”
    Because if Jess didn’t come to her senses soon, Eve might just have to pull out her platinum credit card and fly there. “Call me on Tuesday after everything’s taken care of.”
    “All right,” Jess responded weakly.
    “Jess!” Eve said sternly. “You are going through with it?”

    Jess opened the door to find Consuelo smiling and holding a tray arranged with fresh flowers and coffee. “A morning treat from Doña Ana María,” she said. “A little something to get you started.”
    “I thought breakfast was downstairs?” Jess asked with surprise.
    “Oh yes, it is,” Consuelo said, merrily breezing past her to set the tray on the dresser. “This is just for while you’re getting ready.”
    Jess cinched the large cotton robe more tightly around her waist. It had been supplied by Fernando on their wedding night and was luxurious in its comfort.
    She surveyed the silver coffee service and accompanying basket brimming with homemade pastries, thinking there was enough here to feed a family.
    “You’re eating for two,” Consuelo quipped as if reading her mind. “And don’t worry” she said heading for the door. The coffee is decaffeinated.”
    Jess poured herself a cup of coffee with steamed milk and carried it to the