Santa Fe Fortune & How to Marry a Matador

your mother. You can tell me.”
    “You’ll be disappointed,” he said, unable to meet her eyes.
    “Do you love her?”
    “What?”
    “Fernando, look at me.”
    He met her warm brown gaze, laced with compassion.
    “I said,” she repeated softly, “do you love her?”
    “With my whole heart, Mamá.”
    “Then, you don’t need to tell me the details. You’re a grown man, and whatever the problem is, I trust that you will fix it.”
    “What if I can’t?”
    She slapped him across the chest, causing him to take a step back in surprise. “Are you a mouse or a man? What happened to the tough little boy who wanted to take on the bulls, eh? That boy,” she said, placing a hand on her hip, “is still in there. Being gored by a bull once didn’t take him away.”
    Fernando admired his mother’s brutal beauty. She was, without question, as tough as any beast he’d ever faced.
    “I understand what you have sacrificed for me. I know you left the ring because you didn’t want to leave me a widow and the mother of a dead child besides. But your heart was there. You loved the sport and were extremely skilled at it too. Maybe even more talented than your grandfather. You were never afraid for yourself, only concerned for me. And now, I am concerned for you. You have to fight for your life, Fernando. Fight for the life you want and the one you believe in your heart you were born to have.”
    He stared at her a long while, swallowing hard. He never could have made it in this world without her. Of all the attributes she possessed, her wisdom was her greatest strength. She was right, of course. About everything.
    “Thanks, Mother,” he said, feeling the heat in his eyes but keeping emotions at bay. “I will take your advice to heart.”

    Jess stumbled across the room, still half dazed from her deep slumber. That infernal telephone had rung half a dozen times—then a pause—then it would start up again! Following the chime and its accompanying vibration, she lurched for a chair beside the picture window onto which Fernando had hastily dropped his trousers last night. Something jiggled and jumped just beneath the open fly. Ah! She grabbed for the cell just in time, midway between ring three and four.
    “Please tell me you’re in Seville.”
    “Evie?” Jess said with surprise. “What are you doing calling me here?”
    “I had the number from your incoming call. What do you think?”
    Jess pushed Fernando’s slacks aside, sat in the chair, and rubbed her brow. “I think it’s nine in the morning. What’s your point?”
    “My point is, I just woke up with the most horrible nightmare. I had visions of you telling me the whole trip was off.”
    “What trip?” Jess said, feigning innocence.
    “To Seville, you big dummy!”
    “It is off,” Jess said. “But not like you think.”
    “I don’t get what you’re saying.”
    “I’m saying I need to spend the day in bed.”
    “Jess…” Evie said, her voice pitched low, “now’s not the time to turn into a sex machine.”
    “A what? No! You don’t understand. I have a headache.”
    “What?”
    “And a stomach ache too. Really, my tummy’s killing me.”
    “You never get sick.”
    “I know. That’s the kicker.”
    There was an odd pause at the other end of the line.
    “Where’s the matador?” Evie finally said.
    Jess panned the room, peering into the bathroom as well.
    “Honestly, I don’t know.”
    “Good. Then you can tell me the truth.”
    “I just did.”
    “You’re playing possum, Jess.”
    Jess sat up a little straighter, indignant. “I take offense at what you’re saying.”
    “I thought you told me there was some sort of timeline going on here.”
    “Well… Maybe.”
    “That you had to get to the magistrate to stop him from sending the paperwork to Madrid.”
    Jess’s eyes fell on the Bible, midway across the room. “We’re still married in the eyes of the church.”
    “Now you’re talking crazy.”
    Jess heard whistling in the hall and knew Fernando was coming. He pressed open the door, carrying a plentiful tray. “Breakfast is served!” he said with a flourish. His eyes fell on hers as she frantically gripped the phone.
    “Jess!” Evie yelped.
    “Gotta dash!” Jess said, quickly hitting End Call.
    “Who was that?” Fernando asked, setting the tray on a table.
    “Only my very best friend on earth, Evie.”
    “Splendid,” he said with a smile. “She’ll have to come and visit.”

    Eve shoved garments