Santa Fe Fortune & How to Marry a Matador

Gustavo asked.
    Eve leaned out her window and shouted to the blonde seated on a bench by the river. “Jess!” Her back was to them, but she was with a man, a very handsome man. They were both laughing and eating ice cream. “Jessica Bloom! Is that you?”
    Jess swiveled her head in surprise as Fernando turned to stare.
    “That’s Fernando, all right,” Gustavo said, steering their car onto the curb.
    “Evie?” Jess asked in shock as Eve bolted from the car.
    “Thank God you’re okay!” Eve said, rushing to her.
    Jess stood uncertainly as Eve pulled her into her arms.
    “Evie,” Jess said in disbelief. “What are you doing here?”
    Gustavo approached at an even gait.
    “Gustavo?” Fernando said sternly. “What’s going on?”
    “Your mother asked me to bring her to Seville,” Gustavo said, indicating Eve.
    “Fernando,” Jess said in wonderment. “This is Eve Parker, my very best friend.”
    “Evie!” Fernando said, stunning Eve by sweeping her into his arms. “I told Jess to invite you to visit!”
    “You did?” Eve asked, taken aback.
    “But I never imagined you’d act so fast!” He gave her two swift pecks on the cheeks. “Ah yes, you’re just as Jess described. Beautiful and capable.” In spite of herself, Eve felt herself blush. “We’re so pleased you could come. Aren’t we, Jessica?”
    But Jess just stared at Eve slack-jawed. Fernando undoubtedly was eye candy with that adorable smile and his rock-hard six-pack. His formfitting polo did nothing to disguise the phenomenal physique beneath it. Maybe he’d hypnotized Jess with his undulating abs.
    A siren blared, and the group turned to see a police officer approaching.
    “Maybe we should move the car off the curb?” Gustavo suggested.

    Jess sat in the backseat, unsure if she was happy to see Evie or whether she was fuming. The truth was, Evie showing up this way had completely caught her off guard. Fernando had seemed to take it in stride, welcoming her good-naturedly to their little gathering. Jess had caught only a glimpse of Gustavo at the house once. She hadn’t observed how good-looking he was until she’d seen him up close. She wondered if Evie had noticed, then decided she didn’t particularly care. She was irritated with Evie right now. Way irritated. She and Fernando had tickets to a rare exhibit at the Archivo General de Indias tonight. There was to be champagne and live music and the unveiling of some “Discovery of the New World” documents not yet revealed to the general public. Jess was living and breathing history here, and it was exhilarating. She felt like an explorer, and Fernando Garcia de la Vega was her sexy conquistador.
    “That bring back memories, Fernando?” Gustavo asked as they swung around the Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla, the oldest and most famous bullring in Spain.
    “None that I care to remember.”
    “Fernando’s just being modest,” Gustavo told the ladies. “Fernando was a very fine matador in his day. He could have gone on to be one of Spain’s best.”
    “Gustavo’s exaggerating.”
    “No, he’s not,” Evie butted in. “I ran a search on him. Gustavo’s right.”
    Gustavo glanced at Evie while Fernando uncomfortably cleared his throat.
    “Where are we going?” Fernando asked.
    “I was hoping you’d tell me.” Gustavo shrugged. “I just work here.”
    Fernando shot Jess a questioning look.
    “Don’t ask me. I didn’t even know she was coming.”
    “What?” Fernando asked as Gustavo focused on driving nowhere, minding his own business.
    Evie bristled a bit in the front seat. “I thought you’d be happy to see me,” she told Jess.
    “Of course I’m happy,” Jess said, fighting the confusion racing through her heart and head. “You just surprised me, that’s all.”
    “How about we stop for some fish and chips?” Gustavo offered brightly.
    “Great thought, Gustavo! I know the best place for fresh fried calamari,” he told the girls.
    Gustavo held up an authoritative finger. “And croquetas . Don’t forget the croquetas .”
    “They go great with Spanish beer,” Fernando said, trying to read the worry on Jess’s face.
    “But the Archivo ?” she asked weakly. This whole Evie thing really had her undone. It wasn’t that she didn’t love her best friend. But it would have been polite for Evie to have at least called ahead.
    “Don’t worry, mi amor ,” Fernando said, kissing her hand. “We’ll get there