Santa Fe Fortune & How to Marry a Matador

another time.”
    Jess caught Evie studying them suspiciously in the rearview mirror.
    “How did things go at the magistrate?”
    Fernando pursed his lips and stared out the window, reassuringly patting Jess’s hand.
    “Um…” Jess began. “We’ve been meaning to go. I mean, it’s on the agenda.” Even in the reflective glass she could see Evie’s expression darkening. “But, in all honestly, there hasn’t been time.”
    “It’s true,” Fernando leapt in. “Things have been busy.”
    “Very busy,” Jess repeated unnecessarily.
    “There’s a lot to see in Seville,” Gustavo added, trying to be helpful.
    Evie glared at him, obviously resenting the intrusion.
    “How long have you been in Seville?” she asked, turning toward Jess.
    “Two, no three…?” She tilted her head at Fernando.
    “Three days,” he said with a love-sick smile. “It all blurs together somehow.”
    Gustavo raised his brow and kept on driving, while Evie felt sick to her stomach. This was far worse than she imagined. Jess had apparently hypnotized the matador too!
    Evie kicked herself for not coming up with a full-scale plan before she got here. She saw now she was wrong to think Jess would be thrilled to see her, would rush into her arms, all tears, and say best friend on earth, pretty please, take me home. She needed to get Jess alone and talk to her; that was what she needed to do. Just the two of them, no sexy Spaniards involved. She glanced at Gustavo, and he gave her a crooked smile, causing her heart to beat faster. The men here were dangerous. It was easy enough to see that. No way could Jess think clearly when she was caught up in all of this. Somehow, some way, Eve was going to get Jess alone tonight and talk some sense into her. Then tomorrow, they’d go to the magistrate. All of them. Together. There’d be no more taking chances with this one. Eve just hoped it wasn’t already too late.

    Fernando worried over the sudden appearance of Jess’s best friend. Though she wore a smile, something in his gut told him that Eve Parker wasn’t here to congratulate them. She was here to tell Jessica she’d made a mistake and encourage her to return to America. He hoisted his beer and took another swig as the group eagerly dug into fried fish and Gustavo regaled them with funny stories. Surely the woman he’d fallen in love with wasn’t that malleable. She’d know her own mind, wouldn’t she, and stand up for what she felt in her heart? The problem was, she’d not yet confessed those emotions to Fernando. Though he’d sensed her getting closer to admitting her feelings to him, she still kept them somewhat guarded.
    Fernando was sure Jessica was the woman for him and certain he’d eventually be able to convince her. All he needed was the gift of time. The two of them were well suited, meant for each other. Jessica needed a man who was strong enough to stand by his word to honor and protect her, and he needed a woman he could nurture and who could benefit from his strength. He longed to help and take care of her, to support her in developing any sort of career that she wished, while she became the woman he knew she so longed to be. Someone comfortable with herself and completely self-assured. Secure in the knowledge that someone truly loved her…and would never let her go.
    Fernando reached beside him to take Jessica’s hand. She let him hold it briefly, then casually withdrew it, wrapping her fingers around the chilled glass holding her beer. “That’s right!” she said to Eve. “I remember!”
    They both laughed companionably, sharing memories of some happy event Fernando had missed in his brooding. The distancing had already begun. The woman before him had transformed from his loving new wife into someone he scarcely knew. But if Jessica could be so easily dissuaded from her growing feelings for Fernando, perhaps there existed more of a chasm between them than Fernando had imagined to begin with.
    “What are the plans from here?” Gustavo prompted as a waiter cleared the table.
    “I suppose I’ll need to talk to Jessica about that,” Fernando answered. He noted she averted her gaze even as he spoke.
    “He’s right,” Jessica told the group. “Fernando and I will need to talk.”
    “Where are you staying?” Eve asked.
    Jessica glanced at Fernando. “In the Barrio de Santa Cruz.”
    “Perhaps we should stay there too,” Eve said.
    Gustavo was pleasantly intrigued. “I couldn’t possibly