Santa Fe Fortune & How to Marry a Matador

little too used to getting his way. But never in his life had he lied to her. It took her a long while to form the words. “Why did you?” she asked quietly.
    Fernando ran a hand through his hair, appearing at a loss, then hung his head for a prolonged beat. He slowly raised his eyes to hers. “Because, Mamá, in a crazy sort of way, I wanted it all to be real. Me, Jessica, our future together, a family…” He shrugged and gave a halfhearted smile that wrenched her through and through. “I let my emotions get the better of me. And that’s something you taught me never to do.”
    Ana María reigned in her burgeoning tears, her heart breaking for her son. This wasn’t about his birthday or the inheritance or their ranch. Fernando had finally fallen for a woman, and she’d simply slipped away. “You must fight for her,” Ana María said.
    Fernando shook his head. “I fought as hard as I know how.” As he turned and walked away, Ana María heard him speak bitterly over his shoulder. “I can’t convince a woman to love me who doesn’t. In fact, I wouldn’t even want to try.”

Chapter Twelve

    Jessica lifted the manila file folder from the small business desk in the Madrid apartment. “It’s a good thing we stopped by here. I’d forgotten all about this.”
    Eve shot her a quizzical look.
    “It’s the contract, Evie. The acquisitions deal. It’s what I flew to Madrid for.”
    “Then the whole trip wasn’t a loss,” Evie tried to add brightly.
    “Right,” Jessica said, setting the file folder back down and sounding less than convinced. Jess turned and walked to the french doors opening onto a small balcony. “I don’t really blame him, you know. Fernando.”
    “Well, you certainly can’t blame yourself.” Jess glanced at her.
    “Or me!” Eve rushed to say. She thumbed her chest, squeaking weakly. “Really, Jess. Tell me you’re not blaming me?”
    “I’m old enough to make up my own mind,” she said, stepping outdoors.
    But was she really? Just think of the mess she’d made of things in less than eight days! Evie nabbed a pencil off the desk and twisted up her hair. Somebody had to be the grown-up here, and since it hadn’t been Jess, Eve had been forced to take the role. Surely, Jess would see that, once the dust settled and the emotional haze surrounding her cleared.
    Jess seemed to be leaning over the balcony railing, teetering toward the street below. She couldn’t possibly be despondent enough to toss herself over the edge. “Jess, don’t!” Eve cried, rushing forward and lunging for her waist.
    Jessica lost hold of the watering can she’d been gripping, and it clattered to the street. “Don’t what?” she asked with dismay. “Water the flowers? Good God, Evie. Someone could have been walking by down below.”
    Evie stared into the small window box weeping with bright, harmonious colors, and practically wanted to cry herself. “I’m sorry,” she said, catching her breath. “I thought—”
    Jess set her hand on her hip and cocked her head sideways. “That what? I was going to jump?” Her blue gaze looked clear and reasonable, suddenly making Evie feel the fool and the youngest child in the place.
    Eve’s face burned hot as she ducked back inside. “You had to see it from my angle.”
    The realization hit Jess with a jolt. That was the issue, wasn’t it? She’d always seen things from someone else’s perspective. First, there was her mother who wanted her to go into banking. She was right, of course, because that was where the money was. And also, according to her mom, lots of single men. What her mother had failed to advise was that single didn’t always equal decent and that sometimes even the decent ones didn’t stick around.
    Then there was Evie, forever filled with good advice, helping her think things out when life got too crazy.
    “Jess? Are you all right?” Evie asked, peering at her from around the corner. First she thought Jess was a jumper, now she was homicidal?
    “What are you doing hiding in there?”
    “I just wanted to be sure that it’s safe to come out and play.”
    Jess studied Evie with a long sigh. “I’m not tossing you over for a new best friend anytime soon.”
    Eve swallowed hard and nodded. “Good, that’s very good to hear, you know.”
    “I would, however, probably like you a lot better if you could do me one favor.”
    “Anything, as long as you step away from that railing. Honestly, it looks kind of unsteady to