The Sometime Bride

all.
    “Well, I’m thirty-two, so not that far behind you.”
    He took a long, slow sip of his drink, surveying her over the rim of his glass. “Something tells me it will be some time before Ms. Gwendolyn Marsh makes it over that hill.”
    Now was he flirting with her? The way he studied her made Gwen think Dan had more than painting on his mind. She imagined removing his shirt and applying a deep massage oil, stroking the musculature there. Heat welled within her, sending electric currents from her fingertips to her toes. Gwen reminded herself to stay on track. Maybe the margarita was getting to him as well. Although that seemed difficult to believe, given his sturdy and scrumptious build. Oh dear, there she went again. It was a relief when Dan changed the subject by suggesting dessert. Anything to take her mind off further explorations of that come-hither chest.
    “It was a wonderful lunch, but I honestly don’t have room for more.”
    “Not even jalapeño custard pie?” Dan tempted. Gwen had the sense that Dan Holbrook could tempt even the most sensible woman into almost anything.
    “Maybe next time,” she said, combating a new rush of heat with a long drink of water, which, instead of hitting her lips, splashed in her lap. “Oh dear!” Gwen brought her palms to her cheeks as Dan sprang from his chair.
    “Take mine,” he said, pressing his cloth napkin to her skirt. Suddenly, his warmth spread through her nether regions. She gasped, and he glanced up, their eyes locking.
    “I’ll get it, thanks,” she stammered as he pulled his napkin aside, and she took to the task with hers, promptly dropping her napkin on the floor. “My goodness.”
    Dan scooped low to retrieve the soggy rag. He hesitated briefly to study her dangling ankle bracelet, then righted himself slowly, his sky-blue gaze grazing hers.
    Dan reddened as he handed Gwen back her napkin. “I’ll call the waiter over and ask for more.”
    “Don’t bother,” she said sweetly. “I think that’s got it.”
    Gwen couldn’t believe what a klutz she’d been. What was it about this man that made her all butterfingered? Okay, the truth was Marian had sometimes accused her of being a teensy bit clumsy, but she’d never been an out-and-out wrecking ball like this. It was probably a combination of things. Her mission for money complicated by Dan’s inexcusable hotness. She found herself wishing briefly that his sister Nancy had been here to meet with her instead. A split-second later, she realized that was a lie.
    The hard fact was Gwen was attracted to Dan. Seriously attracted. And perhaps he’d given indications that he was the slightest bit interested in her as well. But what was wrong with that? Colleagues could enjoy a simple flirtation, for heaven’s sake. Gwen was sure it happened all the time. That certainly didn’t mean it had to go anywhere. Gwen hadn’t come to Santa Fe to find a man. She’d come to launch her art career and help her sister. Over time, she’d also be helping herself. After a while, she could do less and less of her day job and more of what gave her pleasure and caused her spirit to soar.

    “You know,” Dan said as coffee arrived for the two of them. “I’ve gone on at length about my work, and you haven’t really talked about yours. Have you been painting long?”
    “I did a bit in high school, but then sort of let it go.”
    “How’s that?” he asked.
    “When I started applying to colleges, my mom encouraged me to pursue something a bit more practical.” She shrugged, resigned. “She may have had a point. I’m not sure what sort of job I might have gotten as an art major. I couldn’t imagine teaching something I loved so much and found so personal. I’m afraid it would have taken the passion out of it for me. So I decided to finish in music instead.”
    “Music?” he asked with surprise. “Are you talented?”
    “Not in the least,” she said with a laugh. “In fact, do you know that expression?”
    Dan grinned. “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach?”
    “Precisely. I can’t carry a tune in a bucket, and I’m impossibly inept on the keyboard.”
    Dan leaned forward on his elbows. “Then how…?”
    “Oh, I have a great ear for things. I mean, when someone else is doing the playing, I can pluck the mistakes right out. Not that I’m hard on my students. I’m really a very encouraging teacher.” And she was too. The children appeared to love her, and their parents