Santa Fe Fortune (20 page)

Dan didn’t know how she’d feel about moving to New Mexico, but he wasn’t willing to live without her. He had to find a way to make this work.

Gwen awoke to a gorgeous sunrise streaming through the window. She hadn’t even realized she’d fallen asleep until the sound of cheery whistling stirred her from her slumber. Dan was in the kitchen banging around with pots and pans. He was also frying bacon, she thought, sensing the heavenly aroma. She sat up happily, feeling her stomach rumble. She hadn’t known when she came here that she’d be given the royal treatment. If she had, she wouldn’t have thought twice about accepting the invitation. She sprang from the bed, determined to dress quickly and join Dan in the kitchen. Today, they were going to discuss future plans, and she would see the rest of Paradise Ranch. That was something to get up for.

Not ten minutes later, Gwen strolled brightly through the great room, spotting Dan standing by the stove.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” he said in a way that made her heart flutter. He flipped flapjacks in a pan, then looked up with a grin. “Hope you’re hungry for a big breakfast?”

“Starved,” she said eagerly.

Dan motioned to the full pot across the room. “Help yourself to some coffee. Creamer’s in the fridge.”

“What can I do to help?” she asked, pouring herself a cup.

“You can set the table over there. That would be great.”

Gwen found the plates and silverware, then carried them to the cute country table nestled by a big bay window overlooking the valley.

“Everything smells delicious,” she said. “I don’t know why I’m so ravenous. I could eat a horse!”

Little lines tugged at the edges of his mouth as blue eyes crinkled. “Right, but we won’t tell Rascal you said that.”

 
Dan studied her as she buzzed around the kitchen filling juice glasses and folding napkins. She was just too adorable for words, surprisingly domestic-looking too. Didn’t matter that she’d apparently put her simple T-shirt on backward. It still fitted her nicely, even with the breast pocket worn in back. He weighed whether he should tell her, then decided not to. If she hadn’t figured it out by the time they headed for Santa Fe, he’d drop a subtle hint. In the meantime, there was no real point embarrassing her.

“Have a seat,” he said, smiling down at her cowgirl boots. “I wouldn’t want you wearing those out before lunchtime.”

Gwen laughed, and the musical sound made his heart light. What fun it would be to have her around always. Having breakfast with Gwen day after day would bring Dan nothing but joy. The thought that breakfast would merely be the start of many days that led to long nights in his bed, made Dan even happier. How he hoped she’d say yes.

Dan carried a plate heaping with pancakes over to the table. In his other hand, he carted a platter loaded with bacon and scrambled eggs.

“That’s a feast fit for a king,” Gwen said, her eyes growing wide.

“We don’t have to eat it all, cowgirl,” he said with a wink. “Just take what you’re hungry for.” Dan’s appetites at the moment ran far beyond food. He ached to take that beautiful woman in his arms and kiss her good and hard like she deserved and was apparently getting used to.

Gwen’s complexion colored from her lovely neck up, as if she’d known what he’d been thinking. If Dan were a betting man, he’d guess she’d been contemplating the same thing, too. Hell, maybe the two of them should just scrap breakfast and get busy loving each other like they were born to do. Dan reined himself in, taking a sip of coffee. One thing at a time, fellow, he told himself. One thing at a time.

 
“Help yourself,” he said. “Best to eat while it’s still warm.”

Gwen grinned appreciatively, serving enormous portions on her plate. Dan reasoned it was good for her to get her strength up. If everything went as planned, she’d be needing it later.

“
Mmm
, good,” she said, taking a bite of scrambled eggs. “I had no idea what being out in the fresh air would do to me.”

“It’s great to see you eat healthy. I get so annoyed by those skinny women picking at their food.”

Gwen set down her fork in surprise. “Really? I thought men liked skinny women.”

“Don’t get me wrong,” he said teasing a bit. “It’s not that I mind them. In fact, it’s not so much about size as it is about attitude. I don’t care if a woman watches her figure as long as she doesn’t make me feel self-conscious at the dinner table. I appreciate women who enjoy their food.”

“That’s me,” she said, raising her hand and taking another bite of bacon. “
Mmm
. Totally delicious.”

Dan chuckled, adoring her. “Yes, it is. That’s only one of the many things I love about you.”

“Oh?” she said, her cheeks flushed. Amazingly, she stopped chewing a moment. “What’s another?”

Dan laughed again. “For one thing, I love that you’re so genuine, Gwen. You don’t try to be anyone else but yourself. And that’s a pretty good thing, because you’re one terrific person. You’re funny and kind, and a really great listener.” He stopped eating as well and pushed his plate aside. “You’re also extremely talented and very, very smart. I mean, how couldn’t you be? You fell in love with me.”

She laughed warmly. “Oh, Dan, you really are the best. Really and truly the best. I feel so lucky to have found you.”

“We were fortunate to find each other,” he said seriously. “That’s why we need to focus on making this work.”

“I agree,” she said enthusiastically. “We need to take this bull by the horns. Not leave anything to chance.”

Dan chuckled in spite of himself. He’d be damned if she wasn’t delightful. It was high time he made sure she’d continue to delight him for the rest of his life.

“I agree,” he said, leveling her a look. “We should leave nothing to chance, no loopholes or open windows. We need to completely seal this deal.”

Dan slid from his chair and crouched on one knee, taking Gwen’s hand. Big, brown eyes flashed with surprise as that gorgeous mouth dropped open. She closed it, swallowing hard, her cheeks and temples bright pink. “Dan…” she gasped, her voice a shaky whisper.

“Ms. Gwendolyn Marsh,” he said, “from the moment I met you, I knew you were somebody special. I don’t know how or why, but I had a definite instinct that you were going to change my life. And boy, have you ever! You’ve brought me joy and made me laugh. Most important, you’ve helped me remember what it’s like to be in love again.” Her face softened into a lovely rainbow as her lips pulled into a smile. “But let me be clear,” he continued, “my feelings for you run deeper than any canyon cutting through the New Mexico mountains. I’ve never, ever had these sorts of feelings for any other woman but you, and I can’t bear to lose you. Not for one month, Gwen. Not even for one week or one day. I need you right here beside me, day in and day out, twenty-four/seven. Long distance won’t do.”

Dan took a deep breath and gazed hopefully in her eyes. “I love you desperately, Gwen. And I want to spend my life with you. Say you’ll be my wife?”

Tears streamed down her cheeks as her lovely lips trembled. Gwen squared her small shoulders and gave a saucy tilt to her chin. “Why, Mr. Holbrook,” she said. “I thought you’d never ask!”

Dan stood and pulled her into his arms, kissing her soundly. Dan’s heart welled with uncontrollable joy. She’d said yes! Gwen was going to be his bride!

“Is there someone back East I should talk to?” he asked, his voice a husky rasp. “Maybe your mom? Marian?”

“I’d like you to meet them both,” she said, smiling up at him.

“That can be arranged,” he replied with a grin. “How about I fly back with you and we talk to them together?”

She nodded sweetly, transporting him into the heavens.

Dan pressed his forehead to hers and looked lovingly into her eyes. “You sure you’ll be okay with moving away and leaving your life as a schoolteacher?”

She caressed him with her gaze, making him feel warm all over.

“The life I want is out here.”

“You’ll have all the time you need to paint, you know.”

“That would be a dream come true.”

“Just as long as you leave enough time for that other thing,” he said suggestively.

“What other thing?” she asked.

“Getting started on our family,” he said, nuzzling her neck.

“Oh Dan…” She seemed to lose her balance, so he steadied his arms around her. “I’d like that. I’d like that very much.”

“Of course, I know we’ll need to discuss things and work with the doctors. We can go for counseling if you’d like. Talk to some—”

“Dan,” she said, stopping him with hot-as-Hades brown eyes. “I want to have your baby.”

She gave him a sensuous kiss, pressing her jalapeño-pepper-hot body up against his until Dan thought he might explode from the sheer torture.

“How soon can we get started?” he asked, his tone urgent with desire.

Gwen saucily tilted her head to one side and cocked an eyebrow. “Want to help me off with these boots?”

Dan loved this woman more than he’d ever loved anybody on the planet. He thanked his lucky stars that he was finally getting an opportunity to show her.

“That, Ms. Marsh,” he said, with a warm, willing grin, “would be my great pleasure.”

Then, with one powerful motion that he’d mentally practiced two dozen times, Dan swept his sexy cowgirl off her feet and carried her to his bed.

****

Epilogue

The sun angled high in the summer sky, casting a cheery glow across the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. In the riding ring behind the barn, Gwen helped a young boy with an unsteady gait mount Rascal.

“Are you sure he’ll be all right?” his coed aide asked with concern.

“Oh yes,” Gwen said, smiling brightly. “I’ll be with him the whole time. Besides,” she said, gently stroking the horse, “old Rascal’s a real softie.”

Rascal snorted loudly and stomped his foot as Dan led a lovely palomino into the ring.

Dan grinned and winked at Gwen. “Sounds like old Rascal’s been missing his honey.”

Gwen laughed as one of their trained riders approached to help a slight child up on the mare. “We’ll be back in an hour,” she told Dan once the other pair had settled in.

Dan set his hands on his hips, proudly surveying the scene. Gwen delighted in the sight of him, more at home now than he’d ever been on this ranch.

“Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you,” he said. “Nancy called this morning. She sold another landscape series. The ones including the horse.”

Gwen beamed from ear to ear. “Why, thanks, Rascal,” she said, nuzzling his nose and giving it a kiss. Rascal nibbled lightly on her curls, tickling her ear. “Who knew you’d be such a great model”

The palomino protested loudly, scraping the dirt with her hoof.

“Of course you did,” Dan told her with a laugh.

Just then, a small girl with springy yellow curls rushed into the ring.

“Daddy! Daddy!” she called, racing toward Dan. “Guess what I got!”

Dan smiled kindly and scooped her into his arms. “What’s that, pumpkin?”

The child happily waved a report card. “An A in music!” she proclaimed with glee. “The teacher says I’m the best student she’s got!”

“I think that’s wonderful, honey,” Gwen said, mounting Rascal behind her small charge.

Dan kissed his little daughter. “Yes, sweetheart, really terrific.”

Gwen gave Rascal a loud command, then paraded past Dan, wearing her favorite pair of boots. Catching his gaze, she squared her small shoulders and gave a saucy tilt to her chin.

“Who do you think taught her to sing?”

Little lines pulled at the edges of his mouth as blue eyes crinkled.

“Hurry home, cowgirl,” Dan said. “We’ll be waiting for you.”

The End

A Note from the Author

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Santa Fe Fortune
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