How to Marry a Matador (Exclusive Sneak Preview) (15 page)

A noise erupted in Fernando’s ears, the sweet
cacophony of the crowd urging him on. “
¡Olé!
” Fernando
shouted as Alejandro passed him by yet again, this time on his
left. Theirs was an intricate dance, a ballet, really, and Fernando
delighted in his practiced control—each muscle primed and ready.
This was the life he was born to. He loved the corrida and couldn’t
deny it. Every ounce of his soul keened in the wind as he scarcely
missed the deadly horns. Fernando buckled as Alejandro swept by
once more, skillfully avoiding danger. He’d been gored once and
didn’t long to repeat it. His whole life had flashed in one instant
at the tender age of twenty-three. He saw Gustavo sitting on the
fence, strong arms steadying his position on the railing. It had
been Gustavo, nine years ago, who’d pulled him from near-certain
death.
¡Olé!

Fernando felt his sweat building, steaming
his temples.
¡Olé!

While he was not as young as he’d once been,
he still had the stamina of teenagers half his age. Hadn’t he
proved that time and again with Jessica? In thinking of her, he
spied a heavenly image. The love of his life racing toward him.
No, a mirage.
Had to be. So then why did she smile sweetly
and call out his name? And Gustavo, rushing to her, begging her to
quell her eager cries…

Fernando turned toward the bull, seconds too
late, to find Alejandro nearly upon him. Jessica’s eyes flashed
with terror as Gustavo lunged forward.

“Fernando!” she called in a voice shrill with
panic. The thud-thud, thud-thud, thud-thud of menacing hoofbeats
thundered near. Alejandro lowered his head, positioned for a death
thrust. He was angry and tired of these human creatures that
continued to torment him.

Jess stopped short, caught in Gustavo’s quick
embrace. “Leave it,” he said, his tone terse.

But how could she leave what she witnessed
happening before her? Fernando was about to get gored by a bull,
most certainly on account of her! She’d distracted him at a
critical moment, leaving him limited time to react.
Oh my God,
not now!
Not her dear Fernando. Tears burned hot down Jess’s
checks as Fernando turned on the bull, confronting him head-on.
What impressed Jess most was Fernando’s calm. He didn’t flinch. He
didn’t back away. Just stood there, poised and ready. Seconds
ticked by like hours as the bull advanced.

And then, without warning, Fernando lunged
forward, seizing the enormous beast by his horns. In a flash,
Fernando flipped over him, landing hard with one shoulder to the
animal’s back and then crashing in a heap to the ground.

Gustavo released Jess and raced into the
ring, swinging open its gate and coaxing the bull outside. He
bolted back toward Fernando, panting, to find Jess hopelessly
wailing at his side.

****

Jess sat in the beautifully designed living
area, not daring to meet Señora Garcia de la Vega’s eyes. She
blamed Jess, of course. The accident never would have happened
without Jess’s unexpected arrival and invasion on the scene.
Gustavo had assisted in getting Fernando upstairs, and the doctor
had been with them for over an hour. Jess wanted to pray but wasn’t
sure it would count. She wasn’t exactly in with the Holy Savior,
and the one here went through the pope besides. Jess wouldn’t know
where to begin other than to suggest lighting candles. That sounded
right and was something they always did in movies.

“Would it help if we lit some candles?” she
lamely asked Fernando’s mom.

Ana María’s charcoal gaze fell on hers. “The
electricity works just fine.”

“Right,” Jess said, pressing her knees
together firmly. She’d worn a short dress, one she’d thought was
sexy. The fashion change-up had been impromptu and had occurred
once Evie had taken her leave. After Jess declared she wasn’t going
back to New York, Eve initially hadn’t understood her reservation
about sharing the taxi. “Well, you’ve got to get back to the
airport, haven’t you?” was all Evie had asked. The truth was, Jess
did need to get to the airport. But first she had a few essential
items to take care of, like stopping by the main post office and
changing into an outfit that would sweep a matador off his
feet.

Jess sucked in a breath, realizing she’d done
more than that. She’d landed him facedown in the dirt. If Fernando
were hurt in any substantial way, she’d never forgive herself, or
her designer mini either. Fernando had always been fond of her
legs. Perhaps their full revelation at such a critical moment had
proved disastrous. No, Jess couldn’t take full credit for that. It
wasn’t really her fault Fernando had gotten hurt, was it? And he
couldn’t be hurt in any horrible way if he’d been able to let
Gustavo help him up the stairs.

The doctor appeared, traipsing down the
steps, a limp stethoscope strung around his neck.

Ana María stood tensely.

“He wants to see you,” the old man said,
staring straight at Jess.

A wellspring of hope arose in her heart.
“He’s all right?” Jess asked.

“A little sore, but yes, he’ll live.”

“Thank God,” Ana María said, sinking back in
her chair.

Jess stood and straightened her skirt, hoping
she still looked all right. It had been one hell of an afternoon,
and she still had to ensure that she and Fernando would have one
hell of a night.

“How bad are his injuries?” she tactfully
asked the doctor.

“Probably best if you talk to him yourself,”
the doctor said.

Jess crept up the steps, unsure of what she
might find. Would Fernando be furious at her for causing him pain
or merely delusional from his bump on the head? At the very least,
he had to have a mild concussion. Jess dug into her inner
resources, pressing herself forward. She was a stronger person than
she’d ever been. A person who now totally realized she loved and
deserved Fernando. Just because she’d nearly gotten him killed that
didn’t mean they couldn’t work past any differences. She hadn’t
done it on purpose, after all.

Jess paused a moment before the shut bedroom
door. So many wonderful things had occurred in there and would many
times again, if Fernando would only let Jess put her mind to it.
She rapped lightly and waited a beat until Gustavo answered.

“Come in!” Gustavo called as she creaked the
door open.

Gustavo stood from the chair where he’d sat
at Fernando’s bedside.

Fernando lay motionless in the big king-size
bed. Given his typically olive complexion, he appeared much lighter
to Jess --pallid even-- and she saw this as a dire sign. What if he
was worse than the doc had let on? What if he wouldn't fully
recover? “The doctor said—” she began.

“It’s true,” Gustavo agreed. “He wants to see
you.”

How that could be, considering he had his
eyes tightly shut, Jess wasn’t sure. Yet she clearly wasn’t armed
to argue. Maybe she could bring him back around. Yes, that’s what
Fernando needed. A little Florence Nightingaling.

“He’s just resting,” Gustavo assured her.
“Why don’t you sit with him awhile?”

Jess nodded and made her way to the bedside
as Gustavo slipped from the room.

Silently, she took her seat, mentally kicking
herself for every ounce of anguish she’d ever caused her loving
husband. He was glorious and strong and brave…and…
argh
!
Something reached out and grabbed for her hand. Reason dawned
quickly telling her it was Fernando, appearing suddenly in the pink
of health.

“
Querida
,” he said, green eyes on
hers. “You nearly killed me.”

“Fernando!” she gasped, catching her breath.
“You’re okay.”

He hadn’t been on his deathbed at all. It was
just Jess’s guilty imagination that had caused her to think so.

“Some parts hurt more than others,” he
assured her.

Yes, and she felt terrible about that. More
than terrible. “Is it your head?”

“Actually,” he said, centering his gaze on
hers, “it was my heart. Ironically, it seems to be feeling
better.”

“I’m glad,” she offered sincerely.

Fernando stared at her, appearing more
handsome than she’d ever known him, bare-chested beneath the
covers.

“Why did you come back?” he asked.

Jess twisted her lips into a smile. “Because,
you silly, there was a birthday party I couldn’t miss.”

“I’m afraid all the presents have been
opened.”

“Not all,” she said with a wicked smile.

Fernando’s mouth hung open. “Did my new wife
lock the door?”

“She’d be glad to,” Jess said, meaning it
absolutely.

She couldn’t wait to tell him about the
package and the post office and her decision to live here forever.
But for the next thirty minutes or so, maybe she would.

Fernando pulled her down on the bed, bringing
her mouth to his.

“Are you’re sure you’re okay to do this?” she
asked.

His body pressed forward in response. “What
do you think?” he asked with a sexy grin.

“But what about your mother? Gustavo? The
doctor?”

“I don’t think any of them would blame me for
recuperating,” he said with a husky rasp.

Jess felt the heat sweep from her breasts to
her deepest feminine regions. “You’re not going to make me get
naked now, are you?”

“I don’t think we have time for that,” he
said, flipping her onto her back.

In a flurry of kisses, Fernando had pushed up
her short skirt and pulled down her panties.

“Tell me that you want me to take you,” he
said, his tone urgent with desire.

“I want you to more than take me,” Jess said,
melting away.

Fernando raised his brow as he swept back
blonde strands from her cheek.

“I want you to take me and keep me. Take me
and keep me. Forever, please.”

A broad, willing grin swept across Fernando’s
face.

“Anything—and everything—to keep my new wife
happy.”

****

Jess snuggled down under the covers, happily
embraced in Fernando’s arms.

“For a man just bested by a bull, you do all
right,” she said with a naughty grin.

He gently stroked her arm. “I only had the
wind knocked out of me. A few bumps and bruises, but I’m fine.”

“Lucky for us both.” Jess kissed him
sweetly.

“Yes,” he said, squeezing her rump.

“Fernando.” She raised her brow. “How did you
do that thing with the horns?”

“It’s an old trick my father taught me.” He
grinned, and the adoration in his eyes warmed her through and
through. “A self-preservation technique.”

“So you practiced it before?”

“My father threw me in the ring when I was
five,” he answered. “I didn’t get to carry a weapon until I was
twelve.”

Jess cupped a hand to her mouth in horror.
“You’re kidding?”

“Nope.”

Jess had heard of parents tossing their
toddlers in a pool to teach them how to swim, but this seemed even
worse. Truth was, neither scenario sounded very civilized to Jess.
Surely Fernando wouldn’t think to continue the barbaric
tradition.

“Fernando…” she began with a tentative blush.
“You wouldn’t actually. What I mean is, not with our child…”

He tenderly massaged her belly through the
sheet. “What was that you were saying about our baby, my wife?” he
asked, giving her neck a sexy nibble.

“That’s another thing I need to discuss with
you.”

Fernando tugged at the sheet, not dissuaded
from his mission. “Boy… Girl… It doesn’t matter. I will absolutely
adore them both.”

“Not that,” she said, gripping the duvet and
yanking it up from where it had nestled at their feet.

Fernando twisted his lips and eyed her
curiously. “Cold,
querida
?”

“No, no.” Jess’s face caught fire. “All the
opposite. Thank you.”

“Then, what?”

“It’s about our marriage. The papers…”

“We’ll get all that straightened out as soon
as you’re ready.”

Jess swallowed hard, gathering her courage.
She hoped she’d done the right thing, making such an enormous
unilateral decision. “I was ready about six hours ago.”

“I’m sorry?” he asked, perplexed.

“The package, Fernando. When I was in Madrid,
I took it to the central post office and mailed it.” She ducked her
head under the covers, not sure what sort of fireworks to expect.
Her answer came in an explosion of laughter, a rich, rumbling tone
that washed over her as Fernando gently peeled the covers away.

“Is that a fact?” he asked, green eyes
merry.

She nodded silently.

Fernando cupped her chin in his hand,
surveying her with loving eyes. “That’s got to be the best birthday
present I’ve ever gotten.”

Ana María impatiently checked her watch.

“What is taking them so long up there? Maybe
I should go and see.”

Gustavo shot to his feet. “No, Doña Ana
María. I’ll go.”

She took another sip of her sherry,
scrutinizing. While Ana María rarely had a second glass, it was
late in the afternoon, and she’d had a long day. The doctor had
left with assurance Fernando would be back on his feet in no time.
Only a scare, he’d said. Ana María frowned, thinking it was more
like a brush with death.

Gustavo took his time on the stairs,
dawdling, it seemed.

“Have you lost your way?” she asked him.

“No, señora,” he said, waving his cell in her
direction. “Just checking my texts.”

“Well, for heaven’s sake, do that later,” she
said, annoyed.

Gustavo quickened his pace, briskly moving up
the stairs. Ana María didn’t care what sort of apology Jessica was
administering; it was long past the time it should have been over.
Ana María widened her eyes, hoping Fernando and she hadn’t been…
But, of course, if she knew her son… Ana María sighed, supposing
she should feel relieved he really was all right in that case.