Santa Fe Fortune (13 page)

He frantically scanned the gallery for Megan and gratefully caught her eye. Dan held up his BlackBerry and motioned moving forward with the other hand, telling Megan to speed up the time line. She raised her finger in understanding and quickly set to the task. But even Megan’s keen mental abilities and efficiency weren’t enough. Dan hustled to the small table where Gwen was heaping mounds of food upon a flimsy plate. “I insist,” she said to Emily with a broad grin that appeared slightly manic.

“Not so much cheese,” the Texan protested. “I’m watching my waistline.”

Gwen arched both eyebrows and momentarily stopped heaping. “Oh, are you really? That’s too bad.” She smiled sweetly at the statuesque Victoria, who’d already fixed herself a healthy plate. “Let’s take some tips from your sister, then. Shall we? The Southwestern Ranch dressing on celery sticks is to die for!”

Dan grimaced at Megan, who hustled over as Gwen dropped spoonful after spoonful of creamy, white dressing onto the overloaded plate.

“That’s really quite enough,” Emily protested as Megan cut in.

“Mr. Holbrook,!” Megan said, holding up the house phone.

The group angled toward Megan, startled by the distraction.

“Oh dear!” Gwen cried, tipping the unsteady plate in Emily’s direction. Emily looked down in horror as streams of Ranch dressing raced down her dress.

“It’s designer!” she shrieked, grabbing for napkins.

Dan handed her some more to help. “So sorry!”

“I feel so stupid,” Gwen said. “I don’t know how that happened!”

“The gallery will pay for dry cleaning,” Dan offered to Emily.

“Thanks,” she said, still mopping herself up. “Let me hit the restroom and see what I can do.”

Dan directed his gaze at Megan, wanting to somehow salvage this evening. It was the first time he’d ever seen the young girl look flustered. He hoped she’d still be able to pull this off. Things surely weren’t looking good in the selling-to-Texas department.

“Mr. Holbrook,” she uttered weakly, still holding up the phone. “The gentleman who was in earlier today wants to put in a bid on the Marsh series.”

“All five?” Gwen asked, elated.

“That’s quite a lot,” Victoria added.

“He’s willing to pay top dollar,” Megan said. “Four thousand a piece.”

“Four thousand!” Victoria exclaimed. “But each is only marked at three-five.”

“Plus gallery commission,” Megan added, as if reciting from memory.

“What’s that?” Victoria inquired of Dan.

“Twenty percent. Another four thousand dollars.” Dan smiled pleasantly all around. “If you’ll excuse me,” he said to the group. “I think I’d better take this call.”

“Wait!” Victoria said, blinking hard. “I’d like a chance to make an offer as well.”

“Would you?” Dan asked, stunned as Emily returned still a royal mess.

“What’s going on?” Emily asked.

“Somebody’s trying to outbid me,” Victoria said, as if it had never happened before.

“No! We’ve already been online and scoped out new swags and fabrics for the rooms.”

“Yes. Ones that will complement this theme exactly,” Victoria added.

“Gwen?” Dan asked, turning to her.

“Well, it seems to me if we have such a spectacular offer… Four thousand a piece, plus the gallery commission…”

“I’ll match that!” Victoria cut in. “In cash!”

“Cash?” Dan asked with surprise.

“The banks open for a few hours in the morning. I can get a cashier’s check or make a wire transfer.”

Gwen’s lovely face lit up like a thousand fireworks on the Fourth of July. She turned eagerly toward Dan and nodded with a heartwarming grin.

“We’ll take it,” Dan said, shaking Victoria’s hand.

Megan handed Gwen a cup of coffee with a smile. “Creamer and sugar, two packs.”

Gwen flushed with embarrassment, thinking of the display she’d put on. She hadn’t precisely been drunk, but she’d clearly been tipsy. What else would excuse her utter assault on Emily’s wardrobe, designer or not? “I feel like I should be helping you,” she told Dan as he carted empty wine bottles to the recycle.

“No worries at all,” he told her with a sincere twist to his lips. “Nancy’s trained me right. I’m used to this.”

“It’s true,” Megan assured her. “Dan’s a real sweetie about picking up. He always tries to make Friday evenings so he can help out.”

“I thought you didn’t usually do much with the gallery,” Gwen said, surprised.

“Popping by once in a while and schmoozing with the art scene isn’t much of a hardship.” Dan exited to the back room, and Megan smiled after him fondly.

“He’s really pretty cool for an old guy.”

Gwen couldn’t help but grin at Megan’s youthful assessment. Dan didn’t seem old to Gwen at all. He was aged just right. He was a great guy too. Just look at all he’d done to help her and how smoothly he’d help negotiate that deal. It hadn’t been under the most stellar circumstances, Gwen thought, a wave of shame overtaking her. She was ashamed of herself for acting out so badly, and all because some woman had made eyes at someone who wasn’t even her man!

“Coffee all right?” Megan asked with big, wide eyes.

“Yes! Just fine,” Gwen said, taking a sip.

Dan came back in, and Megan gathered her things. “Still okay if I knock off now?” she asked him.

“Of course,” he told her. “You’ve more than earned your bonus.”

“Bonus?”

“Don’t think you won’t be rewarded for all the help you were today.”

“Why, thanks,” she said with a wide, happy grin.

 
Megan whistled merrily and pranced out the door with all the vim and vigor of someone who’d never known the hard burdens of life.

Gwen set down her coffee as Dan lowered the blinds. “Are you sure there’s not something I can do?”

“You can tell me how excited you are to have sold all your canvases,” he called back with a smile.

“I am excited,” she answered honestly. “No,
excited’s
not strong enough. Try over the moon.”

“Ecstatic, huh?” he said, pivoting toward her.

“Yes, that too.” Gwen took a deep breath, gathering her nerve. She’d made such a spectacle of herself, she couldn’t just sit here and act like it hadn’t happened.

“Dan, I need to apologize for my…clumsiness tonight.”

“It was an accident, surely.”

“Absolutely! Never even saw it coming,” she said, quickly biting her lip.

Dan studied her a prolonged beat.

“I guess what’s important is that everything worked out.”

“It did indeed! Wait until I tell my sister.”

“Marian? I’m sure she’ll be very proud of you.”

Gwen faltered a moment, unsure of how much she should say. Now that the deal was nearly closed, she reasoned it wouldn’t hurt anything to let Dan in on her motivation behind this venture. He’d been such a champion and so totally upfront with her about so many things, where was the harm?

“Marian’s actually the reason I came here,” she said.

“Beg pardon?”

“She’s in very bad straits, Dan. Financially, I mean. Totally at risk of losing her house.”

“That’s terrible.” His eyes flashed with alarm. “Does she have a family?”

“Five kids and one on the way. No husband. The ex is actually sort of who helped cause this mess.”

Dan’s expression grew cloudy. “Why am I not surprised?”

“In any case, she needed a certain amount of money to get out from under the thumb of her creditors and to make do until she’s able to start working full-time.”

“Twenty thousand dollars,” Dan said, more a statement than a question.

“Exactly.”

He took her in again, his gaze filled with admiration. “You’re a very special person, you know that?”

She warmed under the heat of his stare, but her heart, reawakened by the sudden burst of caffeine, said beware.

“I think you’re special too, Dan. I could have never imagined coming here and meeting such a wonderful person. You’ve made my stay in Santa Fe very memorable.”

“I’ll never forget these past few days either,” he said. Gwen could tell by the look on his face he wanted to step forward and close the distance between them. Yet she viewed a telling restraint in his eyes. He’d been thinking just what she had. This unforgettable interlude between them was nearly done.

The bell tinkled above the entrance, and Dan turned toward the door in surprise. Elena stood there in casual elegance, a designer scarf draped strategically around the sleek line of her neck. “Don’t tell me I’m interrupting,” she said, her words a sledgehammer to Gwen’s chest.

“I’m afraid you are,” Dan said, his tone not the least bit friendly.

“Well, then, I guess that’s just too bad.” Elena strode forward and thumped a thick white envelope against Dan’s chest. “Family first. Isn’t that your motto, Dan?”

Dan pushed the envelope aside, eyes narrowing. “What’s going on here, Elena?”

“You wanted proof,” she said. “I brought it. The blood work’s all in.”

Dan knitted his brow and contorted his lips in shock. “I don’t believe you.”

“Then read this,” Elena said, slapping the envelope sharply to his desk.

Gwen’s heart swirled with emotion as her face burned hot. “You’re not…sick?” she asked.

Elena turned toward her, indignant, then spouted back, “As a dog. That’s what morning sickness does to a woman.”

Gwen felt her knees wobble and sat unsteadily in a chair as Dan ran a hand through his hair. Dan’s words came back to her like loud, clanking cymbals.
“I would never abandon my family…”
“It’s true?” she asked him, unable to mask her disbelief.

Dan met her gaze with shameful apology. “Gwen, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know until…”

“Why are you apologizing to her? Don’t you and I have a few things to talk about?” Elena demanded harshly.

Gwen could see through the windows it was still a vibrant evening, passersby in huddles mulling down the street. She fought the fire in her throat as heat welled in her eyes. “I’ll see myself back to the inn,” she told them, rising. “It’s only two blocks away.”

Dan studied her with a remorseful longing. “I’ll call you in the morning with the purchase confirmation.”

“Don’t bother,” she said, heading for the door before her heart could completely burst open. “You can just send a text.”

Dan read through the medical report in stunned silence. “I thought you said you were on the pill?”

“Was on the pill, Dan. I mean, while we were dating. After we stopped, I stopped.”

He met Elena’s catlike green gaze. “So last month in Albuquerque…?”

“That’s right.”

Dan ran a hand through his hair. “But I wore protection.”

“I guess it wasn’t foolproof.”

Dan sat heavily in his chair, his heart sinking. This couldn’t be happening. Not now, not with Elena.

“I want you to know that I’m keeping it,” she said flatly, as if expecting no reaction.

Dan pursed his lips, then looked her in the eye. “That’s the right thing to do.”

“I didn’t think I’d want… I mean, back when were together, I said…”

Dan noted the fine creases rimming her eyes. “You said a lot of things, Elena.”

“I know, and I apologize for a lot of them.”

“Only a lot?” he asked, raising his brow.

She seemed suddenly exhausted. Fragile. She stared up at him, green eyes imploring. “For everything, Dan.” Her bottom lip trembled as she fought back tears. “I’m truly, truly sorry for everything. Don’t you think there’s maybe a way…? This has got to be some sort of sign. You told me yourself, no baby’s an accident.”

Dan felt helplessly confused, his world falling apart. For the past few days, all he’d considered was how to go about building something special with Gwen. Now that dream seemed as elusive as some forgotten illusion from his tainted youth. Dan stared at Elena, his heart searing. He was not his father, would never in a million years be anything like that man. And when his mettle was put to the fire, Dan was going to have to prove it.

****

Chapter Nine

Gwen got a text from Dan saying he’d stop by the inn around noon to drop off the check. While she understood it was the quickest way to get the money, she knew it would be difficult seeing him in person. She’d spent a horrible, sleepless night reliving Elena’s unwelcome entry. It was more like an intrusion, really. A disruption that had totally upended Gwen’s world and any ridiculous dreams she’d had of forming a lasting relationship with Dan. Gwen shook off the morning chill and took another sip of coffee from her steaming mug as she sat by the inn’s
kiva
fireplace. In the winter, she knew it was a blazing hearth and this town an enchanting wonderland. She’d seen the photos of luminaries strung from trees, their cheery glow resonating from every rooftop. She’d secretly hoped to have a reason to return, perhaps ring in the new year with Dan. Now that fantasy appeared absurdly unlikely.