Page 13 of Cowboy's Christmas Girlfriend

“Your girl’s sure fitting in.” Taison nodded at Suzanna, who’d joined Mom and Aunt Jess at the bar, and was laughing fit to split at Aunt Jess’s Cher impression.

“She’s my secret weapon tonight,” said Will. “At least, I hope she is.” Suzanna had assured him karaoke was her jam. She’d dated a bouncer at a karaoke bar back home and had taken advantage of his staff discount for the length of their fling.

“Whoever wins karaoke night always wins the Games,” said Taison. “At least, best I remember.”

Will frowned. “Mom won karaoke two years ago, but Uncle Vince snatched the cup. You can’t get too cocky, just because—”

“Hold that thought,” said Taison. “Kat’s looking nervous. I better go buck her up.”

Will watched him go. Kat did look ill at ease, by herself at the back, nursing a margarita. Suzanna, by contrast, was positively glowing. She’d dressed up for the night, in tight blue Wranglers and a slinky silk shirt. Her hair hung loose, blonde ringlets bouncing as she shook with laughter. He watched her for a minute, torn between going to her and keeping his distance. Her mix of sexy and sweet drew him to her. That had been going on since she arrived. It helped their fake relationship look real, but he worried that it was starting to feel a little too real.

She laughed again, and Will was unable to stay away. He went to her, weaving through the crowd and squeezing in beside her with a nudge to Aunt Jess.

“Just what are you telling her, to get her giggling like that?”

“Only the truth,” said Jess. “How you get so competitive you make your mom look like a cream puff.”

“I do not.”

“Only contest he doesn’t dominate is ugly sweater night,” said Mom. “And that’s only because he refuses to join in.”

“Those sweaters are hideous,” said Will. “And itchy, to boot.”

“Oh, grinch.” Suzanna leaned closer, as though to say something else, but Uncle Vince chose that moment to tap on the mic.

“Ladies and gentlemen and assorted riffraff—” He stabbed a finger at Uncle Albert, who’d come in mud-streaked, straight from his ranch. That got a laugh, which Vince paused to enjoy, before waving his hands for quiet. “It’s my pleasure, my honor, to welcome all and sundry to Christmas karaoke. We have some new voices this year, but first let’s get the kids up before their bedtimes.”

A loud cheer went up, and the sound of boots stamping a drumroll on the floorboards. Ann grabbed Will by one hand, and Beth by the other.

“Dad?” Beth tugged on his arm. “Hey, Dad? Can Suzanna join in?”

Ann yanked his other arm. “Yeah, Dad. Suzanna.”

Will glanced at Suzanna. Her eyes had gone wide and panicked. “I don’t think so,” he said. “We’ve got our dance, and she doesn’t know the steps.”

“Sure, she does.” Beth started stageward, dragging Suzanna in her wake. “She watched us practice. She’ll be fine, right?”

Suzanna licked her lips. “I don’t know,” she said. “I guess I could—”

The speakers cut her off, blasting the opening chords of You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch. Beth and Ann fell in line, Beth leading Suzanna, Ann bringing up the rear. They marched onstage as they’d practiced, and spun to face the crowd. Suzanna spun the wrong way and stumbled, knocking the mic off its stand. Will caught it and launched in, half a beat late. The girls joined in, singing their hearts out, stockinged knees pumping as they pranced down the stage. Suzanna just stood there, barely swaying her hips.

“Hey, Suzanna, uh...” Will held out the mic to her, hoping she’d take the hint. She fluffed her line, giggled nervously, and did a clumsy half-spin. This was a disaster, a heartbreak in the making. Mr. Grinch was the kids’ thing, their time to shine. If they bombed, they’d be crestfallen, robbed of their triumph.

Beth and Ann skipped by, still smiling. The music marched on, and Will had no choice. He grabbed the mic stand and twirled it like a cane, following the choreography they’d rehearsed a million times. Ann launched into her verse like a tiny Broadway star, leaning over the railing to wag her finger at the crowd. Beth peeked from behind Will’s leg and trilled her part high and sweet. The contrast between her shy smile and the harshness of the words drew the same laughter it did every year—but Suzanna just stood there, frozen in the lights.

Will had to do something—had to get her offstage. He started toward her, but then her eyes lit up and she broke out into a grin, as though seized with inspiration. She dropped into a crouch and beckoned Beth to her side, took her by the hand and whispered something in her ear. Beth’s eyes went round and she covered a giggle, then she and Suzanna stuck out their butts and Grinch-walked up the stage. They pressed in on Ann, squeezing her from both sides, bumping her with their bottoms as the crowd went wild. Ann gasped, outraged, then she got in the spirit. She snatched a big, plastic candy cane off its perch by the mic, and chased the two Grinches in waddling circles around the stage, smacking their wiggling hips as they scurried away. The whole room erupted in gales of delight—loud roars of laughter that shook the very rafters.

“That was, uh...” Will stood dazed at the end of it, applause like thunder still ringing in his ears.

“Sorry,” said Suzanna. “I sort of panicked. I couldn’t remember the steps, and I—”

“That was incredible!” Mom emerged from behind the bar with a tray of steaming mugs. “I got cocoa for the girls—and Suzanna, you too. This is Vince’s own recipe, makes your whole mouth think it died and went to heaven. I’ve been trying to guess the secret ingredient since Will was this high.” She held her hand about knee height. Suzanna took her cocoa and tried a tiny sip. Her throat worked a moment, and then she smiled wide.

“Delicious,” she said. “Maybe allspice? Or a hint of caraway?”

“You don’t have to drink that,” said Will, leaning in close so Mom wouldn’t hear. “No one’ll be put out if you say chocolate’s not your thing.”

Suzanna took another sip and licked her lips. “It’s not that bad.”

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