Page 2 of Cowboy's Christmas Girlfriend

“You know, early days, when it’s all new and fresh.” Taison tucked his thumbs in his belt loops. “I remember me and Kat when we were still new, how we’d sit out till late on the bridge by the pines. How we’d talk about nothing, but to us it was everything, all those little details that make you fall in love.” He shrugged. “I miss that sometimes. It’s been months since we’ve talked about anything real.”

Will frowned. “Are you two okay?”

“It’s the wedding,” said Taison. “It’s filled up her head, no room left for me. Everything’s gotta be perfect. You know how it is.”

“I guess so.” Will’s frown deepened. His wedding hadn’t been perfect, just fun, full of cheer—cider and line dancing, him and Hannah hustling the night away to the Boot Scootin’ Boogie. Mom and Dad flushed and tipsy, belting out Only You. A fierce pang gripped his heart, loss and nostalgia in one. Taison patted Will’s arm, perhaps guessing his thoughts.

“C’mon, grab that heifer. Let’s finish up here.”

Will nodded, happy to focus on work. Hannah was gone, and no amount of missing her would bring her back. As for Suzanna…she was a friend, and a distant one at that, twenty-five hundred miles away in the land of sun and surf. Anything more was a fantasy, and that suited Will fine.

Nobody’s heart ever broke in a dream.

* * *

“Dad! Dad, look out!” voices yelled as Will opened the door to the house.

He snapped to attention, too late. Two hundred pounds of English mastiff came skidding down the hall, a great hairy rocket aimed square at his crotch.

“Lucky! Get back!” Will commanded in the nick of time.

Lucky ricocheted off the banister, tripped over the mat, and sailed splay-legged past Will, into the snow. The twins charged out after him, Ann in the lead, Beth hot on her heels. They plopped into a snowbank in a great cloud of powder, their Christmas-socked feet sticking up in the air.

“Beth, Ann, you get back here,” Will shouted. “You’ll catch your deaths.”

“Calm down. Gramma’s got ’em.” Mom bustled past him and grabbed a girl under each arm. Beth and Ann squealed as she swept them off their feet. “You too, Lucky, inside. And leave that stick where you found it.”

Lucky dropped his stick and hung his big head. A glittering tiara slid down his nose. Will bent down, groaning, to ruffle his fur.

“Those girls dress you up again? I told you, just say no.”

“We’re having a tea party,” said Mom. “Your place is all set.”

Will pressed his lips together. “Did the girls get their dinner? It’s nearly six o’clock.”

“I gave them those salmon cakes, just like you said. But they wouldn’t eat ’em, so I made my mac and cheese.”

“Mom—”

“It’s just as nutritious. It’s got all four food groups, and a dash of love too.” She bundled Will inside and brushed the snow off his shoulders. “Speaking of love, did Taison talk to you about the wedding?”

“You mean my date?” Will closed his eyes to keep from rolling them. He hadn’t even gotten his boots off yet and Mom was already starting. He needed to nip this in the bud. “Look, I get that Kat’s stressed and all, but I don’t see how—”

“I found you someone.” Mom’s smile was sweet, but Will wasn’t fooled. She’d been plotting again, her and Aunt Nancy. She had that glint in her eyes. Will braced himself as she whipped out her phone.

“God, Mom—is that Tinder?”

“No, silly. Instagram.” Mom held up a photo. “Look, Patty Michaels—didn’t she grow up pretty?”

“You fobbed her off on me last year.” Will leaned on the banister, suddenly tired. “Don’t you remember the ugly sweater debacle?”

“I remember a girl brim full of Christmas spirit. And she was cute in that sweater, with that big Rudolph nose. If you’d just worn your matching one...” Mom reached out and flicked Will’s nose. He spluttered. He’d told Patty a million times, he didn’t do ugly sweaters. She hadn’t listened, just like Mom didn’t listen. Just like nobody listened, not his aunts, not his cousins, not his sister, Sarah. Was there one woman in his life who did listen to him? Suzanna, maybe…but she doesn’t count.

“I don’t get ugly sweaters,” he groused. “I mean, what’s the point? Those things cost a fortune, and you just wear them once. And they itch; they’re too hot, and they—”

“Well, hello Mr. Grinch.” Mom swatted him lightly and reached for her coat. “You don’t have to ask Patty, but you need to find someone. I want you to be happy, and Kat does too. It’s time you had someone. If you’re dead set against Patty, then we’ll find someone else.”

Will’s life flashed before his eyes, showing him not his past, but his future: a sea of blind dates, arranged by Mommy dearest. Something snapped in his head, and he heard himself bark, “I have someone, okay? We’ve been talking a while now, and she’s—we’re a thing.” The moment the words were out, he wished he could call them back. Mom’s eyes went round, agleam with delight.

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