Page 3 of Cowboy's Christmas Girlfriend

“Why, Will Carson! You’ve been holding out on your mama?” She leaned in so close he smelled her mac and cheese. “Well, who’s the lucky girl?”

“You don’t know her.”

“But I’ll meet her soon, right? At the Christmas Games?”

The Christmas Games? Will flinched at the thought of subjecting Suzanna to the Games—his family’s annual orgy of holiday competition run wild. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. She’s in Florida. We’ve just talked online so far. She’s a writer, real smart, but she’s not—”

“You’ve invited her, right? Ooh, this is exciting...”

Will shook his head. “I can’t. It’s the holidays. She’ll have her own family, places to go.”

“Still, it can’t hurt to ask.” Mom leaned in and kissed him, smack on his cheek. “Oh, Will, I’m so happy. I was starting to think—”

“Mom—”

“Okay, I’m going. But this is just so...so great.” She dabbed her eyes with her sleeve. The sight of her tears brought a lump to Will’s throat, and when she hugged him goodbye, he hugged her back tight. Watching her go, he felt hollow inside. Sometimes, he forgot she’d lost Hannah too. She’d lost her daughter-in-law; the twins had lost their mom. And he’d lost the life that had once stretched before him, a long, golden road lit with glittering milestones.

“Dad?”

Will looked down, misty-eyed. Beth was tugging his shirt sleeve, Ann bouncing in place.

“We’re having a tea party. We saved you a seat.”

Will dug down deep and conjured a grin. “Okay, lead the way.”

Two air-sipping hours later, he was tucking the girls into bed, a kiss on each of their foreheads, an extra blanket for Beth, whose feet were always cold. He left Lucky to guard their dreams and stumbled to the kitchen in need of a beer. Mom’s matchmaking frenzy had jumped to the girls, and they’d set him up with Astronaut Barbie as his date for the tea party.

Because you don’t have a girlfriend.

Because you need one. Ann’s tone had been scolding. She’d all but wagged her finger.

Will dragged his laptop toward him, across the kitchen table. He cracked his beer open and took a long swig, letting the bubbles loosen his stress as he checked his e-mail.

“Okay, Suzanna. What’s new with you?” He tapped on her message, chuckling at the subject line—What have I done!!!!!?!??!????

So, you know how my book’s been going crazy with preorders? Well, my publisher’s thrilled. So thrilled, in fact, they’re doing this HUGE launch campaign...which, duh, that’s fantastic, except I kind of might’ve said—or, NO!!! I didn’t say! But I didn’t correct my editor when she thought I said...

MY PUBLISHER THINKS I’M AN ACTUAL, REAL-LIFE COWGIRL!

They want to come interview me on my ranch! ON MY RANCH!!! Are there, like, AirB&B ranches? That I can rent at short notice? Without breaking the bank? At Christmas?

Are you laughing? You’re laughing! What have I done?

Will was, indeed, laughing, eyes streaming with mirth. He tapped the reply button, then changed his mind and grabbed his phone instead. He pulled up their text thread and thought for a moment.

There’s no such thing as an AirB&B ranch, he typed. Not a full, working ranch, anyway. That’d be like AirB&Bing a factory. Or an airport.

Suzanna’s response was immediate and emphatic: noooooooooooooooo! D-: Will stifled a snicker. He felt for her—he did—but she’d walked into this one. Not, he reflected, that he was one to talk.

If it makes you feel any better, I kind of made a mess too.

Oh yeah? What’d you do?

Will hesitated. He licked his lips, tasting beer. He didn’t think Suzanna would take offense, but you never could tell.

I told Mom we were dating. You know, you and me. She was playing matchmaker again, and I just snapped.

Will held his breath. Suzanna was typing, then the dots went away. Then they came back again, and a text bubble popped up.

---