Page 24

Suzanna chewed her lip, thinking. She thought of Mom and Dad, their endless expectations—the “inspirational” fridge magnets, the handmade goals charts. The dance lessons, music lessons, soccer, golf, and karate. The makeovers, the runway coach, the Little Miss pageants. And then the disappointment, when she wasn’t enough—when she was never enough, despite her best efforts. She cleared her throat.

“You’ve got to do your own thing,” she said. “At least, that’s what’s worked for me. Or, I should say, what’s working, now I’m finally doing it.”

“Yeah?” Kat’s lips quirked up, almost a smile. “What’s that mean for you?”

Suzanna beamed. She couldn’t stop herself. “Would you believe, till this month, I’d never left Florida? I’d never done anything for myself, just ’cause I wanted to.” She leaned in, gaining steam. “I was living for everyone but myself, writing other folks’ memoirs, telling their stories. Ghostwriting, you know? And I felt like a ghost—like I was right here, but no one saw me. I was drifting along like that, then one day I’d just had it.”

“And what did you do?”

“I wrote Cowboy’s Awakening—a story I came up with, under my own name. You might’ve seen the Facebook ads, me and Will on the ranch?”

Kat nodded. “Taison showed me.” Her expression turned hopeful. “And that’s made you happy? Going after what you wanted? Putting yourself out there, and to hell with the risks?”

“It’s been incredible,” said Suzanna. “Better than anything I could’ve imagined. The book’s selling great. I’ve just signed a contract to write two more, and that’s not even the best part. The best part is, I’m living. Following my dreams. If I were you, I’d ask myself, where’s the joy in my life? Focus on that, not the things that stress you out. Focus on saying ‘I do,’ not if the napkins are perfectly pressed.”

Kat drew a long breath and got to her feet. “You’re right,” she said. She dusted off her hands, as though ridding herself of something unpleasant. “I’ve been scared too long. Scared of choosing wrong. I’m going to take charge, do things my way for once.”

“That’s the spirit,” said Suzanna. She blinked at the bright bloom of headlights in the window. “Looks like the family’s here.”

“I guess so,” said Kat. “You start running that puppy chow out to the barn. I need to wash up, then I’ll be back to help.”

Suzanna did as Kat said, and soon the talent show was in full swing. Cousin George did a ventriloquism act that had the kids rolling in the aisles. Will’s mom and dad busted out a set of hula hoops, and made Suzanna’s head spin with their jaw-dropping tricks.

“They started doing that for exercise,” explained Will. “Then they got really into it, and, well...there they are.”

The twins were up next with their new jazz routine. They started off shaky, Beth zigging when she should’ve zagged and bumping into Ann. But then they found their rhythm, and they brought the house down, drawing a collective gasp from the audience with their big flying finish. They got a standing ovation, and then Will was up.

“Come with me,” he whispered. “I’ve got an idea.”

Suzanna glanced over her shoulder. “Who, me? Up there?”

“Do you trust me?”

She looked up at Will. The glint in his eye was perhaps a bit wicked, but his smile was warm. And she did trust him—so she took his hand and let him lead her to the stage.

“What are we doing?”

“Follow my lead.” Will spun her out, so suddenly she shrieked. She twirled, soaring, that moment of weightlessness before the big fall, and then Will caught her and cradled her to his chest. He bent to her ear and murmured relax, and Suzanna let herself melt against his chest.

He waltzed her upstage and Suzanna found her footing. It wasn’t so hard, now her panic had gone—just move when Will did, match her steps to his. Breathe with him, spin with him, float in his arms as he dipped her to the floor. Catch his eye as he lifted her, feel his exhilaration. Feel the music, feel him, feel the rushing in her ears as the barn erupted in applause.

“Is that...did we do it?” She hung in Will’s embrace, catching her breath. He beamed down at her, and he’d never looked so gorgeous—so strong, so powerful, flush with triumph.

“We didn’t just do it,” he said. “Suzanna, we killed it.”

10

“I still can’t believe the girls didn’t win.” Suzanna paused at Will’s bedroom door, hands on her hips. “They brought your mom to tears. Actual tears. And that standing ovation—”

“It’s okay,” said Will. He came up behind her and set his hands on her shoulders, kneading away the stress of the day and guiding her into the room. He closed the door so their conversation wouldn’t disturb the girls, who were already asleep. “They had a great time, and they did come in second. And Matt and Jen did make a horse disappear.”

Suzanna laughed. “I’ll admit that was something. Though, you could still hear it snorting backstage.”

“But you had fun, right?” Will turned her to face him. Suzanna smiled up at him, and Will’s heart felt light. How had he got so lucky? Inviting Suzanna had been a gamble, but right now, in this moment, he felt on top of the world. Like he could reach out and—

“I had the best time,” said Suzanna. “And not just tonight. Being here on the ranch, with your family, with you...” Her pink cheeks flamed red. “We might’ve started out fake, just a story to tell my publisher and your family, but this all feels so real, me and you, what we’ve got. I—I’ve had relationships before, but none that felt this...solid.” She looked away, frowning. “I’m sorry. I—”

“Don’t be sorry. I feel the same way.” Will hooked his thumb under her chin. “Look at me. I mean it. It’s been a long time since I’ve had anyone. So long I’d forgotten how much I missed it, having someone to share these things—nights like this, morning chores. The big things, the little ones, everything in between. I think I’d forgotten how to have fun.”