Holding Out for Christmas (The Christmas Tree Ranch 3)

“The secret—the one you swore not to tell.”

“Oh—I did get sidetracked, didn’t I?”

“You’ll have to forgive her, Megan,” Tracy said. “Maggie’s been in la-la land ever since she and Travis set their wedding date.”

“So, what’s the secret?” Maggie asked. “We were talking about the singer.”

“Yes,” Tracy said. “The singer is Megan. I found out when I met her last year.”

“What?” Maggie stared. “No way! Megan, was that really you?”

“Me with a wig and makeup and a fancy outfit,” Megan said. “I tried, but I couldn’t get singing gigs as myself— not glamorous enough, I was told. So I became her—Lacy Leatherwood.”

“And Conner doesn’t know!” Maggie giggled. “Oh, this is rich! This is just delicious!”

“And we won’t tell him, will we?” Tracy reminded her.

“Please don’t tell anybody,” Megan said. “I like to keep my secret identity just that—a secret. It tends to spoil things—all kinds of things—if people know.”

“Then how did Tracy find out?” Maggie asked.

“I recognized her voice when she came to my house with Daniel,” Tracy said. “It was just after the ball, so the memory was fresh.”

“I saw you in costume before the ball,” Tracy said. “You were on Main Street, watching the parade.”

“Yes, I was. The boys in the band thought it might be good for promotion. But I felt like a freak, walking around for people to notice. I won’t be doing it again.”

“That’s where Conner first saw you,” Tracy said. “He was driving the team that pulled Santa’s sleigh.”

“I saw him, too. I remember making eye contact and thinking he was cute.”

Maggie raised the lid on the slow cooker to check the pot roast. “And I remember Travis telling me, after the parade, how Conner had raved on and on about this beautiful woman he saw in the crowd.”

Megan sighed. “But that wasn’t me. It was Lacy Leatherwood, a fake person who doesn’t even exist in real life. That’s why I can’t tell him the truth. It would make things . . . impossible.”

Maggie put an arm around Megan. “Don’t worry. We understand, and your secret is safe with us. But I hope you won’t mind if we enjoy the drama a little. We’ve waited a long time to see Conner throw his heart in the ring.”

“And if you need to talk, remember you’ve got friends,” Tracy said.

Just then, there was a rap from the other side of the kitchen door. “Excuse the interruption, but we’re starving out here.” The deep voice was Travis’s. “Unless there’s been some emergency—”

“No . . . no. I’m getting the roast out.” Maggie swung the door open. “Come on in. You’re just in time to carve it for me while I dish up the vegetables and gravy. Then we can eat.”

The small kitchen was getting crowded. Megan allowed herself to be nudged back into the living room, where Conner stood by the fireplace. He came forward to meet her and draw her into the circle of warmth.

“What did I tell you about those two ladies?” he asked. “Was I right?”

“You were.” Megan stared into the flames, avoiding his eyes. “They’re lovely, and very down-to-earth.”

“You’re lovely, too, Megan.” He lifted her face with a touch of his thumb under her chin. “I like the way the firelight reflects in your eyes.”

Megan made herself smile, but her response was forced. Conner was saying nice things to her. But he was only mouthing pretty words. It was Lacy—the fake version of herself—that he really wanted.

Chapter 4

Sitting next to Megan at dinner, Conner studied her delicate profile. His gaze traced the soft petal curve of her lips, her pert nose, and the fringe of eyelashes that cast shadows on her cheeks. He’d thought she was cute from the first time he saw her. But now, he realized that she was more than cute. She was beautiful. And it wasn’t just her looks that appealed to him. It was something else—an inner spark that lit her face and her voice when she spoke of things she cared about, such as her family and her young students.

He was liking her even more than he’d planned. But something, he sensed, was wrong.