Holding Out for Christmas (The Christmas Tree Ranch #3)(14)

Incredibly, Tracy appeared to have gotten the message. “That would be great. You can toss the salad while we catch up.” She tugged Megan toward the door and into the kitchen.

“Thank you.” Megan breathed a sigh of relief as the door closed behind them.

“What is it?” Tracy asked. “As a judge, I’ve learned to read people. I could tell you were uneasy. Did I say something wrong?”

“Not really. But I was afraid you might. It’s just that Conner doesn’t know about the other me—the woman who sings with the band. And I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Wow,” Tracy said. “So it’s sort of like having a secret identity.”

“What are you two whispering about?” Maggie had come into the kitchen. “Did I hear something about a ‘secret identity’?”

Tracy glanced at Megan. “Can I tell her?”

“You can tell her, but nobody else, especially not Conner,” Megan said.

“Don’t worry,” Maggie said. “I love a good, juicy secret, but my lips will be sealed. Tell me.”

“Cross your heart?” Tracy glanced toward the door to make sure it was closed.

“Cross my heart and hope to die.” Maggie made the gesture with her fingertip. “This had better be good.”

“Believe me, it is.” Tracy glanced at Megan, as if to confirm that it was okay to reveal her secret, then bent closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “Remember last year’s Christmas Ball and that terrific singer who performed with the band?”

Maggie chuckled. “How could I forget? Conner was out of his mind over her. He’s been counting the days, hoping he’ll see her again and—oh no!” She stared at Megan. “Oh, Lordy, I just put my foot in it, didn’t I?”

At the mention of Conner, Megan’s mouth had gone dry. Her stomach felt as if she’d just swallowed a fist-sized ball of glue. Against her better judgment, she’d begun to like the charming cowboy. But Lacy already had her hooks in him.

Sometimes I can’t stand Lacy!

“Megan, I’m sorry!” Maggie shook her head. “I’ve got a big mouth. Sometimes it just runs on and on. I can tell Conner likes you a lot. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have invited you here tonight, to meet his friends.”

“Don’t worry about it, Maggie,” Megan said. “Conner and I barely know each other, but I’ve already learned that he’s had plenty of girlfriends. He’s a charmer, but, believe me, I have no expectations.”

“Wait!” Tracy’s gaze darted from one woman to the other. “Maggie, you still haven’t figured it out, have you?”

Maggie blinked. “Figured out what?”

“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.