Page 62 of A Cowboy to Call Her Own

“It’s also a gathering of friends and family,” Frannie countered. “What’s more fun than our friends and family performing?”

The group grinned and nodded.

Kelley immediately thought of kissing Asher. She dismissed the image quickly and asked, “What would he sing?”

“One of his originals of course,” Owen offered, grinning sheepishly. “I’ve been hearing all about your cruise ship adventure.”

Kelley coughed.

Asher arched an eyebrow at her and said good-naturedly, “Yes, well, I’ve been rediscovering my sense of adventure since I’ve been home.”

“An adventure is fine, so long as you come home,” Beatrice said and jostled her way to the front of the small crowd. “Although you don’t need to leave to find what you’re looking for. We got it right here.”

Asher smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Kelley reminded herself the cowboy beside her would be leaving. And she refused to mind.

Lynette stepped beside her sister and added, “Come on, Asher, how about it?” Her gaze sparkled. “You gonna give us something to remember you by or not?”

Kelley held her breath.

“You know. Why not?” Asher said and put his wineglass down.

Kelley could think of several reasons. He was not a singer. The story was a rumor. And there are too many other things to remember him by.

“Seeing as this is a celebration of the new couple,” Asher began and pushed his chair back. He took Kelley’s hand in his and continued, “I think a duet would be more appropriate.”

That gained a round ofoohsandaahsand cheers.

Kelley couldn’t not smile. Yet, before she could backpedal, Asher tightened his grip, stood and tugged her with him toward the stage.

“Please tell me you have a song in mind,” he said, his voice pitched low and on the edge of panic. “I obviously don’t have an original. We need a song.”

“We,”Kelley squeaked.

“For our duet,” Asher said. “In celebration of the happy couple.”

“This was supposed to beyoursolo,” Kelley countered.

He relaxed beside her. His smile grew. “This will be much more fun.”

“How do you figure that?” she asked, hearing a note of dread in her own words now.

“Simple.” He squeezed her fingers, drawing her gaze back to his. “I’m with you. That makes everything infinitely better. You make everything better.”

That flutter of attraction she felt every time she was around Asher gained traction. Unstoppable and, she supposed, unavoidable. Her laughter swirled through her sigh, and she said, “You’re right. We need to make this fun.”

A quick debate with the band and they landed on an upbeat song, one certain to get the guests onto the dance floor and singing along. They were barely into the first verse when the guests joined in. The performance went from an upbeat duet to an all-inclusive karaoke. And the sing-along did not end there. The band asked any guest with a song recommendation to join them on stage. That was when the fun really began.

As for Asher and Kelley, they danced, sang, sipped wine yet did not sit until they were inside Asher’s truck, heading home. Asher parked beside her mother’s house and Kelley slipped on her heels. She said, “I can’t recall the last time I closed down a wedding reception.”

“I don’t think I’ve been the last one to leave the dance floor ever.” Asher cut the engine, opened his door and got out.

Kelley met him in the driveaway and asked, “It wasn’t so bad, was it? Being the last to leave.”

He shook his head, took her hand and walked with her to the front porch. “I would’ve stayed if the staff hadn’t kicked us out.”

Kelley chuckled. “That view of the moonlit lake from the reception hall was magical. We should’ve strolled along the shore.”