Saving a seat for Badger wasn’t going to work. Tables at the Guzzling Grizzly seated four unless two were pushed together to accommodate six.

Hayley watched for Badger to come in with the McGavins. When he arrived, she excused herself and went to meet him. “I can’t figure out how we can sit together unless—”

“No problem, darlin’. Let me see what I can do about it.” He smiled as his gaze swept over her. “That white sweater makes you look prettier’n a speckled pup.”

She rolled her eyes. “Thank you for that, Badger.”

“Hang on. I see some tables bein’ moved around. I’ll be right back.” He rejoined his group and gestured to Hayley and the table where her family sat. When he returned, he was all smiles. “We can make room if your folks would like to sit with us.”

“All right. Let’s ask.”

Badger rested his hand on her shoulder as she made her way back to her family. “Sweater’s really soft, too,” he murmured.

“Cashmere.”

“Thought so.” He greeted her parents and Luke warmly and invited them over to the McGavin table with enthusiasm. Abandoning their chairs, they followed him over to the large gathering on the far side of the room.

Luke was the only one who didn’t know everybody, so after he was introduced and handshakes exchanged, they all settled into a seat. Hayley ended up with Badger on her left and Luke on her right.

Her mom and dad were on the other side of the table but down several seats, talking with Kendra and Jo. Luke struck up a conversation with April, who was on his right. A waitress came and took everyone’s order for drinks. The party was on.

Badger looked at her and grinned. “See how that all worked out?”

“It did. Good job. How’d your juggling practice go?”

“Terrible, but they say a bad rehearsal means a good performance.”

“I’m sure you’ll be great. Even if—”

“Hayley!” Her mother’s voice rose over the hum of conversation. “Come down here and show Kendra and Jo your ring!”

The ring. She was so used to it already that she’d forgotten she had it on.

“Ring?” April leaned past Luke. “I didn’t hear about that. When did Badger give it to you?”

Hayley’s cheeks grew hot. “Yesterday.” She pushed back her chair because there was no getting around this display of her engagement ring. She had to do it.

“Yesterday?” April’s eyebrows lifted. “This is old news? Badger, shame on you. We chopped down Christmas trees together and I didn’t hear about this.” She looked at Ryker on her right. “Did you know?”

“Well, I—”

“You did! Both of you knew and didn’t say a thing to Kendra and me this afternoon. Is this a pilot’s code of silence thing?”

“It wasn’t mine to tell,” Ryker said.

“Or mine,” Badger added. “It’s Hayley’s ring. She has the say-so about spreadin’ the word.”

April let out a little harrumph of displeasure. “I suppose that’s reasonable. You two flyboys are off the hook. Hayley, on your way around the table, let me see, okay? I’m thrilled for you, girlfriend.”

Beside her, Ryker looked uncomfortable. “April, anytime you want to talk about—”

“Hey, no, I don’t. You and I are still getting reacquainted. We’re not ready for rings and such.” She took Hayley’s hand. “But this one is lovely. A sapphire, right?”

“Yes.”

April leaned on the table and engaged Badger again. “Great choice. It matches her eyes.”

“I—” He choked back his automatic response of I know. “I’m glad you like it.”

“Just so Hayley likes it.” April glanced up at her. “But what am I saying? What woman wouldn’t want a sapphire that sparkles like a mountain stream in sunlight?”

“I can’t imagine.” Hayley appreciated the goodwill coming her way, but once she severed the connection with Badger, the outpouring of approval would dry up like a puddle in a heat wave. That was as it should be.

She made the obligatory rounds to show everyone the ring. The exercise was illuminating. Four committed McGavin couples were at the table. Of those, only Mandy had a ring, and she was already married to Zane.

Yet Hayley had this knockout of a sapphire. Those who knew the story realized she and Badger hadn’t known each other long. She found herself babbling about long engagements, an idea borrowed from her father.

Her mom, though, was in her element. At last she had a daughter who was engaged to be married. When Badger had suggested this subterfuge, Hayley had pictured it as harmless fun to get her through the holidays without a series of mystery dates.

She hadn’t envisioned the waves of reaction that would touch so many lives. She’d never perpetrated a hoax in her life, unless she counted the time she’d told Luke that Freddy Krueger was real and would come after him if he didn’t share his stash of Milky Ways.

Her progression around the table was painfully slow, but eventually she made it back to her chair beside Badger.

He put his mouth close to her ear. “I’m so sorry. I had no clue.”

“I forgot I had it on.”

“Your mom didn’t.”

“No. But it’s okay.” She took a sip of the beer that had been placed at her seat while she was gone. “It’s Christmas. Weird things happen at Christmas.”

“They sure have this year.”

“Are you calling me a weird happening?”

“No. You’re all Christmas cookies and eggnog. The weirdness is on my side. I—never mind. The show is about to start.”

Hayley didn’t know much about Bryce McGavin other than his recent purchase of the Guzzling Grizzly and his good-natured guitar playing during his family’s Yule celebration.

But when he walked out on stage wearing a snow-white Stetson and a red silk shirt, she saw a star in the making. He invited Nicole to join him and she wore a matching Stetson and a green silk shirt.

Each had a guitar slung over their shoulder. They held hands and executed a deep bow to the audience. Then they launched into a rocking rendition of Winter Wonderland while a well-designed light show bathed them in swirling snowflakes.

The McGavin contingent went wild and Hayley joined in. She reluctantly admitted that she’d thought of Eagles Nest as a cute little town without much sophistication. Bryce and Nicole had talent and style that would dazzle an audience anywhere.

The show continued with one fantastic act after another. Fire chief Javier Ortega led Trevor McGavin and several other firefighters in a rousing rendition of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Ellie Mae Stockton, an eighty-something woman Hayley recognized as a clerk from Pills and Pop Drugstore, performed a slinky version of Santa Baby that brought down the house.

Her dad was up next. At some point when she wasn’t paying attention, he’d changed into green spandex and a red cape. A huge G was emblazoned on his chest. Bryce came out holding up a placard that read Holy Hilarity, Godman!

She started giggling before he’d said a single word. Then he started firing one-liners so fast that she barely finished laughing about one before the next one hit. People couldn’t drink their beer because sure as the world they’d end up choking on it. At the end of her dad’s performance, he pressed his palms together, took a bow and left the stage amid thunderous applause.

When the commotion died down from that, Greg Paladin, owner of Paladin Construction, played a haunting version of Silent Night on his harmonica. Then it was Badger, Ryker and Cody’s turn.

Badger squeezed her hand. “Wish me luck.”

“You’ll be awesome.” Her attention was glued to the stage as three broad shouldered cowboys stepped into position with Cody in the middle.

The men each took several deep breaths and flexed their fingers. Then the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s version of Carol of the Bells poured from the sound system as red and green plates started flying.

Hayley was mesmerized throughout the song. She focused mostly on Badger but sometimes glanced at the other two. They flipped, spun and tossed those plates with dizzying speed.

It was over way too soon for her. She clapped wildly. Badger, Ryker and Cody returned to the table amid congratulations from everyone.

Once Badger had reclaimed his chair next to hers, she caught his face in both hands and kissed him.

His gaze warmed. “Guess I’ll have to put on a juggling demonstration more often.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Maybe even a private one.”

“No, that would be selfish. You need to perform for an audience that appreciates talent like yours. That goes for all three of you.”

After that, Michael Murphy, co-owner of the bar, stepped away from his duties to sing Ave Maria in a stunning Irish tenor. And for the grand finale, the Whine and Cheese Club lined up on stage. They’d ducked into the bathroom earlier to put on their elf costumes. As Sweet Tee’s Let the Jingle Bells Rock filled the room with rhythmic Christmas spirit, the women let loose with their hip-hop number.

Hayley got a kick out of their loose-limbed rendition but she loved the reaction from Kendra’s sons. All four at the table were on their feet, whistling and clapping in time to the dance. The rest of the audience took their cue from the McGavin brothers and rose as a group to urge the women on. Energy flowed through the room in waves of joy.

She glanced back at Badger and his face was alight as he clapped and whistled along with the rest of the men at the table. He was clearly having the time of his life at this party.

The end of the song was greeted with a roar of approval. On impulse, Hayley turned back to Badger and gave him a hug. “Having fun?”

“I love this town,” he murmured. “I could live here.”