Page 46

Just then, the DJ started talking really loud. Apparently, karaoke had started.

God save us all.

There was a small line of would-be stars eager to show their stuff that had shuffled close to the stage. First up was a trio of kids. They must have just turned twenty-one, and if I had to guess, they were part of a bachelor’s party.

As soon as the first few bars of the song played, I knew what they were going to sing—“Love Stinks” by The J. Geils Band. These guys could actually carry a tune, and it was pretty damn funny when the groom rushed the stage to demand they stop singing. Then the groom started singing “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley, and the entire bar was soon roaring with laughter.

However, nothing compared to that until a woman got up to imitate Marilyn Monroe. She was even wearing the famous white dress that Marilyn wore, but when she started singing “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” everyone at our table covered their ears. Yes, it was that bad. At one point, the DJ cut the mic. But she was good to look at. At least her boobs were.

Roxie had finally figured out that somebody had paid off our waitress, and she waved a twenty at her so that she came back to our table and delivered four more tequila shots. I watched Joy sway to some songs when people did a decent job singing. She was really getting into it. I was closely monitoring her window. I looked around at the other men and saw that they were observing their women as well.

“We’re up,” Roxie yelled.

I looked over at her as she and Ava stood up.

What the hell?

I hadn’t even realized they’d put their names in. Jesus, this was going to be either good or a train wreck. I sat back in my chair. Whichever way it went, I was going to be entertained.

Joy cuddled closer as we got ready to watch. This was the first time I had a chance to really get a look at Roxie’s outfit. She was dressed pretty much like Ava. They were both knockouts, and they were dressed to impress. As soon as they got up on stage, the wolf whistles and catcalls started.

The opening notes of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper blared through the speakers, and from the first off-key note, it was a disaster. They were laughing too hard to even keep up with the lyrics as they hung onto one another, bumped hips, and danced with their hands in the air. It didn’t matter how badly they sang, everybody was clapping and stomping their feet.

By the time they stumbled back to our table, everyone was demanding an encore, but Brent and Hart switched their seats, so they were now seated next to them, and kept them firmly by their sides.

“Stunning performance,” Hart said dryly.

“You brought down the house!” Lisa enthused.

“You should go next, Joy. You have a fantastic voice,” Ava yelled across the table.

Joy jolted. Roxie called out for another round of shots, and the waitress delivered again, so I knew our time was limited. Maybe Joy would get out of singing.

I watched as Ava pulled Roxie up to the DJ, and a lot of talking was done, and money exchanged hands. Oh God, this would not be pretty.

Another person was waiting, and they sang a song by Madonna, which left the audience flat. Then the DJ told everybody to quiet down. Joy didn’t have a clue that she was being set up.

“Joy, you don’t have to do⁠—”

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a small-town girl from Jasper Creek. I would like to introduce to you Joy Magill, who I have been told has the voice of an angel.”

Joy turned her head, hiding her face in my chest.

“Come on, Joy,” Ava shouted. “You’ve got this!”

“You’ll have fun,” Roxie assured her.

“It’s only five minutes of your life,” Lisa said as she pushed over another tequila shot.

Joy looked up from my shirt, picked up the shot, drank it down, wiped her mouth, and took just a small sip of water.

“No more cookies for the two of you,” she pointed at Ava and Roxie.

I leaned in until my lips were against her ear. “You don’t have to do this,” I whispered again.

She squeezed my shoulder and smiled. “I’ve got this.”

Hell, every time I turned around, there was more and more to like about this woman. I watched as she made her way up to the stage. She and the DJ conferred for a moment, then she turned around, pointed two fingers toward her eyes, and then pointed them back at Ava and Roxie, who were laughing so hard I thought they might fall out of their chairs.