Page 56 of The Christmas Cowboy

Since she’d had warning, she wasn’t poleaxed but she was surprised, even though she knew exactly who to blame for this rumor. “I wouldn’t know,” she said, and took her smoothie to a table along the wall.

Letty walked in and waved at her before going to the counter to order. Val could tell by her expression as she walked to the table with her coffee that Letty had gotten an earful.

“I’m going to kill Trent,” she told Letty.

“I’ll help. What does he think this will accomplish?”

“Other than ruining my life, I don’t know. Thank goodness my parents don’t get to town a lot but gossip this juicy will reach them sooner or later. I’m going to have to tell them the truth.” And she didn’t even want to think about her father’s reaction.

“So he really wants to claim the baby? Does he plan to ask for partial custody?”

“I don’t know what his plans are. Liam and I consulted a lawyer and Trent can demand a paternity test. But I won’t have to have it until after the baby is born.”

“Speaking of Liam, what does this mean for you two?”

“I’m not sure.” Liam had said he loved her. He’d said he wanted the baby. She believed he wanted to raise the baby with her. But God, it was going to be such a mess with Trent involved. Could he get partial custody? She couldn’t imagine he’d want it but what if he did? What kind of father would he be? A man who’d denied paternity until he’d heard someone else wanted the child? That didn’t augur well for his parenting skills, in her opinion.

Whereas Liam would make a wonderful father.

“I don’t know what it means,” she repeated. “Once my parents hear the truth, there’s no reason for him to stay married to me.”

“Of course there is. You love each other. Don’t you?”

“I love him. But he didn’t marry me for love, Letty.”

“So? That doesn’t mean he hasn’t fallen in love with you.” She looked at Val and tapped her fingers on the table. “How’s the sex?”

“Letty!”

“What? Don’t tell me you haven’t done it yet. Not after our talk.”

“Of course we’ve ‘done it.’ It’s been weeks.”

“Sex is very important in a relationship, especially a marriage. So is it ho-hum or fabulous or somewhere in between?”

Val knew she was blushing. Which was silly but there it was. “It’s amazing.” And he liked it too. She didn’t doubt that. “But that’s beside the point.”

“Not really. But you clearly don’t want to talk about it so I’ll drop it.”

“Letty? Last night…something happened.” Letty stayed silent, waiting for Val to continue. “Liam…said he loved me.”

“That’s wonderful, Val. Why aren’t you jumping up and down with happiness?”

“Maybe he simply thinks he does. Maybe he wants to but…it’s a little too quick, a little coincidental after me seeing Trent and us talking to the lawyer.” Still, he’d sounded like he meant it. And Liam didn’t lie.

“Why would he say it if he didn’t mean it?”

“Because he’s a good guy. Hell, Letty, he married me to help me out. Now the shit’s about to hit the fan and he’s trying to make me feel better. Make me not worry.”

“I don’t think he’d tell you he loved you if he didn’t mean it. It wouldn’t be like him to do that. He’s pretty much honest to a fault.”

“I know. But we’re married. He wants to be a father to the baby. I think he’s been lonely for a long time and here I am with a ready-made family.”

Letty stared at her a moment. “Why did you tell Trent?”

“I wish I hadn’t. I knew I didn’t want him. I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t how he reacted. He’s the biological father, though, and he deserved to know. Even if he is a shit.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

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