Page 4 of The Christmas Cowboy

“Someone to take care of the ranch for a few days. I need to make sure the new manager and hand are up to it.”

“Why? Won’t we just go to the courthouse and get married? That won’t take long.”

“Val, if we have any hope of your dad or anyone else believing there’s something real between us, enough to want to get married, then we need to go away for a few days, at least.”

“Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. Okay, I’ll have to dream up something to explain my absence too if we’re going to have a honeymoon.”

“Yes. Even a short one will help.” He let her think that over while he asked her something else. “Are you going to tell Riley or do you want me to?”

“Riley?” She looked alarmed. “Can we wait to tell him?”

Liam frowned. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell him now?” Riley was his best friend and Val was Riley’s little sister. He was going to be bent out of shape as it was, but if Liam didn’t tell him he hated to think about what Riley would do.

“You want to tell him, don’t you?”

Liam shrugged. “Yeah. He’ll be really pissed if we don’t. I’m going to ask Connor to the wedding, so I’ll need to tell him. If I do that Riley will definitely need to know.”

“All right, we’ll tell him together. But don’t tell him I’m pregnant or why we’re getting married so quickly.”

“Riley wouldn’t judge you, Val.”

“Maybe not but I still don’t want to tell him. Not unless I have to.”

“He’ll wonder.”

“Can’t we tell him we’ve always had feelings for each other, and Logan and Cici getting married made us realize it?”

“We can try. But he’ll want to know why we’re getting married so quickly and why we’re going to the courthouse to do it with no one but Riley and Connor knowing our plans.” He paused and added, “Not to mention, this will be the first he’s heard of it.”

“Let him wonder. Please, Liam.”

“Val? Are you in here?”

“That’s Riley,” Val said. “Quick. Kiss me.”

This wasn’t exactly how he’d wanted to kiss Val for the first time but what the hell. Liam put his arms around her and kissed her. His lips moved over hers and her mouth opened. He slipped his tongue in her mouth, and she met it with hers. Just as he was getting into it, he heard Riley say, or rather, yell, “What in the hell is going on?”

Liam released Val and turned to look at his friend. He looked pissed, which didn’t surprise him. He wasn’t at all sure Riley would buy them getting married so quickly without a good reason. And if Val wouldn’t tell him she was pregnant—

“Oh, Riley,” Val said. “We have something to tell you.”

“Ya think?” He turned an angry glare at Liam.

“Liam and I have had feelings for each other for a long time now. And—well, we finally admitted it to each other and um, we’re getting married. Next weekend.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean, why? I just told you.”

“Why is this the first I’ve heard of yourfeelingsfor each other and why are you getting married so quickly? What’s the rush?”

“We just decided we didn’t want to wait to have a big wedding or anything, so we’re planning to go down to the courthouse and get married there.”

“I see.” To say his expression was thunderous didn’t even touch it. “Liam, can I talk to you alone?”

“Sure.” Liam stood.

“You can talk right here,” Val said. “There’s no need to drag him off.”

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