Page 45 of The Christmas Cowboy

“In that case,” he said, and kissed her again.

*

A couple ofdays after she and Liam went to the tree lighting and the Stroll, Val met Letty and Cici at Grey’s to have a bite to eat and then shop. Val hadn’t gotten her fill of shopping during the Stroll and there were still a few gifts she had left to buy. She’d bought Liam a beautiful illustrated book about famous quarter horses. Not the most exciting thing in the world, but it was pretty, and she knew he’d like it. She wanted to get him something else, something he’d love, but so far she hadn’t thought of what. Right now, though, she needed something for his mom. Her mother-in-law. That still seemed unreal to her.

They took a booth near the back and she and Letty ordered grilled chicken salads while Cici had a hamburger. After they ordered Val said to Cici, “Are you getting Maureen something for Christmas or are you just letting Logan do it?”

“I told Logan he’s in charge of his family’s gifts. At least this year. Unless I see something that’s perfect for his mom or brothers. What about you?”

Once Val knew she had nothing to worry about with Cici and Liam, she found she liked her new sister-in-law a lot. “Liam and I didn’t really talk about it, but I assumed he’d get his family’s gifts and I’d get mine. But maybe that was a mistake. I thought I’d try to find something for Maureen, anyway. But what, I don’t know.”

“You can’t go wrong with chocolate,” Letty said. “Sage’s Chocolate has gift chocolates.”

“Oh, that’s perfect. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. Thanks, Letty.”

“What are you getting Liam?” Cici asked.

Val told them and added, “I also want to get him something special but I’m at a loss.”

“Liam’s mare recently foaled, didn’t she?” Letty asked.

“Yes. He’s crazy about her and the foal.”

“You know Mia Gallagher is an artist. Ask her to paint the mare and her foal.”

“He’d love that. But I can’t imagine she could do it on such short notice.”

“Can’t hurt to ask,” Cici said.

“I’ll call her right now,” she said, and excused herself.

To her absolute shock Mia said she could do it. All she needed to do was text or email her a picture. Which she had on her phone and was able to send right away.

“Success, I take it?” Letty said when she returned.

“I can’t believe it, but she said yes.”

“Told you,” Cici said with satisfaction.

The waitress brought their meal and while she ate, Val overheard a conversation from the booth behind theirs. A conversation she was pretty sure she was supposed to overhear.

“Christy, did you really? You actually told him you wanted to sleep with him?”

“Not in those words but he got my drift.”

“But he’s married. He’s a newlywed, for heaven’s sake.”

“So? You know Liam and I used to date. I can tell he’s still interested in me.”

“I don’t know about that. I saw him and Val together at the Stroll and they were pretty lovey-dovey.”

Christy sniffed. “He’ll get tired of her before long. And I’ll be waiting.”

Val struggled with herself. She was thinking hard about punching the woman right in the mouth, but she didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of knowing she’d gotten to her. Letty and Cici had obviously heard Christy too, judging by their frowns.

“Ignore her,” Letty said. “She’s lying about Liam being interested.”

Maybe. Probably. “He said they only went out a few times. And that he wasn’t at all interested in her.”

---