Page 7 of The Christmas Cowboy

“How? What the—I mean, does he know about the baby?”

“Of course he does. That’s why he’s marrying me.”

“I’m going to get us some water and then you need to explain all this to me.”

When Letty returned Val took a fortifying sip of water and told her what had happened at the wedding. “So, after I told him I was pregnant and cried all over him, I said I wanted to keep the baby, but I didn’t know what to do,” she finished up. “On account of my father, you know.”

Letty sucked in a breath. “You know I love your dad,” Letty said, and took a sip of her water. “But good God, I wouldn’t want to tell him I was pregnant.”

“No, I don’t. And Liam’s known him forever, so he knows what he’s like. That’s when he asked me to marry him.”

Letty stared at her. “Don’t take this the wrong way but why?”

“Why did I say yes?”

“No, I know the answer to that. You’ve been in love with him forever.”

She didn’t deny it. What was the point? “You’re wondering why he asked me.”

“Well, yeah.”

“He says it’s going to help him out.” She explained about Liam’s mom. “So, he said if we got married it would solve both our problems.”

“What about Cici?”

“What about her? She’s married to Logan.”

“But she came to Marietta to meet Liam. Does he still have feelings for her?”

God, she hoped not. “He doesn’t act like he does. I mean he sure didn’t seem broken-hearted when she married Logan.”

“True enough. But do you think he’s in love with you, Val?”

She laughed. “I wish. No, but obviously I’m hoping to change that.”

“How?”

“I haven’t totally figured that out. But we did decide to make it a real marriage.”

“Real?”

Val nodded. “Real as in there will be sex.”

Letty’s eyebrows rose. “Oh, boy. Girl, you’re asking to get your heart broken into a zillion pieces.”

“Maybe. But maybe he’ll fall in love with me.”

“Because you’ll be having sex?”

Val shrugged. “Stranger things have happened. Now, I want you to stand up with me. Friday, at the courthouse.”

“Of course I will. I just hope you don’t regret this.”

So did she.

*

Liam finally trackeddown Connor at his apartment, right after he finished a shift. Just as Liam had expected, Connor thought he’d lost it.

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