Page 23 of The Christmas Cowboy

They went backto the cabin and Val took a shower while Liam fixed dinner. After her shower she looked for her flannel pants and T-shirt. She found them but she also found a very sexy, very short red satin nightie with spaghetti straps. Letty, she thought. Trust Letty to give her a push. She set it aside and put on the pants and T-shirt. Unless it was her turn to check on the horses last thing, she usually got into her pajamas as soon as she could. Liam was going to have to get used to her the way she was. Too bad she wasn’t brave enough to put on the nightie.

They ate macaroni and cheese, chicken noodle soup, and French bread. “If that isn’t enough to eat for you, we also have cookies.”

“This is fine but what kind of cookies?”

“Oreos.”

Oh, yum. “I didn’t see you buy those.”

“Bought them before the wedding.”

“Those are my favorite cookies in the world.”

He grinned. “I know.”

“How did you know?”

“Because I’ve known you for a long time. Besides, I asked Riley to make sure you still liked them.”

“That’s so sweet.”

“It’s not a big deal,” he said, laughing. “I’m going to shower. If there’s something you want to do after that let me know.”

What did she want to do? It was their honeymoon, even if it was a marriage of convenience. She wanted to make love, she thought, but didn’t say it. For one thing it would be having sex, not making love. There was nothing wrong with that. She wasn’t a prude, even if she wasn’t the most experienced woman. For some reason, though, she felt compelled to tell Liam the rest of her story.

He came in a while later, wearing jeans that had to be ancient. They looked soft, with worn knees and pockets that no doubt had carried countless sugar cubes. And no shirt, though he held a white T-shirt in his hands.

Damn. His chest made her mouth water. It was broad with a sprinkling of dark hair arrowing down to his jeans. Even though it was fall, he was tan still. His muscles came from ranch work. Yes, all the men who worked on the ranch had muscles like Liam’s. But somehow Liam’s made her want to trace them with her hands, kiss them and see how he reacted. She’d never felt that way about anyone else’s chest.

He put on his shirt. Luckily, since she couldn’t have stopped staring on a bet.

“Val? Are you okay?” He sat on the couch and looked at her closely.

“Of course. Why do you ask?”

“You looked like you were off in another world.”

I was. One where we were having a real honeymoon.“We need to talk.”

“Okay. About…”

“I know it doesn’t seem like it since I’m pregnant from a one-night stand, but I don’t usually have casual sex. In fact, that was my first time. I was tired of being alone. And he was so nice to me. We had fun. He was older, good-looking, and charming. At the time, anyway.” She hated to think about how naive she’d been. “I know sex is supposed to be no big deal…but to me, it is. Which makes a one-night stand totally out of character for me.”

“That doesn’t surprise me, Val. But we’ve already talked about this. You don’t owe me any more of an explanation.”

“Yes, I do. We’re married. You deserve to know what type of person you married.”

“I’ve known you since you were a young kid. I do know you.”

She sighed. “I was so naive. I was hoping it was going to be more than it was. At least at first. I didn’t expect him to never call me. I guess I should have.”

“Did you want him to call you?”

She shrugged. “Maybe. I think I’d have felt less stupid.” And less used. “As it was, I didn’t talk to him after that night until I called him to ask him to see me. I thought I should tell him I was pregnant in person. He refused to see me, so I told him over the phone.”

“Do you want him to be involved? Maybe he’s regretting what he said.”

“No.” She shook her head. “He was very clear that he wouldn’t claim the baby. And I’m glad he won’t. He was brutal when he told me. He said—” She broke off abruptly. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”

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