Chapter Ten
T hey went back to 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.”
“What did he say, Val? Tell me.”
She didn’t look at him when she answered. “He denied he was the father and called me a whore.”
“He did what? The bastard actually said that to you?”
“His exact words were: ‘You want me to take the word of a whore that you’re pregnant? If you’re pregnant it could be anyone’s baby. It sure as hell isn’t mine.’” She’d been so shocked she hadn’t known what to say. Then he’d hung up, telling her not to bother him again.
Liam’s expression was thunderous. “Who is it? Is he from around here?”
“Yes. He lived somewhere else for a while but then he moved back to town. And if you want to know his name so you can go punch him, forget it. Don’t deny that’s what you want to do. You have the same look in your eye that Riley did when he punched you.”
“Nobody gets to talk to you that way. Sure as hell not some dipshit who won’t even take responsibility for his kid.” She hesitated and he added, “I’ll find out eventually. You might as well tell me now.”
True. “If I tell you who he is you have to promise you won’t go find him and beat him up.”
“Why?”
“I’m not on his radar and I don’t want to be.”
“I can’t promise I won’t punch him. But I won’t do it unless he comes to the ranch or I run into him in town. Then all bets are off.”
“You can’t. If you do it’s bound to come out that he’s the father.”
“Crap. You’re right.” He was silent for a moment. “How about I won’t do anything unless he hassles you?”
She figured that was as good as she’d get. “Promise?”
“I promise.”
“I doubt you know him. His name is Trent Harvey.”
*
Shit. “Trent Harvey? From Marietta?” Surely it wasn’t the same Trent Harvey he was thinking of.
“Yes, originally. But recently he’s only been in Marietta off and on.” She stared at Liam. “You do know him, don’t you?”
“Yeah. I know him. Went to high school with him.” Trent had hated Liam’s whole family, but he had a special hate on for Liam.
“You don’t like him.”
“No, and he hates me. Still does, even years later.” The last time Liam saw him, a few years ago now, Trent had picked a fight with him. Liam was slow to anger but when pushed he’d defend himself. Which he had and Trent had ended up knocked flat on his ass. “I thought he might not be as big an asshole as he used to be but hearing the way he’s treated you, he’s worse.”
“Why does he hate you?”
“My dad bought his dad’s land. They had a small farm near us. On the other side, closer to Clint’s ranch.”
“And that made him hate you? Why?”
“His dad had to sell because he lost their money. So Trent resented my family. High school made him hate me even more than the rest of my family.”
“What happened in high school?”
“There was a girl we both liked.” Liam hadn’t known Trent liked her. Even if he had, she hadn’t liked Trent.
“Say no more. I’m sure I can figure that out.”
He shrugged. “Yeah. Then there was rodeo. We competed against each other. I usually won.”
“Usually?”
“Not always. But most of the time.”
“He’ll have a fit if he finds out we’re married.”
“It’s none of his business. He forfeited that right when he denied he was the father of your baby.”
“I don’t know what to do. I don’t know the legalities of the situation. What if he changes his mind? What if he decides he wants to be a father after all?”
“Come here.” He put his arm around her and tucked her against him, rubbing her arm. “We’ll talk to a lawyer and find out. From what I’ve read, if we’re married when you have the baby, I’m the legal father.”
“What if he wants to prove he’s the baby’s biological father?”
“I don’t know. But I do know you shouldn’t worry about it now. Nothing has happened yet. Maybe nothing will.”
“Maybe. And here I thought my father was the problem.”
“I’ll find out who’s the best lawyer for this and make an appointment for both of us to see him or her. In the meantime, stop worrying. You did the right thing and told him about the baby. As far as I’m concerned, he lost his rights when he denied being the father. It’s not your fault he’s a piece of shit who denied his own child.”
“No, but maybe I should have tried harder.”
“Do you honestly think that would have changed anything?”
“No. At this point I just hope he doesn’t change his mind.”
So did Liam. But if it happened they’d deal with it.