Chapter Twelve
“I ’m really nervous about telling your mom we’re married.” They’d pulled up to the back door and were sitting in Liam’s truck.
“Don’t worry. She’ll be happy.”
“She’ll wonder about you marrying me when not long ago she thought you were going to marry Cici.”
He smiled at her, put his hand on the back of her neck and drew her close. Then he kissed her. Her mind blanked. Instead of second thoughts, or worries about the marriage, she just went with it. Allowed herself to simply enjoy and respond. Their tongues tangled, his hand dropped and his arm went around her to pull her closer. If the console hadn’t been in the way…
“What was that for?” she asked when the kiss ended.
“Mostly because I wanted to. But also because I thought it might help you not to be nervous.”
“Liam?”
“Yeah?”
“Nothing. We’d better go in.” She’d come within an inch of asking him when they were going to make love. Or have sex, or however he wanted to put it. But for once she’d thought before she spoke.
Liam opened the back door and, holding her hand, stepped inside. Velma, the McFarlands’ housekeeper who’d been with them as long as she could remember, and who she’d seen too many times to count, had her back to them. “Connor, did you need something?”
“It’s me, not Connor.”
She turned around, surprise on her face. “Liam! I didn’t know you’d be back today.” She looked at Val, then her gaze fell to their joined hands. “Hello, Val.” To Liam she said, “Do you have something to tell us?”
Ignoring her question, he asked, “Where’s Mom?”
“Down at the barn. Connor’s there too.”
“Okay. We’ll talk to you later.”
“Want me to make up the guest room?” she asked as they were leaving.
He stopped at the door. “Nope. Show her your rings, Val.”
Val lifted her left hand.
“That answers that question. Congratulations, you two.” She didn’t seem surprised. Val wondered why.
“Thanks,” Liam answered.
On the way to the barn Val asked him a question. “So you’ve told Connor about the baby?”
“Yeah, but like I told you on our honeymoon, only that you’re pregnant. Not about the rest of it. He cornered me. I’m sorry, I know you didn’t want me to tell anyone.”
“That’s all right. You can tell your brothers. And if you have to you can tell them the truth. Just be sure they won’t tell anyone else.”
He stopped walking. “They don’t need to know details. Knowing you’re pregnant is enough.”
“Okay, but since Riley and Letty know the truth, it didn’t seem fair to ask you to keep it from your brothers.”
“The fewer people who know the better, at this point.”
“I guess you’re right. Still, if you want to tell them you can.”
“Thanks. Ready to go in?”
Val drew in a deep breath. “Ready.” But she found herself reluctant to go in. Liam, apparently having figured that out, held her hand and almost towed her along with him.
They found Connor in the stall with Moondance and her filly. “I was wondering when you’d get back,” Connor said when Liam said his name.
“We’re back. Where’s Mom?”
“How did the Fletchers take the news?”
“Too soon to tell,” Val said.
“Guess that’s no surprise. Mom’s in the tack room.”
“We don’t need your help,” Liam said as Connor got ready to follow them.
“If you think I’m gonna miss this you’re crazy.” He grinned.
Liam sighed and shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He squeezed the hand he still held and said, “Come on, Val.” He gave her a reassuring smile.
Mrs. McFarland was now her mother-in-law. She’d always been nice to Val. But Val hadn’t been married to her son then. What would she think? Especially the fact that they’d gotten married so quickly, with hardly anyone knowing, and no parents attending.
*
Liam flung open the door to the tack room. Maureen was cleaning a saddle and when she looked up a smile lit her eyes when she saw Liam. “Liam! When did you get back?” She glanced at the two of them, noticed their linked hands, and she raised her eyebrows. “Why, Val, it’s good to see you.”
“You too, Mrs. McFarland.”
“Mom, we have something to tell you.”
“Apparently you do. And I seem to be the only one here who doesn’t know, judging from the laughter Connor is doing a poor job of trying to stifle.”
He’d deal with Connor later. “Val and I got married over the weekend.”
“You—” She looked at him blankly.
“Got married. Yes.” He was fucking this up badly, but he couldn’t seem to help it.
“I…see. This seems rather sudden.”
“Not really. We’ve had feelings for each other for a long time.” God knows that was true. On his part anyway. “Logan’s wedding made both of us realize it.”
Maureen looked at Val. Liam could tell by the way she squeezed his hand how uncomfortable she was. “Was there a reason you didn’t tell me? After all, Connor knew.”
She gave Connor a look that should have warned him he was up shit creek with her. Connor, in turn, mouthed the words: You owe me big-time to him.
Val told her the same thing she’d told her own parents. Finishing, she said, “So rather than have a big fall-out with my mom and take forever to plan a wedding, we decided we’d just get married.”
“You didn’t invite anyone from either family to the wedding?”
“Connor stood up for me,” Liam said. “Riley was there and Val’s best friend, Letty. That’s all.”
Maureen shot him a look that said she was far from finished with him. She held out her arms and said, “Welcome to the family, Val.”
Val hugged her. “Please don’t be upset with Liam about keeping it secret. He only did what I asked him to.”
Oh, no way. He wasn’t letting her shoulder all the blame. “It was a mutual decision.”
“Are you bringing any horses with you?” Maureen asked Val.
“Just my mare, Starlight.”
“And Murphy, I imagine.” Maureen knew all about Murphy’s story.
“Yes. Liam said it was okay.”
“Of course it is. I’ll go talk to Velma about having a special family dinner for y’all. We’ll ask your family too, Val, of course. Logan and Cici got back from their honeymoon a couple of days ago. Have you talked to him, Liam? Does he know about you and Val?”
“Not unless Connor told him.”
“Hell no. It’s not my business to tell him.”
“At least I’m not the only one who was left in the dark,” Maureen said as she was leaving. “You’d better tell him soon.”
“How pissed do you think she is?” Liam asked his brother after she left.
“On a scale of one to ten? Eleven. Maybe twelve.”
“Yeah. That’s what I was afraid of.”
“I feel awful,” Val said. “Your mother probably hates me now.”
“Don’t worry,” Connor said. “Once you tell her you’re pregnant with her grandchild she won’t care at all.” When Val didn’t respond his eyes widened. “Oh, shit. Liam didn’t tell you he told me?”
“Of course I told her. But we’re still keeping it quiet. Which you know.”
“Hey, I’m not telling anyone else.”
Liam turned to Val. “I’ll call Logan and see if we can go see him and Cici after work today.”
“Yes. We need to tell him before the whole town knows.”
“Your new ranch manager and hand seem to be working out well. Les knows what he’s doing. And as far as I can tell, Melody isn’t a thief,” Connor said referring to the manager.
“She’d better not be. She had super recommendations.”
“I need to get going. I’m working tonight.”
“Okay. Thanks, Connor. I owe you.”
“And don’t you forget it,” he said, laughing.