Page 24 of Wed to You

He inhaled deeply and nodded. “When she left, she planned to take Kaden, but there was no way I’d allow that. She didn’t fight me very hard on it.” He shook his head. “I learned later that my father paid her five hundred thousand dollars to leave.”

“What?” Chelsea’s stomach clenched. What kind of family was Jagger from?

“She was supposed to take Kaden and disappear. He wasn’t happy to learn Kaden hadn’t gone.”

“Why? Doesn’t your father like him?”

He laughed derisively. “My father doesn’t like anyone but himself. But he especially doesn’t like Kaden because my father doesn’t like sharing my grandfather’s money. He’s been trying to get at Kaden’s inheritance since the moment my grandfather died.”

“Jagger.” She wasn’t sure what to say.

“It’s possible she’s back for Kaden, but it’s also possible she’s back because she’s blown through the money my father gave her. Either way, I’m going to fight.” He looked at her with determination. “I love that kid. I...I don’t know what I’d do if I lost him.” He turned away, as if he was embarrassed he’d revealed so much of himself.

She reached out, placing her hand over his. He looked down at her hand over his, then turned his over and clasped hers. She felt the heat of his touch, but it wasn’t an electric zing like usual. Instead, it was a slow-flowing warmth that wrapped around her heart.

He looked up from their joined hands. “She abandoned him even before she walked out. Not a single word for two years. Meanwhile, I’m the one who’s cared for him when he’s sick. I taught him how to throw a ball and ride a bike. I’m the one who takes him to tee-ball and the dentist. I know you think it wasn’t me, that I pawned off all the child rearing to Mrs. Stanton, but you’re wrong.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Only the school stuff because...well, only the school stuff.” He turned away.

Chelsea titled her head.“Why?”

He blew out a breath. “Because I couldn’t face you.”

Had she heard that right? “I don’t understand.”

He looked at her again. “Because of what happened at the wedding.”

“Oh that.” She sat back, pulling her hand free as her humiliation and embarrassment came to the surface again. “I’m not surprised you ditched me, Jagger.”

His face pinched in a pained expression. “I didn’t ditch…well, I did. But I didn’t want to. Mitch asked…”

He didn’t finish the statement. He didn’t have to. Mitch. She should have guessed he’d intervened. Except, it was his wedding. How had he even been able to pull his attention away from Sydney long enough to notice Jagger talking with her?

“Do you always do what Mitch tells you?”

His lips twitched upward. “He carries a gun.” Then his expression turned serious. “He cares for you. Looks out for you. And I...I couldn’t tell him my intentions—”

She snorted. “Yeah, right.” She couldn’t imagine that Jagger would be romantically interested in a woman like her. Although, maybe he thought she’d be an easy lay. She was single, unattached, and no matter how hard she tried, she could never stop herself from going a little gaga around him.

Jagger’s eyes narrowed questioningly. “I liked you...do like you, Chelsea, but I couldn’t guarantee him I wouldn’t hurt you and, since you’d been through so much, I didn’t want to take that chance.”

“So you just ditched me?”

He inhaled deeply and winced, as if the memory of what he’d done bothered him. “I did. Look, I don’t deny I sowed my oats or that I can be a mean SOB at times. But I’m not a jerk—”

She bit her lip but couldn’t stop her eye roll.

He gritted his teeth. “I know what I did was a jerk thing to do, but I knew if I went back to your table to make my excuses, I wouldn’t leave. And since Mitch is my friend, just about my only friend down here, I knew I had to go. I’m sorry if I hurt you—”

“More like humiliated me.” She grimaced, wishing she hadn’t let him know how much his abandoning her had hurt her.

He let out a curse. “I’m sorry for that. And ashamed. I hope you can understand and forgive me.”

Well, of course she could because he was looking at her with those brilliant blue eyes...electric blue?...with remorse. “Why would Mitch do that?”

“He cares about you. He takes his promise to Brian seriously. I can’t imagine he hasn’t also warned you away from me. I do have a reputation.”

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