Page 65 of Wed to You

Chapter Eleven

Chelsea saton the terrace overlooking Central Park, still trying to get her bearings straight. It had been an adjustment moving with Jagger into his Virginia estate with staff to take care of every need, but she’d still been surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains she knew so well. Now, sitting twenty-something stories up with the noise of the city, she felt like she was in The Twilight Zone. How’d I get here? She felt like an awkward teenage girl bumping into everything and saying stupid things. She didn’t fit.

The staff didn’t help. Grayson had a way of talking to her like she was a child. Miss Z rolled her eyes a lot, especially when Chelsea took a second helping during a meal. Only Mrs. Stanton tried to be helpful, but there were times Chelsea thought Mrs. Stanton was unhappy about Chelsea stepping in, especially around Kaden’s care. Chelsea supposed the woman who’d raised Jagger and Kaden would feel threatened by a new mother figure. Still, she’d been helpful, explaining their usual routines and favorite haunts in New York. At the park, she’d shared stories of taking Jagger there to play when he was a boy.

Although she’d known intellectually that Mrs. Stanton was a mother figure to Jagger and Kaden, it had become abundantly clear as she told their stories, she wasn’t just a nanny. She loved both of “her boys.” Although Chelsea had only heard a few stories about Jagger’s father, she suspected Mrs. Stanton was the reason Jagger hadn’t completely lost his soul and become the philanderer his father had. Mrs. Stanton was the one who understood the toll seeing his father took on Jagger.

When Jagger entered the apartment that afternoon after meeting with his father, his eyes looked dull and lost. As if maybe he had lost a piece of himself. Chelsea wanted to reach out and hug him, to let him know he had people who cared for him. That had to be the reason that instead of taking his kiss on the cheek, she’d turned her head and kissed him warm and full on the lips and held his cheek close to hers. Almost immediately, discomfort arose inside her. It was too hard to be near him and keep up the barrier that stopped her from wanting more. When she kissed him, she thought he might smirk or get that sensual glimmer in his eyes that promised sweet delights if she’d allow him to touch her. Instead, she saw surprise and maybe even relief or gratitude. As if she’d given him something he needed.

As soon it was there, it was gone, and they were back to pretending to be a happy family. Good. That was how it needed to be, even though her heart ached to give him more. Not just sex, but love. She wanted to soothe away the lost and hurt look in his eyes.

Instead, she sat on the terrace reading a novel while Kaden played a video game and Jagger met with Alexis Fairchild. Chelsea pushed away the image of Jagger sprawling naked on a platform as Alexis painted him in art class. Instead, she focused on her book, wanting to enjoy it because it had been years since she’d had the time or mental energy to read.

“What a beautiful day.” Alexis’s voice came from behind Chelsea.

“May in New York is just about perfect.” Jagger stepped out onto the terrace. He pressed a hand to Chelsea’s shoulder, which she knew was part of the act.

She smiled at him. “Did the meeting go well?”

“All is bright and shiny in Jagger’s future.” Alexis, in a tailored white suit that fit snug around her all her curves and looking nothing like a bohemian, sat on the couch across from Chelsea’s chaise lounge. Jagger sat in a chair next to Chelsea.

Miss Z brought out two glasses of wine, handing them to Alexis and Jagger. “Would you like a glass Mrs. Talbot? Or more iced tea?”

It took Chelsea a minute to remember she was Mrs. Talbot. “Uh, no, thank you, Miss Z.”

With a nod, Miss Z headed back into the penthouse.

“Marlena is having a party tonight. You should go.” Alexis leaned back on the couch, sipping her wine.

“No.”

The bite in Jagger’s tone caused Chelsea to look at him.

“Why not?” Alexis asked.

“Did Marlena call you? Or my father?”

“Jagger. People want to meet Chelsea.”

“I don’t want people to meet her or her to meet people.”

Chelsea jerked back as hurt and anger flushed through her body. Her brain told her she shouldn’t be surprised. Not even a fancy dress and shoes would be able to cover up the fact that she wasn’t a part of this world. She wasn’t glamorous or sophisticated.

“Jagger.” Alexis’s clipped voice chastised him and then she looked at Chelsea, her features apologetic.

“No. It’s okay. I wouldn’t have anything to wear anyway.” Chelsea stood, intending to go inside. She felt precariously close to crying and didn’t need an audience.

“Chelsea.” Jagger reached out a hand.

“I’m getting a little too much sun. Red hair and too much sun isn’t a good mix. It was good to see you again, Ms. Fairchild.”

“Please, call me Alexis.”

With a nod, Chelsea rushed into the penthouse to her and Jagger’s master bathroom. Closing the door, she sat in the large tub and cried. She wasn’t quite sure why. She was normally a strong woman. But Jagger’s vehemence had struck a nerve. When she’d run through her pros and cons list of what marrying Jagger would mean, she hadn’t considered how unfit she was in his world. She’d didn’t think about having to come to New York as a corporate wife.

She wasn’t a complete hick, but her accent would automatically make people assume she was. Although the Central Virginian Southern accent wasn’t as strong as those in Southwestern Virginia or in the more southern states, there was no doubt she spoke with an accent. While she was educated, she was ignorant of the social norms and rules of people of Jagger’s socioeconomic status. She’d heard about them from Lexie, who on occasion had to attend functions with Drake. But she was out of her element here.

Still, she’d agreed to this marriage and even if she hadn’t anticipated feeling like a frumpy outsider, she had to suck it up and do the best she could. That meant she needed to pull herself together.

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