Page 7 of Wed to You

She studied him for a moment, or maybe she was just mesmerized again by his amused crystalline eyes and devilish smile. What she didn’t see in his handsome face was judgment about how much she ate or for snapping at him.

“Aren’t you hungry?” Kaden’s inquisitive blue eyes gazed at her.

She was hungry. And this wasn’t a date. She wasn’t trying to impress Jagger. With a shrug, she took the pizza.

“I eat a lot because I’m growing.” Kaden set a piece of crust next to the remains of the last slice he ate.

“You are growing. I think you may have grown since we’ve been here.” Chelsea smiled at him.

“Really?” His eyes rounded to saucers and then he gave her a toothless grin. “Pretty soon I’ll be as big as you.”

“Pretty soon.”

“I’m not sure you realize it, but that was a marriage proposal.” Jagger laughed.

It wasn’t unusual for her students to have crushes on her or call her mom. Chelsea thought it was sweet.

“By the way, I know where all his food is going. Where do you put it?” His brows pulled together quizzically as he nodded toward her.

Chelsea wasn’t sure if he was teasing, but she decided to take the question at face value. “I burn it. I chase after five-year-olds all day, and many nights I work at the Dixie Diner. When I can, I like to play sports.”

Jagger grinned. “What kind of sports?”

There was a subtle, but visible twinkle in his eyes that made her think he had a different idea for potential sports activities. Even as her mind called him a pervert, her hormones sent a little thrilling chill through her body. “I used to play a lot of rec sports like soccer. When I can, I like to play tennis.”

“That’s right. You went to college on a soccer scholarship.”

She jerked back, surprised he’d known. While she’d been able to pay for college, graduate school was another matter. Those loan payments were a month behind.

“Brian was proud of you for that.”

“He told you?” She knew Jagger and Brian hung out when Jagger was in the area, but she didn’t think they were the type of friends that stayed in touch when they were apart or shared personal details of their lives.

Jagger nodded. “The last time I saw him, he was in New York. Mitch was there too. I took them out for a night on the town.”

For some strange reason, Chelsea was glad to hear her brother had a night of clubbing and possibly debauchery before heading to the Middle East.

“We have a tennis court.”

Chelsea tore her gaze from Jagger to Kaden. “Do you play?”

“Nah. I ride my bike or scooter on it. Do you ride bikes?”

“I used to. I don’t have one anymore.” It was one of many things she’d sold to help cover her bills and living expenses.

Kaden’s eyes widened in horror. “You should get one. They’re fun.”

The waitress arrived at the table. “Can I get you anything else?”

Jagger looked to Chelsea and Kaden. “Dessert?”

“Yeah!” Kaden clapped his hands together. “I want a sundae.” Turning to Chelsea he said, “We never get dessert.”

Chelsea turned her suspicious gaze on Jagger. Was he trying to get her to eat more? Feeling surly, she decided to poke back. “I’ll have the double chocolate brownie sundae.”

“Oh, yeah, that’s what I want too. Can I?”

“Two brownie sundaes and a coffee.” He nodded questioningly to Chelsea. She nodded back.

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