Page 20 of Jagger

“Mommy. Look. Look!”

“I see them, baby. Can I talk to you for a second, Jagger?”

He lifted his head, eyeing me warily. “Yeah. Go ahead.”

“In the other room.” I folded my arms, perhaps doing my best to hold in my anger. He swaggered in a few seconds later and my eyes were drawn to his stubbled face and clenched jaw. I could easily sit and stare at his eyes for a lengthy period.

“Look, I really do appreciate you doing nice things for me. I don’t know how to thank you, but I don’t appreciate you just assuming what my daughter and I would want or that we can’t do it for ourselves. I’m a strong woman. I can do what I need to take care of my daughter. It has to be that way. I would have found the grocery store myself.” My voice was cracking just a tiny bit and I hated myself more for it.

Showing any sign of weakness couldn’t happen.

He had an icy glare, huffing a few seconds later. “How were you planning on making that happen?”

“I do have a vehicle. You followed me here last night. Remember?”

“You mean that pricey piece of shit with tires meant for a dry surface?”

I was shocked at his vehemence. “Piece of shit? That’s a top-quality Mercedes.” I was arguing with a man who drove a car worth twice what I’d paid? Yes, the Range Rover was older but still pricey.

“I call it like I see it.”

“You’re not a nice man.”

“I never said I was.”

“Then why did you assume I’d want groceries?” I asked, immediately realizing how stupid my question really was.

He grinned, but it wasn’t a friendly gesture. “I thought your daughter might be hungry. I’m not a good man, but I won’t allow a child to suffer because of her mother’s holier than thou attitude.”

Okay. Wow. That did it.

“Take them back. Every bag. I don’t want anything you have to provide. Just tell me what I owe you for the cabin and dinner last night and I’ll be getting out of your hair.”

He was stupid enough to laugh. That only brought out the kind of rage I hadn’t been able to act on with Joel.

“Have you looked outside this morning, sweetheart? The roads are about to close. You won’t be able to get down that mountain with your tires, so you’ll be stuck in a snowdrift somewhere or worse, you’ll drop off the side of a mountain. My guess is since there are so many clueless tourists, all the guys with tow trucks will be mighty busy. I don’t think you want to be stranded for hours. Do you?”

“Sweetheart?” That was all I’d gotten from his soliloquy? With my hands on my hips, I walked closer. I was instantly hit with the scent of his male testosterone, my mind almost instantly fuzzy. “I’ll take my chances versus being forced to deal with a Neanderthal jerk doubling as a narcissist.”

We glared at each other and the fire we shared was threatening to soften my anger. I refused to allow it.

The standoff might be considered ridiculous, but the last thing I needed was some do-gooder, even a snarly one getting in mybusiness. With a single phone call, my nightmare would begin again.

“Come on, little princess. We have adventures to seek. I’ll get your stuff.”

“Mama. Where are we going?” Her little voice just about broke my heart. I sensed she was close to the edge of throwing a tantrum. Unwanted tears formed in my eyes. Lack of sleep and being in a totally new environment wasn’t helping.

“I don’t know yet, but we’ll find some place special.”

She grabbed onto the koala bear and there was no way I was going to take it from her. I’d tossed in a couple of books, her crayons and coloring books, and two dolls for her to play with. That was it. I hadn’t been thinking clearly, terrified Joel would return to the house. My brain was still mush, but it was way past time to get my act together.

“Don’t do something stupid,” he said.

“Don’t you dare call me stupid. I will never allow that to happen.” Again.

“I didn’t call you stupid. You’re one stubborn lady and you’re going to get yourself killed.”

“Watch me, big boy. I can handle just about anything life throws in my direction.”

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