Page 62 of Jagger

Cally’s little voice brought smiles to both our faces. “I guess you have a dog.”

“You mean we have a dog,” Bella said. “As long as no one claims her.”

As she turned around, crouching down and having a discussion with her daughter, I realized that I’d just placed myself in a predicament I wasn’t certain I could get out of.

But even stranger than allowing myself to do that was that I suddenly felt happy.

I only hoped it all didn’t come crashing down when she realized I really was a bad guy.

Then she would run and I’d let her.

CHAPTER 17

Bella

My phone chirped indicating a text.

Instantly, I was on edge, my nerves crawling with anxiety.

I ignored the sound, staring out the windshield.

“Xena didn’t like her bath, Mama,” Cally said from the backseat.

“Maybe not, but she wasn’t getting in this vehicle without one,” I told her. I had a feeling when the housekeepers came to get the cabin ready for the next guests, they wouldn’t be too happy either. The entire downstairs smelled like wet dog. “She was smelly like you are when you play in the mud.”

Cally giggled, which brought a sense of relief. I’d been anxious all morning. The text only made it worse.

Another text came in and my skin was crawling. There was a chance Esme was chastising me over not telling her everything about where I’d landed, but my gut told me otherwise.

Joel was taunting me again, keeping me on edge on purpose.

While my phone was in my purse, I hadn’t turned off the ringer. What was wrong with me? The answer was far too complicated.

“I don’t like baths either,” Cally admitted.

Hearing her happy laughter was exactly what I needed. Especially since Jagger was brooding, even though he was doing much better at not hiding his emotions after the night we’d had.

I wasn’t certain I’d done the right thing in agreeing to stay with Jagger for whatever number of days or weeks I remained in Danger Falls. He wasn’t entirely certain his offer was the right thing to do either. I could tell by his brooding demeanor.

He knew I was an imposter. I could feel it in my bones. That’s why he remained quiet, fuming because I’d lied to him.

Whatever he’d learned about me was akin to dynamite waiting to be lit. And the fuse was short. Could I trust him? How did I know he wouldn’t pick up the phone and contact Joel or the man’s equally horrible attorney?

I didn’t.

That’s why our silence was easier to deal with.

When another text came in, Jagger finally shifted in his seat. Had he heard the sound? Of course he had. The man was like a radar beacon, catching every sound.

“Aren’t you going to respond?” he asked.

“I’m sure it’s nothing important.”

“Right,” he huffed.

I did my best to ignore both my phone and his snide comment, but when another text came in, the angry side of me took over. With one hard jerk, I pulled my phone into my hands.

The text was ugly and very clear as to Joel’s intentions.

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