Page 56 of Tangled Trust

Of course, I can’t tell Carter any of this. As far as he’s concerned, I’m Ella Jones, Au Pair to the rich and famous, not Ella Carter MD, a runaway, abused woman with a past.

“It was over long before it was over, Ella. I was willing to make it work for Jagger’s sake, but, honestly, I’m relieved it worked out the way it did. How else would I have met the girl of my dreams?”

“Oh, you didn’t just say something that corny, did you? I giggle and wink.

“Another stab. Man! You English lasses are mean,” he grins and kisses me.

“It’s the cold. Makes us mean.”

“I’d say. Let’s see if we can warm you up a little, shall we?”

Carter looks at his watch.

“We have exactly forty-four minutes to get you nice and steamy,” he purrs. “How about it, Jones? Ready to join the mile-high club?”

“Are you kidding? I’m almost done,” I coo.

* * *

“Right,” Carter says on the car ride home. “We don’t have to sneak around at home anymore. But, let’s be cool in front of Jagger. I don’t want him reporting back to Amanda about us. I know. I don’t owe her anything, but I don’t want to upset her.”

“That’s reasonable. Okay, boss.”

“Cute.”

“The women at home are going to hate me,” I chuckle.

“Really?”

“Uh-huh. They all have crushes on you. You’re a bit of a dish, you see.”

“That’s too bad for them. Turns out you’re a bit of a dish too,” he smirks.

“You don’t say?”

“I do.”

Our word tennis comes to an end as the car pulls into the driveway. Back to normal, we go.

Jagger is a torrent of tales when he arrives at the house at 6 p.m. I listen as he regales Carter and me with stories of his snowman-building escapades and how he can ski down the hill now. He’s so adorable.

Amanda wasn’t in the mood for a fight, by the looks of things, because she dropped him off and left without throwing daggers at Carter.

I’m hoping she’ll be less repugnant when it comes to me, but that’s probably not going to happen. But, despite her sharp tongue and laser eyes, Amanda stays out of my hair for the next few days. I’m eternally grateful for that.

All is back to normal, except that Carter and I are spending more time together. Alone time. When Jagger is at school or with his mother, we go for walks on the beach, we enjoy meals together, and Carter even manages to squeeze in a little hanky panky time.

What can I say? I’m a happy bunny.

It’s late one night when I decide to call Aunt Sue for a chat. I haven’t spoken to her in a while and I think it’s time I share my news about Carter with her.

“Sweet girl! How good of you to call.”

“Hi, Aunt Sue. Yes, sorry, I’ve been a little busy lately. How are you?”

“Right as rain, darling. More importantly, how are you?”

“I’m happy.”

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