Page 65 of Tangled Trust

"Is it today already?" he asks with a sleepy voice.

"It is. Come on, star player, let’s get you dressed."

The forty minutes that follow are a blur. Jagger rushes around getting his things ready, Dash does what he does best, which is getting under our feet, and I prepare snacks and juice for the morning.

Soon we’re in the car and on our way to Jagger’s tennis tournament. The level of excitement is too high for my iffy stomach to cope, and I have to take in frequent gulps of fresh air. I’m grateful that the fall air is cool enough so I don’t overheat.

"How are you feeling, munchkin?" I ask a very excitable Jagger. "Is your tummy okay?"

"I’m fine."

Bully for you. Thanks for passing it on, you little carrier pigeon, you.

"That’s great. Are you excited to play?"

"Coach says I play like a star," he says proudly.

"I know. I’ve watched you. You’re very good."

"I wish Daddy was here to see."

"I’ll take a video clip and send it to him, okay?"

"Cool. Is Mommy coming to watch?"

"Yes, sweetheart."

I wish she wasn’t, but I guess she has every right to be there. I’ll stay back so she doesn’t give me her signature death stare. Now that I’m sleeping with her ex, I suppose she has even more reason to hate me. Not that she knows. Or, at least, I hope she doesn’t. One can never know who’s been saying what in a home as large as Carter’s.

He and I aren’t flaunting our relationship, but there are many eyes and twice as many mouths that love to carry news. From what I gather, though, the former Mrs. Moore wasn’t particularly popular with the staff. She’s not exactly warm and fuzzy, and she’s used to treating people like they’re beneath her. That’s the mark that coming from wealth seems to leave on people like Amanda.

I’m not feeling great, so I’m in no mood today to take a tongue-lashing from the likes of her.

"Here we are, Poppet." Let’s do this."

19

CARTER

Look at her. Ella is ridiculously gorgeous. I can’t believe I missed her this much. I’m burning to present her with the negligee I bought her. Or am I burning to rip it off her with my teeth? Either way, I think I’ll save that until later.

“Hello, Jones," I say after I give her a thorough snog hello. I’m already undressing her with my eyes.

"Why, hello to you too."

Tonight we’re in the guesthouse. It’s a good place for us to hang out, away from prying eyes.

"How are you feeling?"

"Not quite back to fighting fit just yet, but better. How was your trip?"

"Productive, thanks. How was your week? Apart from battling the green bug."

"Good. Jagger played like a little star today," she smiles, proud as punch.

"Thanks for sending the clip. He’s growing up so fast. I wish I could freeze time and keep him at this age. He’s so cute."

"I hear you. His coach tells me he’s never seen a child Jagger’s age progress so quickly at tennis."

---