Page 62 of Wed to You-
Jagger workedto roll the tension from his shoulders as he made his way from the elevator to the penthouse. He’d survived another round with his father, but remnants of anger and annoyance remained. Mostly because he wasn’t done. While he might be able to avoid Marlena’s party that night, he wouldn’t be able to keep his father from meeting Chelsea at some point, if this problem with Tanya continued. He cringed at the idea. Chelsea was good and sweet and, while she was strong, Jagger knew his father would hurt her. She didn’t deserve that, which was a reminder of how selfish he’d been to involve her in this fake marriage.
Rolling his shoulders once more and working a smile on his face, he opened the door and entered the apartment.
“Jagger’s back!” Kaden slid from his chair at the dining table and ran toward Jagger. Jagger scooped him up, savoring the feeling of being part of something good. Something his father would gladly spoil.
“Whatcha doing?”
“Me and Miss Chelsea are having lunch.”
“You need to finish yours.” Mrs. Stanton entered the room, her hawkish eyes scanning his and narrowing, a sure sign he hadn’t been able to push away the negative energy from his father.
Jagger set Kaden down.
“I’ll let Miss Z know you’re ready to eat.”
Jagger nodded and followed Kaden to the table.
“Ms. Fairchild called. She’ll be here in about thirty minutes,” Grayson announced from behind Jagger.
Jagger nodded. “Thank you, Grayson.” He went to sit at the table and then remembered he was a newlywed. He stepped to where Chelsea sat, quiet but observant. Holding his tie to his chest, he bent over to kiss her cheek. Her head turned, and his lips met hers, sending a sweet rush of desire through him. Her hand pressed to his cheek, warm and tender. His tension subsided, replaced by calm. He wanted to stay there forever, in Chelsea’s sweet warmth.
He pulled away a few inches, curious about her actions. She’d slowly come to accept his touch or kiss, but this time, she’d kissed him.
“You okay? You look a little worn.”
He mustered a smile. “Nothing a little time with my wife and Kaden can’t cure.”
She flinched slightly at the word “wife,” which annoyed him again. He had no right to be irritated by her reaction, or to take it as a rejection. This was a business arrangement. But each time she checked herself, mentally reminded herself that this was fake, he felt a pinch in his chest. Shaking his head to rid himself of the ridiculous thoughts, he smiled and went to his chair to eat the pasta salad Miss Z placed in front of him.
Chapter 11
Chelsea sat on the terrace overlooking Central Park, still trying to get her bearings straight. It had been an adjustment moving with Jagger into his Virginia estate with staff to take care of every need, but she’d still been surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains she knew so well. Now, sitting twenty-something stories up with the noise of the city, she felt like she was inThe Twilight Zone.How’d I get here?She felt like an awkward teenage girl bumping into everything and saying stupid things. She didn’t fit.
The staff didn’t help. Grayson had a way of talking to her like she was a child. Miss Z rolled her eyes a lot, especially when Chelsea took a second helping during a meal. Only Mrs. Stanton tried to be helpful, but there were times Chelsea thought Mrs. Stanton was unhappy about Chelsea stepping in, especially around Kaden’s care. Chelsea supposed the woman who’d raised Jagger and Kaden would feel threatened by a new mother figure. Still, she’d been helpful,explaining their usual routines and favorite haunts in New York. At the park, she’d shared stories of taking Jagger there to play when he was a boy.
Although she’d known intellectually that Mrs. Stanton was a mother figure to Jagger and Kaden, it had become abundantly clear as she told their stories, she wasn’t just a nanny. She loved both of “her boys.” Although Chelsea had only heard a few stories about Jagger’s father, she suspected Mrs. Stanton was the reason Jagger hadn’t completely lost his soul and become the philanderer his father had. Mrs. Stanton was the one who understood the toll seeing his father took on Jagger.
When Jagger entered the apartment that afternoon after meeting with his father, his eyes looked dull and lost. As if maybe he had lost a piece of himself. Chelsea wanted to reach out and hug him, to let him know he had people who cared for him. That had to be the reason that instead of taking his kiss on the cheek, she’d turned her head and kissed him warm and full on the lips and held his cheek close to hers. Almost immediately, discomfort arose inside her. It was too hard to be near him and keep up the barrier that stopped her from wanting more. When she kissed him, she thought he might smirk or get that sensual glimmer in his eyes that promised sweet delights if she’d allow him to touch her. Instead, she saw surprise and maybe even relief or gratitude. As if she’d given him something he needed.
As soon it was there, it was gone, and they were back to pretending to be a happy family. Good. That was how it needed to be, even though her heart ached to give him more. Not just sex, but love. She wanted to soothe away the lost and hurt look in his eyes.
Instead, she sat on the terrace reading a novel while Kaden played a video game and Jagger met with Alexis Fairchild. Chelsea pushed away the image of Jagger sprawling naked on a platform as Alexis painted him in art class. Instead, she focused on her book, wanting to enjoy it because it had been years since she’d had the time or mentalenergy to read.
“What a beautiful day.” Alexis’s voice came from behind Chelsea.
“May in New York is just about perfect.” Jagger stepped out onto the terrace. He pressed a hand to Chelsea’s shoulder, which she knew was part of the act.
She smiled at him. “Did the meeting go well?”
“All is bright and shiny in Jagger’s future.” Alexis, in a tailored white suit that fit snug around her all her curves and looking nothing like a bohemian, sat on the couch across from Chelsea’s chaise lounge. Jagger sat in a chair next to Chelsea.
Miss Z brought out two glasses of wine, handing them to Alexis and Jagger. “Would you like a glass Mrs. Talbot? Or more iced tea?”
It took Chelsea a minute to remember she was Mrs. Talbot. “Uh, no, thank you, Miss Z.”
With a nod, Miss Z headed back into the penthouse.
“Marlena is having a party tonight. You should go.” Alexis leaned back on the couch, sipping her wine.
