Page 79 of Wed to You-
“Glad to hear it.”
“Ol’ Rosco, he’s taken to biting again.”
“We’ll need to make sure Kaden avoids him.”
“Yes, sir. Oh, before I forget, the sheriff delivered this yesterday.” Denny handed Jagger an envelope.
Even before he saw the Charlotte Tavern court on the return address, Jagger knew what it was. It was as if his gut had a sixth sense. It clenched tight as he took the envelope.
“You all right?”
“Yeah.” Jagger held the envelope as he felt his nearly perfect little family melt away. Like waking up from a wonderful dream to discover none of it was real. “I need to take care of this in my office. Is there anything pressing here?”
Denny shook his head. “We’re right as rain here, sir.”
“Good. Thanks.” Jagger left the office, tossing the envelope onto the seat of the truck. He swore as he started the engine and headed back to the house. He wanted to call Tanya and promise to ruin her, except he didn’t know her number or where she was living. Why hadn’t he hired someone to find out sooner?
He skidded the truck to a stop at the rear of the garage. He snuck in the house, not wanting to see anyone until he could look at the letter and know what he was up against. Fortunately, Grayson wasn’t lurking.
Jagger closed his office door. Sitting at his desk, he held the envelope, too cowardly to open it. He let out an expletive and ripped the envelope open. He knew what he was going to find, but seeing Tanya’s name as the petitioner in the custody of Kaden still took him by surprise. Fear, anger, and a profound sense of grief mixed in Jagger’s gut. His worst fear had come true.
He dropped the paper and sat back, wallowing in the torment of his emotions. But only for a moment. Jagger was a take-actionkind of guy. He grabbed his phone and dialed Mrs. Monroe’s number. Fortunately, she was in her office and agreed to stop by his home later that afternoon.
“Do you know any good PIs in the area?” If she didn’t, Jagger knew a few he could hire from New York. But he thought local PIs would understand the area and fit in better than New York PIs would.
“Yes. She’s out of Richmond.”
“I want to know where Tanya is and what she’s doing. How is she paying for this? Dig up anything and everything. She can’t take Kaden.”
“I’ll call her now. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
Jagger hung up and hoped to hell Mrs. Monroe and her PI could do the impossible and help him keep Kaden.
Chapter 15
Chelsea poked her head into Jagger’s office after her and Kaden’s swim. She’d expected Jagger to join them, but once Kaden’s fingers started pruning, she decided something must have come up at the farm. She sent Kaden upstairs to change while she checked on Jagger. “Kaden’s getting dressed. I’m about to head up to change too.” She glanced out the door to make sure no one was watching, then she opened her robe. “You said you wanted to see me in a bathing suit.”
Jagger’s face remained impassive. In fact, although he’d looked at her, she got the feeling he didn’t see her.
“What’s wrong?” She closed her robe as she walked farther into the office.
He held up an envelope. Chelsea couldn’t read the return address, but, with Jagger’s pained expression, it didn’t take a brain surgeon to know what it was.
“Jagger, I’m sorry.” She reached out to touch him, but he withdrew.
“She won’t win. I won’t let her.”
The menacing promise in his voice sent a shiver through Chelsea. How far would he go to make sure Tanya lost?
“Have you called your lawyer?”
“She’ll be here in forty-five minutes or so.”
“I’ll go change.”
Jagger finally made eye contact with her. “What for?”
Chelsea frowned. “To be presentable when she arrives. Is she local?”
