Chapter 11 #2
A mixture of confusion and hope swirled in her belly.
His words hinted that their relationship was more than a business deal of a marriage.
The concept of deserving someone went beyond a simple arrangement.
She pressed her hand to his chest, wanting to tell him he was worthy of her.
She felt the beat of his heart, until he flinched and stepped back.
“What I mean is, this isn’t what you signed up for.”
She swallowed her hurt and stupidity. “If it helps people believe in this marriage and your effort to keep Kaden, that is what I signed up for.”
“I don’t want to do this, but I can’t see a way out of it.”
“So we’ll go.”
He stepped toward her again but didn’t touch her. “Promise me that if my father says anything hurtful or offensive to you, you’ll call him on it. Don’t just take it.”
“Isn’t it better to ignore bullies?”
Jagger shook his head. “It doesn’t matter what you do, he’ll never change. I don’t want you to think you have to take it.”
She nodded. “Okay. There’s still one problem. I didn’t bring anything for a party.” Not that she had anything suitable for a New York party that she could have brought.
He pulled his wallet from his pocket. “Alexis said she could take you shopping.” He handed her a gold credit card.
“Jagger, I can’t let you buy me a dress.”
“Why not? Dresses are expensive in New York and the only reason you’re getting it is because of me. It seems like I should pay.”
She felt like a charity case but knew he was probably right. A dress suitable for a posh party in New York was probably beyond her financial ability, even with all her debts paid.
She took the card, looking at it with unease.
“And have fun. Buy whatever you want.”
She looked into his stunning blue eyes.
He smiled. “I want you to enjoy this...the shopping, that is. You deserve it.”
She didn’t deserve it, but she’d get a dress that would help her fit in and go to this party because it was important to Jagger.
“I promised I’d take Kaden out for ice cream this afternoon.” Jagger opened the bathroom door. “I’ll see you back here later.”
She nodded. When he left, she studied herself in the mirror, wondering how she’d be able to turn the country girl into the elegant wife of Jagger Talbot.
Chelsea felt like Cinderella going to the ball in the shimmery, hunter green halter cocktail dress Alexis insisted she buy. The mile-high stilts looked great too, except when she tried to walk in them.
“Jagger may just decide to keep you home in that. You look hot. That green is fabulous with your hair.”
She did look good. After help from Alexis with makeup and hair, Jagger’s sexy smile suggested he agreed. He, as usual, looked fantastic in his dark suit and freshly groomed stubble.
But Jagger’s good-natured mood morphed into broodiness the closer they got to the party.
“God, Chelsea. I hope you don’t leave me after this.” They were riding the elevator up to Marlena Anderson’s apartment.
“It’ll be okay.” She said the words, even though Jagger’s concern suggested she had no idea what she was getting into.
The elevator doors opened and they stepped out.
They were greeted by a butler who showed them to a large room filled with people in fancy dresses.
It looked like something Chelsea had seen on TV.
Only it was real. “Great day!” sat on the tip of her tongue, but she held it back.
Gawking would ruin her attempt to fit in.
“Ah, the man and woman of the hour.” A woman with short silver hair in a matching silver dress approached. “She’s beautiful, Jagger.”
“Marlena.” Jagger kissed the woman on the cheek. “Chelsea, this is Marlena Anderson, our hostess. This is Chelsea Beem...Talbot, my wife.”
Chelsea took the woman’s hand and shook it. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
“Ah...the accent. It’s darling.”
Chelsea’s smile faltered as she assessed whether or not Marlena was truly charmed by her accent or being patronizing.
“It’s so wonderful to meet the woman who finally stole Jagger’s heart.”
“Well...actually, I’m fortunate he gave it to me and that he took mine.”
“A romantic too. You lucky dog.”
“Yes. I think so.” He lifted and kissed Chelsea’s hand.
“Are you enjoying New York?”
“Yes, ma’am. It’s like visiting a different world.”
One silver brow arched and Marlena looked from Chelsea to Jagger. Did I say something wrong? Chelsea glanced at Jagger.
“Ma’am?” Marlena turned her attention back to Chelsea. Jagger laughed. “They still have manners down in Virginia.”
“Really. Do you call everyone ma’am?”
Chelsea wasn’t sure why Marlena sounded offended. “Uh...not everyone. I use sir for men.”
“Colin will love that.”
Jagger stiffened next to Chelsea, making her wonder who Colin was.
“You don’t have to call me ma’am. It makes me feel old.”
“Yes ma— Ah, okay.”
“Your father’s over there, if you want to avoid him, although, I doubt you’ll be able to.” Marlena nodded to one side of the room.
“We’ll start over here.” Jagger guided her away from where Marlena had motioned. “Want a drink?”
“Yes. A strong one.”
“You and me both.”
On the way to the bar, several people stopped and, like Marlena, were surprised by his marriage and thought Chelsea’s accent was darling.
Chelsea tried not to be self-conscious even though everyone was looking at Jagger, wondering about the woman he married.
She smiled, until she laid eyes on Lani Kane, a supermodel who had once been photographed with Jagger at a of celebrity event.
Looking at the beautiful waif who was giving Jagger a sensuous smile, Chelsea once again felt like a Southern frump.
Lani probably had never eaten three pieces of pizza in her life, much less at one meal.
Chelsea glanced at Jagger, but his eyes were focused on the bar.
“Scotch and...” He turned to Chelsea.
Deciding she needed to keep her wits about her to avoid losing control of her tongue, she opted not to have hard liquor. “Wine.”
Chelsea bit her lip and tried not to roll her eyes when the woman near the bar asked the bartender if he had moonshine for the “genuine Southern belle.”
When they had their drinks, Jagger steered her towards a corner, away from his father and Lani Kane. She scanned the rest of the party, noticing a celebutante and another model she’d once seen in the tabloids with Jagger.
He leaned toward her and whispered in her ear, “Don’t be self-conscious.”
“That’s easier said than done.”
He took her chin in his thumb and forefinger. “You’re as beautiful as any woman here.”
She would have snorted, except she was at a posh party. She reminded herself that she had a role to play; loving wife to Jagger. So she plastered on a smile and he rewarded her with a quick kiss.
“I know you’re not avoiding me.” A deep voice sounded behind Chelsea.
She looked up to Jagger, his eyes wary.
“Of course not.” Jagger pulled her next to him. His arm was tight around her, and she wondered if it was for her sake or his. “Chelsea, this is my father, Colin Talbot, and his wife, Gabrielle. This is my wife, Chelsea.”
Chelsea’s first impression of Jagger’s father was that he ate too much beta-carotene.
She had never seen anyone so orange. He had jet-black hair that sat on his head like a helmet.
Did he ever worry about it blowing away?
His wife was elegant, as Chelsea had expected, except Chelsea couldn’t read her bland, yet smooth facial expression.
Then she remembered Lexie explaining how Botox made it impossible to show expression.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Mr. Talbot.”
Collier Talbot took her hand in both of his and leaned forward, with a smarmy twinkle in his eye. “She’s not your usual type.”
Chelsea jerked back. “I think that’s why he married me.”
Collier threw his head back in a hearty laugh. “Oh, she’s fiery. All that red hair, I guess. I bet she’s a feisty one in bed—”
“Stop.” Jagger stiffened next to her. “For once in your life can you pretend to have manners?”
Collier rolled his eyes. Then he leaned toward Chelsea again with a conspiratorial gleam in his eyes. “If you ever want to know what it’s like with a real Talbot man, you let me know.”
Chelsea couldn’t stop from gaping. She looked to Gabrielle, who, if she was bothered by her husband propositioning his daughter-in-law, didn’t show it. She looked to Jagger, who had his eyes closed as if he was trying to calm himself or was maybe wishing he was anywhere but there.
Chelsea turned back to Colin, who stared at her with a smug expression, amused with himself. “Great day, ain’t that something? He thinks he can show me a better time than you, sugar.” Then she reached out and patted Colin on the arm. “Well, bless your heart.”
This time, Jagger barked out a laugh. He even pulled the handkerchief from his coat pocket to wipe his eyes. “Jesus, is it any wonder I married you.”
Colin jerked back, his brows furrowed in confusion. He was the butt of a joke and didn’t know it. Well, bless his heart again.
“Come on, Chels. You deserve another drink.”
“Jagger.” His father’s stern voice stopped Jagger. “We need to talk.”
“Not now. I’m on my honeymoon.”
“It’s important.”
Jagger was about to brush him off again, but Colin added. “It’s about Kaden.”
Chelsea realized that while she might be a target for Colin Talbot’s misogynistic, narcissistic behavior, Kaden was the weapon he used to control Jagger.
Jagger’s amusement fell away and Chelsea hated Colin for it. “Give me a minute. Go find Marlena. She’s safe.”
She wanted to offer to stay, but Jagger clearly wanted to deal with his father alone. “All right.”