Page 68 of Tangled Trust

"Yes. Why?"

"You look a little paler than usual."

"Hey, I just spent time under your son’s bed. You’d be pale too."

"Are you over that tummy bug yet?"

"Just about. Your American bugs are kicking my butt."

"It’s a good thing we’re not in Texas then," he purrs, pulling me closer.

"Don’t start anything, boss man. I have things to do."

"You’re incorrigible."

"You’ve put a spell on me, Jones. I can’t help it."

I wish he wouldn’t call me that. It highlights my deception, and I’m not particularly proud of my white lies. I know Carter is the kind of man who would understand, but I’m not ready to tell him yet. I will. Soon enough. But not yet.

Instead, I close my eyes while our tongues do the tango. Carter’s hard body against mine feels so good. I’m deliriously happy when I’m in his arms.

"I have to go out for a while," he says when he finally lets me go.

"I have a few errands to run too."

"Okay. I’ll see you later tonight."

"Count on it, lover."

I watch as he walks away, my eyes locked on his perfect gluteus maximus. No wonder Amanda is pissed. I couldn’t give up on an ass like that!

* * *

I unwrap the drugstore pregnancy test once I’m home. My bladder is uncomfortably full after the large green juice I finished on the drive home, so I make a beeline for the guest loo. I’m about as thirsty as a camel these days. No doubt all the fluids I lost during my war with the infernal stomach bug.

It’s later than I thought. Amanda will be here soon with Jagger, so I’d better shake a leg. I pee on the stick and set it down on the edge of the basin. I’m nervous, even though I know I can’t be pregnant. I check my phone for text messages while I wait for the allotted time to pass.

Okay. Five minutes are done. I’ll just get this over with, and then…

I swear I can feel the blood pooling in my feet. What the…

Positive! No! It can’t be! I check the date on the packet to make sure the test isn’t old. Nope. It’s fine. It’s probably a false positive. I’m a doctor. I know these things happen. I’m not going to panic. I’ll simply buy another tomorrow after I drop Jagger off at school. All I have to do in the meantime is stay calm. I can do this.

I wrap the test in a wad of toilet paper and chuck it in the wastepaper basket. I don’t have time to think about this now. I can hear Jagger’s voice in the hall.

* * *

The bitch is everywhere. It’s hard not to claw out her eyes whenever I see her with my son. Ella Jones has become my nemesis.

“Bye, Mommy," my angel says and hugs me.

"I’ll see you next week, my love. Have a good week at school."

Jagger runs off with the dog by his side. I’m happy he’s happy, but I’m not happy that he’s replaced me with Ella. It hurts.

"Hello," Ella smiles when she sees me. I want to slap her smug face, but I ignore her instead and walk past her to use the guest bathroom.

Besides, she’s not important to me. Ella is a naught.

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