Page 29 of The Next Mrs. Parrish

He nodded, smiling, and Jackson said, “I’m going to Daphne’s. It’s time Jax met his sisters.”

“Really? It would have been nice for you to tell me ahead of time. What if I had plans with him?”

“Get real, Amber. The most time you’ve ever spent with him was in the delivery room.”

“That’s not fair,” she said, her voice shrill.

Jackson closed his eyes, shaking his head for a moment. “We’re leaving.” He took Jax’s hand and something in that possessive gesture gave Amber second thoughts. A picture formed in her mind of a perfect little family—Jackson in the pool with their son, surrounded by blond, leggy Daphne and her two daughters. Amber was the one who’d gotten fatter and more swollen over nine interminable months, the one who had suffered through six hours of labor and then an excruciating delivery to give Jackson the son he so desperately sought. And afterward, all the dieting, Pilates, and fitness training to get back into shape. She wasn’t about to let Jackson use her son as a pawn in his quest with Daphne. Jax washerpawn to use, dammit.

She slammed down the lid of the computer and jumped up from the chair. “Wait.”

Jackson stopped, turning to look at her.

Even though she had a foot out the door already, it irked her to think of Daphne spending any time with Jax. He was hers after all. “Why does he have to meet them now? He’s a toddler. Why can’t it wait until he’s older? It’s not like they’re all going to hang out together. He’s just a baby.”

“They are hisfamily.Brothers and sisters grow uptogether.That’s how theybond.” Jackson’s words came out slowly and precisely, as if he was talking to a child.

Amber glared at him, her jaw clenched. She felt like spitting. “Since when did you become so sentimental about family bonds?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“You’re right, I don’t.”

“Everything with you is intrigue and scheming. You’ve never done anything with purely good or decent motives, so how could I expect you to get it?”

“Your motives are hardly decent, Jackson, so cut the morally superior act.”

He gave her a withering look and left the room with Jax.

Amber’s heart was beating so fast, she could feel a pounding in her ears. It was laughable, Jackson throwing around words like goodness and decency. He of all people should be the last one to accuse her of scheming. Especially with what he had planned for Daphne. Until Amber could make it clear that she was the one doing the leaving, she didn’t want anyone to see Jackson spending too much time with Daphne. She wasn’t about to let him make a fool of her. This was a small town, and she knew that everyone would love to see her ousted from the Parrish estate and Daphne returned to it. From the outside Daphne and Jackson had appeared to have the perfect marriage, and Amber was painted as the interloper. Yes, it was true that she’d seduced him and gotten pregnant while he was still married to Daphne, but so what? He was the one who’d been married, not her. She was sick and tired of taking the blame. No more. Amber was preparing for battle, and this was going to be a take-no-prisoners kind of war.

– 18 –

DAPHNE

Meredith and I sit on the beach watching the girls as they swim, and I chronicle for her Jackson’s and my first session with the therapist. “I’m glad you had the guts to tell her how he treated poor Bella.” Her eyes are blazing. “What did the therapist say after that?”

“She tried to regain her composure, but she couldn’t wipe the horrified look off her face. At least it made her see Jackson in a different light.”

“I’d say so. No one likes a bully, especially one who makes fun of his own child. He must have been royally pissed.”

“He was. But he didn’t let it show…too much. Just that little vein in his head dancing.” Telling Meredith about it now, I feel the same delight at his shock and discomfort as I did when it happened.

“So, are you going to find someone new?”

I shake my head. “No, it’s pointless. We’re only here two months. He doesn’t have any power over me any longer, so I’ll just monitor his visits and we’ll be back in California soon.”

She raises an eyebrow. “It’s just…I worry. Jackson’s always got something up his sleeve. I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”

“It’s different now. I see through him. I fell for his lies and deceit once, but he won’t fool me again. And I think he knows it.” I stop talking when I see Tallulah come out of the water.

She wanders up and plops down on the towel next to me. “I’m bored. Dad texted me to see if we want to go to the city tomorrow. Can we?”

I exchange a glance with Meredith then turn to Tallulah. “Honey, you know the rules. Dad can visit but I need to be there.”

She rolls her eyes. “This is so lame. He’s not going to kidnap us, come on, Mom. I want to spend time with my father.”

I try to keep my voice even. “Those are the rules, Lu. There’s nothing more to discuss.”

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