Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 122550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
“I didn’t mean to make it sound like I only care because you live in this house and protect one of our secrets,” he said hastily.
Wait. What?
“We’re friends, aren’t we? And friends look out for one another.”
He was looking out for her as a friend?
“And friends don’t scare their friends. I apologize for that. I wasn’t upset with you; I was upset with myself.”
Friends don’t scare their friends?
Sounded like something you should learn in kindergarten.
Then his words hit her with the force of a freight train.
“I . . . I . . . you apologize?”
“You seem shocked.”
Yeah. She was.
“I just want you to be safe, Jilly. I should have led with that, huh? That’s why I had another light installed. And why someone from my . . . team will come over to fix and upgrade the security system on Saturday morning. All right?”
Saturday morning?
No sleeping in for her, huh?
“What time will they be here?” she asked.
Wait. That wasn’t what she’d intended to say. What she should tell him is that she’d handle it all herself.
But then she’d have to pay for it. And she wouldn’t know who to use.
Plus, hadn’t she just told herself not to fight him on things?
“Is ten all right?” he asked.
“Okay.”
“Good. Now, the Chinese food is getting cold. Can we go in?”
8
So.
This was a bit strange.
Two nights in a row, she’d sat at this table with scary, gorgeous Regent Malone.
Only this time, they were eating Chinese that he’d bought. To eat. With her.
What kind of alternate universe was this?
She snuck glimpses at him. God, he was gorgeous with all that dark hair with streaks gray and a short beard. There were lines around his slate-gray eyes. How old was he now? Thirty-nine? Forty?
Not that it mattered. Because those lines and the gray hair only added to his appeal.
He grew sexier with each year that passed.
Meanwhile, she had bags under her eyes that took a ton of concealer to hide, and her butt seemed to grow rounder with every day that passed.
This food was probably not doing her any favors. Neither was the rice pudding she’d had for lunch.
But it was comfort food. And it made her feel better.
Less alone.
You’re not alone right now . . . maybe you could push him onto the floor, climb on top of him, strip off that shirt and lick every . . . sexy . . . inch . . .
Friends. He wants to be friends.
He doesn’t want you to act out every dirty fantasy you’ve ever read about on him.
It was seriously too bad because he had the dominance to really pull it off.
She sighed sadly.
“You’re not eating much,” he said to her. “Do you not like it?”
“What? Oh no. I’m good. I’m not a big eater.”
Plus, she didn’t want to retain water. She had to get into a skimpy outfit tomorrow night.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Um, thank you for bringing this food.”
Next time, bring dessert. A can of whipped cream. Cherries. Chocolate sauce.
Make me dessert.
Okay. Enough. She had to get her mind off this.
“Can I get you a drink?” she asked abruptly, standing and moving to the fridge. “Um, beer? Cider?”
“Do you have beer and cider?” he asked.
Opening the fridge, she peered down at it. “It appears not.”
“Usually, people check what they have before they offer drinks,” he said, sounding amused.
“Sorry.” Urgh, she was acting like such an idiot. “I can offer milk, water, tea, and coffee.”
“I’ll take water. And tea after dinner.”
Crap. He was going to stay that long? She wasn’t sure that her poor body could take being so close to him that long.
Calm down.
When she returned with two glasses of water, she leaned over to put one down. But he reached up for it simultaneously, his fingers wrapping around hers. The glass slipped through her fingers, smashing onto the floor. Water and glass went everywhere.
“Oh shit! I’m so sorry! Stay there. I’ll clean it up.” She rushed toward the cupboard with the broom and pan, pulling them out.
What an idiot.
He touched her and it was like her body short-circuited. Turning, she banged straight into him, her nose hitting his chest. Tears filled her eyes.
“Ouch.”
“Are you all right, Jilly?”
All right? No, she was pretty sure that she wasn’t all right. Her nose was throbbing, there were tears in her eyes, and she’d made a mess everywhere.
Large hands wrapped around her waist, and suddenly, she was lifted into the air, before being sat on the kitchen counter. She’d dropped the broom and pan on the floor in shock.
What just happened?
Had he really carried her through the air like that?
“What are you doing? You shouldn’t just pick me up and carry me around.”
“Did I scare you?” He grasped hold of her chin, tilting her head back so his gray eyes could examine her. “I apologize.”
“You didn’t scare me.” Much. “But I’m too heavy for that.”