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)
“Thanks for coming,” Santé said, holding out his hand.
Regent shook it briefly. He saw Kimmy look over at them and falter briefly.
Good.
Victor waited until they were out of the club and in the car with the divide between the front and back up to speak.
“You’re not seriously going to help back him?”
“I won’t be. But I know some backers who might be interested.”
“The last thing we need is more strip clubs.”
“We don’t need unregulated clubs, but they’re always going to exist. If you push them underground, it means the people working in them have less protection.”
“I fucking hate it,” Victor muttered. “And I don’t think I trust him. Santé.”
“You don’t trust anyone who isn’t family.”
Victor grunted. “True. So you met with Jilly last night?”
“Hmm.”
“She tell you about her boss?” Victor asked.
“Not yet.”
“What? You mean she didn’t immediately spill all of her issues so you could solve them? That must be frustrating for you, to want something you can’t get. Because in order to get her to talk, you’d have to tell her that you’ve been spying on her, right?”
Regent shot him a look. “I’ll get her to tell me. It’s just taking slightly longer than intended. I’m having dinner with her Sunday night. She’ll tell me then.”
He couldn’t remember when he’d looked forward to something as much as he was to having dinner with Jilly.
12
This was going to be a disaster.
Calm down, Jilly.
You have this.
“Mrs. Y, the sauce isn’t working!” she cried into the phone frantically. “It’s all runny.”
“Just add some more flour,” Mrs. Yards told her. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come over and make it?”
“No! I have to do this myself.” She didn’t know why, but she owed Regent. And she wanted to feed him herself. “Thanks, though. I appreciate the help.”
“I just think you should have made something a bit easier, dearie.”
“What’s easier than roast lamb with roast potatoes, cauliflower with cheese, and green beans wrapped in bacon?” she asked.
“Cheese on toast?” Mrs. Yards suggested.
“Mrs. Y!” She stared down at her sauce. Now, it was all lumpy. “It’s gone lumpy now!”
“Oh, you must have added too much flour. More milk.”
She groaned. Then the doorbell rang, making her freeze. “I’ve gotta go! He’s here.”
“Good luck, dearie. And remember, don’t eat too much. It’s hard to get down and dirty with a full stomach. You want to eat enough to have energy but not so much that you feel bloated and gassy.”
“Awesome. Thanks for the advice.”
“No problem, dearie. You’ve got the toys I sent over?”
“Yes,” she groaned as she walked to the door. “Bye.” Jilly took a breath, then opened the door.
Regent stood there in a dark blue shirt and black pants. He had a suit jacket over his shirt.
His hair was slicked back. He looked so deliciously handsome that it took her a moment to remember that she actually had to breathe if she wanted to stay alive.
He held a bottle of wine.
His eyes seemed to widen as he took her in. “Jilly? Is everything okay?”
What? Why was he asking that?
“Yes, of course.”
His gaze ran over her and she glanced down at herself.
Oh shit!
She still had her apron on and it was covered in all sorts of mess.
Crap. She’d forgotten to take it off.
“I, um, sorry! I wasn’t expecting you yet. I just need to get ready. Come in.”
He was polite enough not to point out that he was on time, not early. She rushed him into the living room.
“Would you like a drink? Beer? Cider? Scotch?”
“You have those things?” he asked, his lips nearly curving up into a smile.
“Well, not the Scotch . . .” she trailed off. Idiot. Why did she ask him if he wanted Scotch when she didn’t have any?
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
“All right, I’m just going to go get ready. Sorry. Oh, wait. I’ve got cheese and crackers.”
Rushing into the kitchen, she drew out the plate of food she’d put there earlier. Maybe he’d fill up on cheese and crackers and wouldn’t care that the main course was shit.
One could hope, anyway.
Running back to the living room, she slowed down as she got there.
Chill.
Be calm.
Crap. She’d forgotten to stir the sauce.
Oh well, it would be fine. She entered the living room. “Here you are. I’ll be just a minute.”
He gave her a look that she couldn’t decipher, but Jilly turned away before he could say anything.
Tonight was not working out how she’d thought. She’d wanted to show him another side of her. That she could cook and entertain. That she could dress up and look pretty.
That she wasn’t the girl he’d once known but a woman.
She hadn’t allowed herself to think much past that, but she guessed a part of her had hoped he’d find her attractive. Sexy.
Urgh. Face it. Sex with Regent Malone was something that was constantly on her mind.