Ruthless King

Being curt might seem harsh, but the alternative was worse.

And he was holding his temper back.

Barely.

“Pull the curtains. Keep this door locked. And do not open it to anyone before you find out who they are.”

“Yes. I’m sorry.” Her head dropped so she was staring at her feet.

He felt a pang of something. Regret? Guilt? Those weren’t normal feelings for him.

Regent cleared his throat. “Yes. Well. Are you all right?”

As soon as he’d said it, he realized how ridiculous it sounded. She appeared to be just fine.

“Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

He nearly told her to call her mother but then remembered that Anne had asked him not to.

“You need to get to bed.” Now he sounded like an idiot. His voice had softened and he was tempted to do something stupid—like pull her into his arms and tell her not to worry because he’d take care of her now.

“Shut the door. I want to hear it lock. Then go upstairs and pull the curtains. And get into bed. It’s late.”

“Yes, sir.”

Fuck. That ‘sir’ sent a shaft of desire straight to his cock.

What was wrong with him?

She might be gorgeous with that soft, light-brown hair that sat in waves around her face. And those big, blue eyes that had always stared at him like he could do anything.

He couldn’t really make out her body in the oversized dressing gown she was wearing, but from what he’d seen in the window . . . fuck, he needed to forget he’d ever seen her like that.

She shut the door and he heard it lock. Instead of leaving straight away, he took a moment just to compose himself.

The last thing he needed was to show anyone how he felt about her. Not even Jose, who he trusted with his life.

Getting back into the car, he told Jose to head home.

As they were driving away, it hit what had been bothering him.

There had been no security light. There should be. He was certain the house had one. Or it previously had.

He sighed. Maybe Anne was right to worry about Jilly. She didn’t seem to be doing such a great job of taking care of herself.

And perhaps he needed to take some responsibility for her. Technically, the house belonged to him.

And, in a way, he guessed that meant Jilly did too.

Jilly’s phonebeeped as she walked into her bedroom in a daze.

What had just happened?

Had Regent Malone really turned up at her house? And why had he been so grumpy?

Sure, he’d always been quite serious. And maybe a bit stern.

But he’d never snapped at her like that.