Ruthless King

He raised an eyebrow as he set about washing the grapes.

Jilly knew she was staring. But she couldn’t help it.

He was washing grapes.

Regent Malone. In her kitchen. Washing grapes.

Sounded like a strange version ofClue. With the life he led, she was knew it would more likely be . . .

Regent Malone. In the study. With a smoking gun.

Or something like that.

She hadn’t even considered that he could do something so . . . so domestic.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

She jolted out of her daydream as she blinked at him. “Yes. Why?”

“Because I said your name several times and you just stared blankly at me.”

Oh, dear Lord.

What was she thinking?

Short answer was that she hadn’t been thinking. She couldn’t seem to think when she was around him.

Could this get any more mortifying?

“And thank you for the compliment. It’s gratifying to know that you think my body looks good.”

Next level of mortification achieved.

5

“You need something to eat and to go to bed.” Regent threw the lettuce in the garbage before putting the grapes in the fridge.

Staring into the fridge, he sighed.

“Jillian?”

“Yes?”

He was the only person who called her Jillian, and when he did, he made it sound like she was in trouble.

Well, he has threatened to spank you several times tonight.

“Why is there no food in here?”

“There’s food.”

“Really? Where is it? Is it hiding? Invisible?”

“No. It’s there.” She pointed at the fridge. “I can see cheese. And hummus. And grapes. And there’s pickles.”

“None of which are suitable for dinner.”

“Of course it is. Hummus, pickles, and cheese on crackers. Yum. Yum.”