Ruthless King

She didn’t know how to handle that. She wanted to wave it off as something someone said but didn’t really mean. After all, there was no way he could stop anyone from hurting her.

But he seemed so intense that she didn’t really want to brush his words away.

However, she knew she’d be hurt again in the future. It was inevitable. Because there were so many people out there that sucked.

“Did he used to hit you?” he asked in such a gentle voice that she had to fight back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.

“Would you like a c-cracker?” She winced as her voice stuttered, her nerves showing.

He eyed her for a long moment before squeezing her hand and letting it go. “I know you’re not ready to trust me. That’s all right. Trust must be earned, and we haven’t spent enough time together lately for you to feel that way. Which will change.”

Would he start to fall for her? Would he want her?

Or would she be sidelined as a friend, watching as he found someone else to love?

Oh. That would suck.

At the same time, she knew that she wanted to spend more time with him. She was starting to think she was a masochist.

“Now, eat your dinner.”

His phone buzzed and he looked at it. “Stay right there.”

Again, with the orders.

Didn’t he know that telling her to do something made her want to do the opposite?

Hmm. She guessed that perhaps he was just too used to everyone in his life doing whatever he told them to.

When he left the room, she hastily ate a cracker.

Okay, she was hungrier than she thought she was. After eating another cracker, she realized that she could hear voices again.

Moving quietly, she tiptoed over to the doorway once more, peeking out to see . . . a man up a ladder at her front door.

And Regent was holding up a flashlight so he could . . . was he replacing the bulb in her security light?

Holy. Heck.

Was this what he meant by wanting to be her friend?

It felt more than that, right?

Jilly, don’t be an idiot.

Regent Malone is not for you.

Regent climbedinto the backseat of his car with a frown.

He felt lighter, and yet like he’d accumulated a whole bunch more things to worry about.

All of them centered around Jilly.

After she’d eaten, she’d started swaying in her seat. So he’d insisted she go to bed.

Alone.

This attraction he felt toward her wasn’t a good thing. Especially since he’d just told Jilly that he would be keeping a closer eye on her.