Ruthless King

Urgh. Face it. Sex with Regent Malone was something that was constantly on her mind.

What would he think if she put on a slinky negligee and walked into the living room, got to her knees in front of him and offered to suck him off?

He’d have to say yes, right?

But what if he said no? Darn it. She didn’t have the courage to do that. She turned to stare at herself in the mirror and let out a cry of horror.

What . . . how . . . why?

Why hadn’t she checked what she looked like before she’d opened the door?

No wonder he’d asked her if everything was all right. She looked like she’d wrestled with a bag of flour and lost.

There was flour in her hair, all over her apron, and a big patch on her face. Not to mention the other stains on her apron.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Panicked, she moved around frantically. Stripping off, she pulled on the dress she’d chosen earlier. It was white and long with pleats coming down from the chest. The short sleeves were a new thing for her, but she grabbed a light cardigan to put on top.

She thought she looked all right. Or she would once she redid her hair and washed her face. As she headed out of the bedroom, feeling better, the scent of smoke hit her.

Oh no! Something was on fire!

“Jilly!” Regent called out from the kitchen.

She raced in to find him opening the oven. Black smoke flew into his face, making him cough.

“Watch out!” she cried, rushing to the kitchen sink. “I have it!”

Opening the cupboard under the sink, she got out the fire extinguisher.

“Jilly, open the windows,” he told her commandingly. “Stay back.”

“No! Get away!” She aimed the fire extinguisher at the oven.

Suddenly, Regent plucked it out of her hands, then picking her up with his free arm around her waist, he carried her out of the room.

“What are you doing? I have to put the fire out!”

“There’s no fire, just smoke.”

“But . . . but the saying goes where there’s smoke there’s fire.”

“Not sure that saying is about actual fire.”

Well. That was confusing.

“Stay here while I take care of this.” He turned away.

Stay here? Was he crazy?

This was her responsibility. She wouldn’t leave him to just clean everything up.

So, as soon as he walked into the kitchen, she followed him. He paused.

“Jillian.”

“Yes?”