Ruthless King

“Mama, you called twice while I was at work. And I always call you back as soon as I can. And if you were worried about me, why wouldn’t you have called Mrs. Y?”

“I don’t know. I thought if you were in real trouble perhaps Regent would be better equipped to help.”

Jilly’s head started to throb. reaching up, she rubbed it. “You called him and asked him to check up on me. I can’t believe you did that!”

“I was worried about you.”

No. This had one of her mother’s schemes written all over it. If she was that worried, she would have called Mrs. Yards.

“I can’t believe you did that, Mama.”

“I’m sorry, darling. I don’t know why you’re so upset. It seems a good thing now that he’s doing so much for you, plus you’ll see him often.”

“Are you . . . are you trying to matchmake? Between me and Regent Malone?” she asked, aghast.

This just got worse and worse.

Why would her mother think that was a good idea?

“Well, I just thought . . . he’s alone and you’re on your own. And you always had that cute crush on him. Maybe the two of you should spend some time together.”

Cute crush? Her crush wasn’t cute. It was humiliating. And her mother had known? Had Regent?

Oh God.

He must have. He was observant and intelligent. And now she wanted to hide. To buy a one-way ticket to the Maldives and never return.

Her mother thought she was so pathetic that she couldn’t find a man on her own.

And Regent had only started coming around here because her mother asked him to. Not because he liked her company. Not because he found her interesting and attractive.

“I have to go,” she said, ignoring her mother calling her name.

She’d forgive her. After she had some time to get over the pain and humiliation.

Turning off her phone, she moved to her bedroom and curled up in a ball on top of the covers.

What had she been thinking? That he would want to spend time with her? That he’d come to see because he liked her?

Of course not.

They barely knew each other anymore. She was probably more of a hassle for him than anything else.

An obligation he felt he owed her mother.

And she’d never felt worse in her life.

Why wasn’tshe replying to him?

He’d finally received a brief ‘okay’ after he’d told her the arrangements for the plumber and builder.

But then nothing for two days.

Which was why he was now here, staring up at her house.

It was dark.

Was she there? Had she gone to bed early?