Ruthless King

“I didn’t think she would mention that,” he said cautiously.

“Mama can be a bit of a motor-mouth,” she said. Then she grimaced. “Not that she’d say anything about your family or this house. She’d never do that.”

Fuck. She had just stepped back again. Away from him.

As though she was scared.

“I wasn’t worried that she would. Jilly?—”

“Thanks for checking up on me. I’m sorry that Mama rang you like that. But I’m a grown woman and I don’t need her to interfere in my life. I’ll get better at answering her calls and returning them. I just get distracted.”

“Um, I hadn’t noticed.”

There was no sassy grin. No retort. Instead, she just nodded. “And while it’s really kind of you to update so much stuff around the house, it’s not necessary. Things are fine here just as they are. I think it might be best if you canceled the plumber and builder. Have a nice night.”

The door shut in his face.

She’d shut the door in his face . . .

What. The. Fuck.

Regent raised his fist, ready to pound on the door and tell her exactly what he thought of that behavior . . . but what would that get him?

Wasn’t this for the best? To step back? Get some perspective?

So he forced himself to turn away and headed to the car.

“Where to, boss?” Jose asked, not mentioning anything about the fact that he hadn’t taken long.

“Home.”

Was it home anymore, though? Victor and Gracen were moving out this weekend. Soon, it would be just him and Gerald.

In that massive house.

All alone.

What would it be like to fill that house with laughter again?

An image of Jilly running down the stairs, while he ran after her, scolding her, filled his head.

Children racing along the hallways, yelling and laughing.

Children? Could he really be thinking about having kids? With Jilly?

Yes, stepping away was necessary before he grew anymore attached.

19

Jilly was so tired.

Bone-deep tired. She’d barely managed to get through her last set. As she walked off the stage, she tripped and would have fallen if Keegan hadn’t caught her.

“Whoa, darlin’, you all right?” Keegan had a thick Irish accent. It was hot as heck.

“Yes. Sorry, I’m just tired.”

“You sure that’s all it is?”