Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 122550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
“No!” she cried.
Both men stared at her and she felt herself growing red. “I’m fine. I’m sick of being in bed. I just moved too quickly, that’s all.”
“You shouldn’t be running inside.”
Right. She really needed some decorum. She couldn’t imagine Regent ever running around this pristine house in his pajamas.
Idiot.
You’re not at home now. You need to follow the rules of this house.
She just needed to learn them first.
“Sorry,” she said. “I won’t run around inside anymore.”
“Good.” Regent gave her a nod. “What would you like for breakfast?”
“Oh, just whatever you’re having. I can grab something.” She attempted to stand, but Regent placed his hand on her shoulder. “Stay.”
“I can get it for you, Miss Jilly,” Gerald offered, appearing out of nowhere.
She let out a cry, practically levitating off her chair. “Gerald! You came out of nowhere. I need to get you a bell.”
“Sorry, Miss Jilly.”
“Don’t worry, Gerald.” Regent waved the other man off. “I’ll get Jilly her breakfast. We’re fine serving ourselves.”
Gerald nodded and left.
Regent took the plate before her and moved to the side table, which she hadn’t really paid attention to.
But it had several bain-maries lined up along the top.
Yikes.
Definitely not a cornflakes or rice krispies situation.
“How are you feeling, Jilly?” Victor asked.
She wondered what he thought about her being here.
“I’m as good as new.”
“You aren’t as good as new,” Regent countered. “You just had a coughing fit.”
“Because I was running. I really am all healthy now.”
Both men eyed her skeptically as Regent placed an overflowing plate of food in front of her.
“Really,” she added. “Um, this is a lot of food.”
“You need to get your strength back up.”
“I’m plenty strong.” She held up her right arm and squeezed her bicep with her left hand. “Size of a bowling ball.”
“More like a Ping-Pong ball,” Victor said.
She gasped dramatically. “How rude.”
“Jilly, eat your breakfast,” Regent said firmly.
Oh.
She couldn’t help but feel like she’d just been scolded. Picking up her knife and fork, she sliced into a pancake. There were two on her plate. As well as scrambled eggs, breakfast sausages, and fried potatoes.
Yum. The pancakes were delicious.
Regent poured her a glass of orange juice from the carafe on the table. Then another glass of water.
So. This silence was super awkward.
Gerald walked in carrying a coffee pot and she hastily swallowed her mouthful. “Gerald, these pancakes are to die for.”
He gave her a millimeter smile. She considered that a win.
“Thank you, Miss Jilly. Coffee?”
“God, yes.”
“Make sure you drink your juice and water as well,” Regent told her. “You need Vitamin C and you don’t want to become dehydrated.”
“Sure thing, General!” She saluted him.
Regent shot her a look. Right. Act with decorum.
She was doing so well. Not.
“Actually, I’m more the General,” Victor told her. “He’s the King.”
Regent turned that look on him.
Hmm. She thought Regent would be more . . . relaxed around his brother. Instead, he seemed more uptight.
It was at odds with the man who’d fussed over her health for days. And who’d revealed a huge secret because she was freaking out over her father being alive.
Regent was a puzzle that she hadn’t quite solved.
She took a sip of coffee, then of water just to keep his Majesty happy. Hmm. Yes, Victor was right. That did suit him.
She ate some scrambled eggs.
Damn. Gerald was good.
She sent the man in question a big smile. He gave her a slight bow back.
Total class.
“I can’t remember the last time I had a cooked breakfast. What’s the special occasion?”
“No occasion,” Regent told her.
“You can’t eat like this every day.”
“He does,” Victor told her.
“Wow, this is okay once in a while, but you have to start watching your cholesterol. I mean, obviously, you’re in good shape, but you’re getting older. Have you had it checked lately?”
Both men stared at her again. Regent looked shocked while Victor seemed . . . amused?
Oh dear.
“Maybe I should just concentrate on eating,” she mumbled.
Seemed like she couldn’t say anything right.
“I’m going to work,” Victor said. “Meet you in the study.”
Regent just nodded while Gerald also disappeared.
“Sorry,” she whispered when they were alone.
He studied her for a long moment, then crooked a finger at her. “Come here.”
Great. Did he want her within reach while he scolded her? He pushed his chair back. Maybe he was going to give her one of those spankings he’d been talking about.
However, to her surprise, he lifted her onto his lap, not over it.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Um, yes. I told you I was.”
“I don’t want you pushing things too soon, understand? You could relapse.”
Jilly flushed with pleasure at his caring. “I’m feeling really good. I promise.”
“Good.” He clasped hold of her chin and tilted her face back. Then his lips brushed hers. She parted her lips to let him deepen the kiss. His tongue tangled with hers and she let out a small whimper of desire.