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)
Well . . .
“I could have been naked.”
“Why aren’t you?” he asked, striding over to her.
She suddenly realized that he was mostly naked.
Well, okay, he was wearing a pair of swimming trunks. Black. And they looked expensive. But otherwise, completely naked.
And . . . wow . . . just wow.
“I’m just going to wipe here.” He reached down and swiped the corner of her mouth. “There was a bit of drool.”
“There was not!”
He grinned. God, he was even sexier when he smiled, though she wasn’t sure how that was possible. “You sure about that?”
Nope. She was not.
Crouching down, he studied her face. “What’s going on?”
She slid her gaze away from his. He was far too good at reading her.
“Jilly. Look at me.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Well, unfortunately for you, you don’t have a choice.”
Turning her gaze to his, she glared. “That’s not very nice.”
“Hmm, I’ve been told I’m not that nice.”
“Who said that to you?” she asked, offended on his behalf. “That’s not kind.”
His lips twitched and her shoulders slumped as she sighed. “I’m making a fool of myself.” She placed her hands over her face with a groan.
“Hey, no, you’re not.” He tugged her hands away from her face. “I want you to tell me what’s going on.”
“I’m not a very good swimmer,” she admitted.
“All right. That’s a good thing to know. I’ll stick close to you in the pool.” He reached up to brush some of her wild hair behind her ear. “Do you really think I’d let anything happen to you?”
How much had changed in the space of a week? She’d gone from thinking he saw her as a sibling. A burden. Someone to take care of out of obligation to her mother.
To telling him she loved him. To finding out he wanted her.
She still couldn’t believe he’d taken care of her, even when he had little idea of what he was doing. Fed her. Helped her bathe. Washed her clothes.
And then he’d lost his mind when he’d learned that she was being threatened.
Although she still didn’t think that one lonely note left in her dressing room could be considered much of a threat. But he was protective.
Because he wanted her.
Annoying Jilly Crane. The girl who’d always mooned after him.
“Jilly, you’re away with the fairies again.”
“Oh shoot! Sorry.” She searched his face for annoyance. “I know I do that sometimes, I’ll try to stop.”
He shrugged, looking unconcerned. “I kind of think it’s cute.”
“You do? No one else ever has. Lowell used to tell me that it made me look dumb. As though I had the attention span of an ant.”
“Fucking bastard. Soon, you won’t have to worry about Lowell.”
“What does that mean?”
“Just that he’s a dead man as soon as I find him.”
She gaped at him. “You can’t kill him.”
Regent raised his eyebrows. “Why not?”
“Um, because you’ll go to jail?” she said in a high-pitched voice.
“Baby. I won’t get caught.”
“No. Please, Regent, don’t. I couldn’t stand if you did that because of me.”
“Then I’ll do it because of me.”
“What? Lowell did something to you too?” Now, she was confused.
“He sure did. Something he needs to answer for.”
“What’s that?”
“He fucked my girl over. And no one gets to do that. He stole from you, used you, and upset you. Any one of those reasons would sign his death certificate. But the fact he did all three? That means he’s going to die slowly, painfully.”
For a moment, she felt a stab of fear. Her father had been like this. Cruel and vindictive.
“Hey, don’t look so scared, baby. I’d never hurt you. Hey!”
He cupped her face between his hands and she let the warmth seep into her, scaring away the cobwebs of memories left in her mind.
“Sorry,” she said hoarsely.
“I scared you.” There was a darkness in his eyes, but she got the feeling it was aimed at himself.
“No, well, not because I thought you would hurt me. I know you wouldn’t. You’re Regent Malone . . . not . . .”
“Orlando Crane,” he muttered. “That’s who I reminded you of.”
He stood.
“No, Regent, no! I’m sorry. It’s my fault. It’s all me. Please don’t walk away from me.” Had she just ruined everything?
Of course she had. She knew how much he hated her father. His own father. They’d been psychotic with no regard for human life.
Regent wasn’t like that.
38
“It’s my stupid brain. I didn’t mean it.”
He turned back to her. Then to her surprise, he didn’t berate her. He didn’t yell or shake her. No, he drew her against him, holding her tight.
“None of this is your fault. How can it be your fault that you were terrorized by that bastard throughout your life?” He drew back, staring down at her. “I don’t want you to be scared of me, though.”
“I’m not. It’s just that sometimes old memories hit me suddenly. But I’ll try to stop them. I know you’re not him. I know it.”