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Ruthless King (New Orleans Malones #4) Chapter 37 70%
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Chapter 37

37

W hen she arrived in the dining room an hour later, Jilly realized that she should have used her other fifty-five minutes a bit more wisely.

Candles had been lit around the room, and the table had been laid with gorgeous cutlery and dining ware. There were even cloth napkins.

Things were classy when cloth napkins were used.

She glanced down at herself. She’d washed her hands and changed her top since she’d gotten some of the mayonnaise from her sandwich at lunch.

“I need ten more minutes,” she said as she turned to race out of the room.

“Freeze,” Regent said firmly.

She froze. Darn it.

“Turn around and come here.”

With a grumble, she turned and moved toward where he sat at the head of the table. “I didn’t realize it was a dress-up dinner!”

“Dress-up dinner?” he asked.

“Yes, a dinner where you dress up. It really will only take a few minutes to get ready. I’m so sorry. I’ll be better prepared next time, I promise!”

“Hey, Jilly, it’s okay.” He grabbed her hips and lifted her onto his lap. “Breathe. Just breathe.”

She couldn’t believe she’d messed up so spectacularly. “I’m sorry.”

He turned her so she straddled his lap. “Stop, Jilly.”

“I just . . . I didn’t realize.”

“Okay, what is going on here? You’re shaking. You have done nothing wrong.”

She shook her head. No. She had! She had!

He drew her back and cupped her face between his hands. “Jilly. You. Haven’t. Done. Anything. Wrong.”

A small sob escaped.

She hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Say it,” he said firmly.

“I haven’t done anything wrong.”

But she was acting like an idiot.

He cupped her face between his hands. “I hope to hell that I haven’t made you so scared of me that you’re shaking like a leaf.”

“What? No!” she cried. Then she groaned. What was she doing? What was wrong with her? “No, it’s not you. Father . . .” She closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing. “When he was home, he insisted on having formal dinners and we had to be perfect in every way. If we weren’t . . .”

He drew her into his chest, rocking back and forth. He had one arm behind her while his other hand was on the back of her head.

“Shhh, everything is all right. He’s gone. He can’t hurt you. Shh.”

As she calmed, her embarrassment grew. What was she doing?

“Sorry,” she murmured.

“Don’t you dare,” he told her fiercely.

Jilly jumped at the tone of his voice. She drew back, staring up at him in shock.

“Do not apologize for the trauma he caused you. This is on him, not you.”

“But I should be over it by now, surely. And other people have had it worse than me. Look at you.”

“What about me?”

“You grew up with a monster and you’re not falling apart all the time. Although I seem to be having more problems than usual. I’ve had more nightmares in the last week than I have in the last year.”

“I could guess that maybe it’s because you’ve been around me this last week.”

Was he blaming himself?

“This isn’t your fault,” she told him. “Well, maybe it is.”

He frowned, nodding.

“Because you make me feel safe,” she told him. “That allows me to let go, knowing you’ll catch me.”

“Fuck,” he muttered quietly. Jilly wasn’t used to him swearing in front of her. One of his quirks that she found so fascinating. “You’re just so sweet. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, sweet girl. But I am never letting you go.”

She was all right with that.

“I have something to show you.”

They’d finished their dinner. To her delight and embarrassment, Regent hadn’t let her sit on her own chair, but had kept her in his lap, feeding her from his plate.

It had been strange and yet exciting at the same time.

He’d even picked up a napkin to wipe her face for her.

“You do? What is it?” she asked excitedly.

He pushed his chair back and placed her on her feet before standing.

Then he held out his hand. “Come with me.”

They walked toward the back of the house and he led her into a room she hadn’t been in yet.

Her mouth dropped open. “You have a freaking library?”

“Yes, I have a freaking library,” he repeated. “I thought you might like this room.”

“Like it? I love it. It’s all moody and dark.” Every wall was covered in bookshelves except for the wall with an open fireplace flanked by two large windows.

The carpet was a rich burgundy, the shelving was dark wood, and the colors perfectly matched the two burgundy velvet chairs in front of the fireplace.

She could see herself using in this room in the evenings. Curling up in front of the fire, even if it wasn’t on.

Wandering around, she took in the titles of the books.

Urgh. Bit old and stuffy for her liking. And where were the romance books?

If this was her library, it would be filled with romance novels.

But it’s not. And maybe it wouldn’t hurt you to read a different sort of book once in a while.

If Regent had these books in his library, that had to mean he enjoyed them, right?

“I have another room to show you if you can tear yourself away.”

“Another room?” she asked, taking the hand he held out. “Lead on.”

He led her out of the library and down the hallway again, walking through a door she hadn’t even noticed. Then down another corridor with large windows on either side and into a vast room.

“You have a swimming pool?” She gaped at the pool. It was in a building attached to the back of the house. When she looked up, she saw that the roof had multiple skylights in it, so you could see the sky beyond.

“The skylights recess. So when the weather is nice you can open that up. Plus, open all of these sliding doors. Then it’s like an outdoor pool. So it can be used all year round.”

Wow. How the other half lived.

“I thought we could go for a swim,” he told her, taking her hand and leading her into the massive room. The floor around the pool was tiled, with several comfortable loungers surrounding it. She wouldn’t mind just curling up on one of them with a book.

“I don’t have a bathing suit.”

“Well, then, you’ll just have to go naked.”

She could feel herself blushing. Naked? Yeah, that wasn’t happening.

“I’ll just dip my feet in.”

Regent shook his head. “No. I think we can do better than that. There are some spare bathing suits in the changing room.” He gestured back toward a door off to the side.

They had a changing room? Wow.

This just got more and more crazy.

“The pool will feel nice on your skin.” He placed a hand over her forehead.

“I don’t have a fever anymore, though.”

“You still feel a bit warm to me.”

She did feel a bit flushed. Although that was due more to his suggestion that they swim naked.

“Go get changed. I’ll meet you back here.”

“You’re going to go swimming?” She gaped at him.

“Yes. Why is that so surprising?” he asked.

“I dunno. I just can’t see you swimming. Unless it’s in a suit.”

“I don’t always wear suits, you know.”

He didn’t?

“Go get into a bathing suit.” He turned her around, giving her a slap on the ass.

“Hey! What was that for?” She turned back, rubbing at her bottom cheek.

“That was a warning to do what you’re told. You might want to pay attention. You’re owed several spankings. You don’t want to add to them.”

“I’m not !” she protested.

“Hmm, let’s see. Someone kept doing too much while they were ill and disobeying orders given to keep them healthy. And they kept things from me.”

“Yes, well, someone is bossy and has too many rules. I don’t think I should be spanked while I’m ill.”

“Ahh, but weren’t you the one that just told me you’re no longer ill?” he said. “I could take care of those spankings right now since you’re feeling better.”

“You know what? I am feeling a bit flushed. Best we don’t take care of those right now.”

“Go,” he said sternly. “Before I decide to add to your punishment.”

Sheesh. Talk about strict.

But she headed into the changing room where she found a selection of bathing suits. It wasn’t until that moment that she realized she’d have to show plenty of skin.

In front of Regent.

She had always dressed in long skirts and sleeves. But why?

Sitting on a bench, she thought about that for a moment. For as long as she could remember, that’s how she’d dressed. But was it her choice?

Or something her father had insisted on? Because she remembered Mama wearing the same sorts of things.

Until after he’d died.

God. Was she letting him dictate to her . . . even from the grave?

There was a knock on the door and she startled. How long had she been sitting here?

“Yes?”

“Are you all right, baby?” Regent asked. “You’ve been in there a while.”

“I, um, well . . .”

“I’m coming in.”

She rolled her eyes as he opened the door and strode in. That was Regent. Walking in like he owned the place.

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.

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