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)
“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’t she 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?
Maybe she was sick and that’s why she hadn’t been replying to him.
Or she could be out. She could have a date. His hands clenched into fists
Fuck. She better fucking not be.
He had to bite back a growl.
It was eight-thirty on a Wednesday night.
She had work tomorrow, so she shouldn’t be out late at night.
Regent frowned. Christ. Now he sounded like her father.
He glanced around the neighborhood. It was quiet. Well-established. A dog barked in the distance and he heard laughter in the air.
Where was she?
“Where do you think she is?” Jose asked from the front seat of the car.
“I don’t know. I’ll get out and knock anyway. Perhaps she just doesn’t have any lights turned on?”
Seemed odd, but it was possible.
Jose got out and walked around to open his door. Regent stepped out and glanced around. Was someone watching him from across the street?
Nosy neighbor?
Moving to the front door, he knocked. Then he rang the doorbell.
Why hadn’t he thought to have cameras installed in her house?
Stepping back, Regent looked up at the house. Was that a curtain moving?
Huh.
Was she in there but hiding? Why would she hide from him?
Getting out his phone, he rang her.
It went to voicemail.
So he sent a text message.
Regent: I’m at your place. I’m worried because I’ve barely heard from you. So I’m coming in.
Pushy? Yes. Overbearing? Definitely.
Ask him if he cared.
Spoiler: He did not.
Reaching into his pocket, he drew out the key. He didn’t know the alarm code, so if she really wasn’t home, he was going to make a lot of noise soon. Before he could turn the key in the lock, though, the door opened.
She stared up at him, a towel around her hair. “Regent. Hi. Sorry. I just got out of the shower and saw your message. If you knocked or anything, I didn’t hear it.”
Right.
Somehow, he didn’t believe her.
Especially since a lock of hair had slipped free of her turban. And it was dry.
“Did you miss this piece?” He reached out and grabbed her hair.
“Huh? Oh, uh, I must have.”
What had he told her about lying to him? He narrowed his gaze.
“I wanted to make sure you got my message about the work starting in your bathroom next week.”
“Oh. Did I not reply? Sorry. It’s been a busy few days.”
Hmm. Why couldn’t she meet his eyes? Sometimes, she could be a bit jumpy. She often went bright pink and couldn’t look at him.
But this felt different. She wasn’t blushing. Wasn’t giving him small, admiring looks.
She seemed detached. Almost sad.
Fuck.
“Why? Is it your work? Is something wrong?” He needed to check in with Jardin. See if he’d dug anything up on her boss yet. And if they couldn’t find anything, he’d have Jardin make something up.
Maybe he’d do that anyway.
This was taking too long.
Regent would see to that.
“What? No. Of course not. Everything is fine.” She took in a deep breath. “And even if everything wasn’t fine, it’s not your problem.”