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Her stomach swooped, her heart filling with hope.
Don’t be silly.
He might call everyone sweetheart.
“Jilly?”
Oh, right. He’d asked her a question.
“Well, uh, technically, it’s your house. And I’m sure you’d rather I didn’t burn it to the ground.”
“I don’t want it burned to the ground because I don’t want anything to happen to you,” he told her firmly. “And as far as I’m concerned, this is your house. Yours and your mother’s, all right? But the fact is, I guess I do technically own it, which means that I should ensure the maintenance is kept up-to-date.”
Oh shit.
That wasn’t what she’d meant. She hadn’t intended to guilt him into doing the things that she was responsible for. It was bad enough he’d had guys here yesterday morning working overtime to replace the security system.
“I didn’t mean that,” she said hastily. “I’ll take care of the house. It’s up to me. I’ll be better.”
“Hey.” He cupped her cheek and her mind short-circuited.
Darn it. One touch from him and she caved like a pile of cards.
It was the Regent effect.
Potent. Deadly. Impossible to resist.
“You don’t have to be anything, sweetheart. Because I’m here to take care of you . . . I mean, take care of the house.”
Darn it.
She’d been dancing on a cloud until he clarified his words.
Right. He cared in that he didn’t want her to die, but his main concern was the house.
“There’s nothing you need to do. I have it under control.”
He raised his eyebrows but didn’t say anything.
Right. Because you had everything under control tonight. You nearly burned the house down!
“I probably shouldn’t cook anymore.”
“Probably? I would say definitely.”
Her shoulders slumped.
“In fact, I am going to go as far as saying that you are banned from cooking unless someone is helping you.”
Her mouth dropped open. Then she narrowed her gaze as she glared at him. “I don’t think you can do that.”
“You don’t think so?” He gave her an arrogant look. “I just did. Now, why don’t you go shower off the smoke smell and get changed. You can feel free to get into your PJs.”
He wanted her to put her pajamas on?
Oh. But maybe by pajamas, he meant a sexy negligee . . . she could act out her fantasy from before . . .
“You can relax in your pajamas on the sofa while I finish cleaning up and order in some dinner.” He stood and held out his hand to her.
