Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 101872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Wait.
Had she really just referred to herself as Mrs. Bear? What was wrong with her? She was more of a jaguar or a leopard than a bear.
“Yep,” Lilac said, grasping hold of Ryleigh’s arm with one hand and the stroller with the other. “We’re gonna leave you two to . . . talk. Also, pretty sure she didn’t sleep and didn’t go to the pharmacy. Bye!”
What the heck?
She gaped at their retreating backs, Ryleigh waving like mad as Lilac tugged her along.
“She totally just threw me under a bus.”
“By the look of you, it appears you have been run over by a bus,” Renard said dryly.
“Are you saying I look bad?” she exclaimed.
Did she?
Shit. She attempted to get up, a groan of pain escaping her as agony shot up her back.
Not good.
“Fuck this. You’re coming home with me. Now.” Renard was suddenly in front of her, grasping hold of her upper arms so he could help her lean forward against him.
“Ouch,” she said.
“Breathe, baby. Just breathe.”
“I just sat too long. I’m fine.”
“Opal, you are not fine. Every time you say fine, I’m adding five spanks to your tally.”
She gasped. “That’s so rude.”
“No one ever said I was polite.”
“I can believe that,” she muttered.
“Can you stand okay, now?” he asked. “I want to get your painkillers.”
“Yep. I’m good.” She was careful not to say fine.
He took a step back and then waited, as though he fully expected her to collapse.
Sheesh. She was made of tougher stuff than that.
“After you take your medicine, I’m taking you home.” He held up the paper bag he held. “Have you eaten?”
“Wait. You picked up my medicine?” she asked in amazement.
“Yeah, went in to check and they said it was still there.” He gave her a stern look.
“I was going to go during my break. They let you just take it?”
“Yep. I am your guardian.” He drew the bottle out of the bag.
“I can’t go home,” she said, going back to what he said before. “I’m working.”
“It’s not that busy. That girl can take care of things.”
“That girl’s name is Liston. And she’s learning the ropes. I can’t leave her on her own.”
“Then call Laken. Tell her you’re going home.”
“I can’t call Laken! It’s her day off. Besides, Shaw is moving in today.”
“Who the fuck is he?” Renard asked without heat.
“One of Duncan’s brothers. You haven’t heard the rumors?”
“Don’t listen to rumors.”
“Really?” she asked, putting her hands on her hips. “You don’t listen to rumors? I bet the restaurant is gossip central.”
“No idea what you’re talking about.” Renard held up the measuring cup. “Close your eyes and open your mouth.”
She quickly swallowed the liquid. Gross. That tasted horrid.
“You know, usually when men say that it’s not because they want to stick medicine in my mouth,” she tried to joke.
The joke fell flat.
She knew that when his face turned to stone and his scowl deepened.
“Uh, sorry. That was meant to be a joke.”
Not a very good one. She wasn’t sure why she was even joking about that considering her . . . aversion to blow jobs.
“I do not want to hear what other men have said to you.”
“Like I said, joke. Honest. Stefan wouldn’t say anything other than ‘get on your knees and suck.’ Or something . . . to that . . . affect . . . I’m not making things better, am I?”
He shook his head slowly, his face like thunder.
“Right. Shut up, Opal,” she muttered to herself. “Nobody finds you funny.”
He held up a hand to her. “Find you funny a lot, Gem. But not when you’re talking about that asshole.”
Right.
So keep everything about Stefan to yourself.
Got it.
Probably for the best. Talking about it seemed to stir up old memories. Better to suppress everything and keep on keeping on.
Screw what Doctor Susie thought. What did she know? Had she been abused and traumatized by a criminal asshole?
Opal doubted it.
Nope. Not thinking about it was the way to go. She felt better already.
Or you’re just really good at lying to yourself.
Yeah, could be that.
“Opal,” he said quietly. “Look at me.”
“I really can’t go home, Renard.”
“Opal. Look at me.”
She raised her gaze to his, plastering a smile on her face.
“We good, baby?” he asked.
“Yep. We’re all good.”
Shit. Fuck.
He’d fucked up. He just wasn’t completely sure how. It had to do with what he’d said about Stefan. But hated hearing how that bastard hurt her.
She’d pulled back away and lied to him just now and he hated that.
Even though he knew it was his fault.
“I have to get back to work. Thanks for getting my medication.”
“I’m not leaving.”
“Um, what?” She gave him a startled look.
“If you’re not going home to rest, then I’m going to stay. Make sure you eat and don’t push yourself too hard.” She didn’t eat enough to his way of thinking.
“You . . . you can’t do that! Renard, this is where I work.”