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)
37
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Renard snarled.
Well, crap.
How the hell did he do that? He seemed to have some sixth sense for when she was about to do something that he didn’t agree with.
He was still in bossy mother hen mode five days after she’d gotten out of the hospital.
Honest to God, she couldn’t even sneeze without him declaring that she had a cold and trying to wrap her in blankets while shoving cold medicine into her mouth.
That had been yesterday.
She’d had enough. Today, she was getting up.
“I’m getting up to have a shower.”
“Not happening. Get back into bed.”
She frowned at him. “Don’t you have to go to work?”
“Nope. Saxon gave me as much time off as I need to take care of you.”
“Well, I think you should call him and tell him you’re coming back.”
Except that means you’ll be alone.
Shit. She didn’t like that idea.
“Not doing that. You’re not well enough to be left alone. You were sneezing yesterday!”
“It was one sneeze! And I’m not sick. I’m just a bit bruised and battered. I once had broken ribs and I didn’t rest this much.”
Wrong tact to use, Opal.
She cursed herself as he growled.
Shit.
“All I’m saying is that I think that you need to ease up. I need to be able to move around. To use the bathroom on my own and take a shower. I really want a shower.”
“I’ll give you a sponge bath.”
Tempting, but no.
“No. I want a real shower. Renard, I know you’re trying to protect me, but I feel a lot better. I can do this. I need to feel more human and not gross.”
“Fine,” he grumbled. “But I’m staying in the bathroom to help you if you get too tired.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less, darlin’.”
She stepped into Renard’s living room.
“I think you should go back to bed,” he grumbled from behind her.
Opal ignored him, looking around properly. She’d been in here the other day, but she’d been too upset to pay any attention to the room.
Not that there was much to look at.
In fact, there was hardly anything to see. Because his living room was bereft of any sort of personality. There was nothing of Renard in this room. There was barely anything of him in the bedroom.
No pictures on the walls, no knick-knacks, no photos.
“How long have you lived here?” she asked, staring around. Even the lounge suite didn’t look like him. It was too hard and small. It didn’t look like a place where you’d want to sit and lounge.
“I don’t know. Few years. Go back to bed.”
“No.”
“Opal.”
“Renard,” she countered.
“Stop arguing with me and do as you’re told. You need to rest.”
“Nope. I’m rested enough. I feel good. A hundred percent.”
Total lie.
“Did you just lie to me?” he grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.
She sat on the sofa. Yep. As uncomfortable as it looked.
“What are you gonna do if I did?” she challenged.
Oh. Why hadn’t she thought about this before? There was no chance of him spanking her while she was injured.
Instead of looking annoyed or defeated, he just smiled.
Uh-oh.
She didn’t like the look of that smile.
“What am I gonna do? Hmm. Let’s see, I have a few choices. I could make you write lines.”
Yep. She totally didn’t feel so smug anymore. “What? No! That’s not fair.”
“It’s not fair? You know the rules, Gem. You break them, then you get punished.”
“But I’m injured.”
“Too injured to write lines?” he asked.
“Definitely.”
He walked over and crouched down in front of her. “Then you’re definitely too injured to be up and about.”
“Well, hell.”
Didn’t he just corner her nicely?
“You’re too smart for my bottom’s peace of mind,” she grumbled.
“Just because you’re injured doesn’t mean you get to break the rules, Gem. I am keeping track and there will be a reckoning.”
“Fine. I’m a bit sore and tired. But I don’t want to go back to bed. I want to sit up for a while. Maybe watch a movie and eat popcorn. Please?”
He eyed her for a long moment as she gave him her cutest look.
“Fine. But you go to bed when I tell you to. No arguments.”
“You got it, Daddy.”
He groaned. “And no calling me Daddy. Not until you’re ready to start playing again.”
Her body warmed as she gave him a heated look.
“You are definitely not ready for that.”
“Nope. But a girl can dream.”
38
Alec Malone answered his phone, frowning as he saw it was Jake. “That bastard better still be behind bars.”
“Course he is,” Jake replied, knowing who he was talking about. “He got Judge Barfoot. You know how badly he takes any abuse against women or children in his county.”
Not all of the judges in this county were like Barfoot. But Jerry Barfoot had been raised by a single mother, had a wife he adored, seven daughters and fifteen granddaughters at last count.
“Good. What are you calling me about then?”