Page 103 of Renard's Deliverance

“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.

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