Page 176 of Renard's Deliverance

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 steppedinto 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.”

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