Page 26 of Renard's Deliverance

Alec had told her that she could make whatever improvements she liked. Although he’d likely been thinking about painting walls, not that she’d rip out carpets.

You probably should have asked him first . . .

She walked into the spare bedroom and stared down at the mustard and burgundy colored carpet. She couldn’t deal with it any longer.

Maybe she’d take a shower and check the security light, then take a trip into town to see if she could get some equipment to help remove the carpet.

* * *

Well.

Fuck.

Opal stared up at the security light with a frown. The entire thing was smashed and there were plastic bits in the flowerbed and on the footpath.

How did that happen?

Maybe it was a child with a ball or a slingshot. Or maybe a bird.

But that feeling of dread in her gut told her that that wasn’t the case.

“Opal!”

She held in her groan. Just wonderful. Her day kept getting better and better.

She plastered on a smile and turned to wave at Barney.

Who the hell would name their kid Barney?

Someone who hated their kid, that was who.

Poor Barney had never had a chance, had he? He was born to parents who didn’t like him, gave him a terrible name, and he had an aunt like Mrs. Grackle.

But he was harmless and sweet so she tried to be patient and polite.

“Hi, Barney.”

He was here every weekend now, which is much more often than when she’d first moved in. She had a sneaking suspicion that Barney might have a small crush on her.

Opal was trying her best to deter him without being a bitch, but when he was here, he seemed to always be around, watching her, talking to her.

“I got here last night,” Barney replied, rubbing his hand through his thinning hair. She didn’t know his age, but he looked to be in his early-to-mid-thirties. “Aunt Grace needs some help with her washing machine.”

Hmm.

“You’re so nice to come help her.”

Barney shrugged. “It’s the least I could do. She helped raise me as a kid. I was sorry that I couldn’t make your set last night at Dirty Delights.”

Unease filled her. “How did you know I was singing at Dirty Delights last night?”

She didn’t let Devon advertise when she was going to be there. Although it was pretty much every Friday night.

“Oh, Aunt Grace told me that she saw you leave after dinnertime and I just figured that was what you were doing. Sorry if I had that wrong.”

Shoot.

“No, I’m sorry. I’m just a bit touchy this morning. Your aunt woke me up.”

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