Page 61 of Renard's Deliverance

Fuck.

Hot.

What was wrong with her?

“Taking you to the doctor,” he replied.

“Uh, no, you’re not.”

“Yes, I am.”

“The clinic isn’t even open! It’s the early hours of the morning.”

“Good point. Luckily, I know where Jenna lives.”

“You’re going to take me to her house?” she cried.

“Yep.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because you’re in pain and I don’t like it. There’s a lot of things I don’t like, Opal. And that is right up at the top of the list.”

“How long is this list?” she asked curiously.

Damn it, Opal.

Focus.

But she couldn’t help but wonder . . . like, if it was five items long being on the top of the list wouldn’t be a big deal. But if there were twenty things on it . . .

“Last count? A hundred and eighty-three.”

“You have a hundred and eighty-three things that you don’t like?” she asked.

“Yep.”

“Is there anything you do like?”

“Sure.”

“Like what?” she asked.

“Your smile.”

Oh. Hell.

That sucker punch was a good one even though it stole her breath.

She had to force herself to focus back on what was happening.

“I don’t want to go to the doctor, Renard. I really don’t want to go to Jenna’s house and wake her up. Especially when this isn’t an emergency. It’s just a sore back. I don’t need to see the doctor.”

“Don’t like you being in pain.”

“Pretty sure Jenna doesn’t have an instant fix. And it will probably feel a lot better if I get some heat on it and lay down, which I can’t do if you’re lugging me all the way across town.”

He grunted.

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