Page 102 of Renard's Deliverance

“Well, that might be our cue to leave,” Lilac said.

What?

No!

“Leave?” Opal asked. They were going to leave her with Renard when he resembled a bear who had just woken up from hibernation to find that Mrs. Bear had been naughty while he was away.

Wait.

Had she really just referred to herself as Mrs. Bear? What was wrong with her? She was more of a jaguar or a leopard than a bear.

“Yep,” Lilac said, grasping hold of Ryleigh’s arm with one hand and the stroller with the other. “We’re gonna leave you two to . . . talk. Also, pretty sure she didn’t sleep and didn’t go to the pharmacy. Bye!”

What the heck?

She gaped at their retreating backs, Ryleigh waving like mad as Lilac tugged her along.

“She totally just threw me under a bus.”

“By the look of you, it appears you have been run over by a bus,” Renard said dryly.

“Are you saying I look bad?” she exclaimed.

Did she?

Shit. She attempted to get up, a groan of pain escaping her as agony shot up her back.

Not good.

“Fuck this. You’re coming home with me. Now.” Renard was suddenly in front of her, grasping hold of her upper arms so he could help her lean forward against him.

“Ouch,” she said.

“Breathe, baby. Just breathe.”

“I just sat too long. I’m fine.”

“Opal, you are not fine. Every time you say fine, I’m adding five spanks to your tally.”

She gasped. “That’s so rude.”

“No one ever said I was polite.”

“I can believe that,” she muttered.

“Can you stand okay, now?” he asked. “I want to get your painkillers.”

“Yep. I’m good.” She was careful not to say fine.

He took a step back and then waited, as though he fully expected her to collapse.

Sheesh. She was made of tougher stuff than that.

“After you take your medicine, I’m taking you home.” He held up the paper bag he held. “Have you eaten?”

“Wait. You picked up my medicine?” she asked in amazement.

“Yeah, went in to check and they said it was still there.” He gave her a stern look.

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