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H ey there, Big daddy?

Seriously? Big Daddy?

And what the hell was Big Daddy Dick Energy? Because he really didn’t know . . .

Although whatever it was, apparently he had it.

“Hey there, Sugar Dumpling,” he replied as he stepped further into the room. He held a paper bag.

Her eyes narrowed. “Nope.”

“What’s nope, my Dumpling?”

“I am no one’s dumpling,” she growled at him.

“She’s right,” Ryleigh added. “She’s not a dumpling.”

“Definitely not a sugar dumpling,” Lilac told him.

“Hmm, if she was any sort of dumpling, it might be a temperamental one,” Ryleigh said.

“Snarky,” Lilac told him. “A snarky dumpling.”

“Got it,” he replied, barely holding back his smile as Opal glared at her friends. Who knew that they were so funny? “Hello my little Snarky Dumpling.”

“Still not a dumpling and you’ll quit calling me that unless you want to be washing your dick with a toothbrush.”

He couldn’t hold it inside any longer, throwing his head back, he let out a laugh.

When he stopped, he noticed that Opal looked smug while her friends appeared shocked.

“I didn’t know he laughed,” Lilac whispered.

“Yeah. I thought you were always grouchy,” Ryleigh added. “That’s what my brothers told me.”

“I am always grouchy,” he reassured them. “Except when my little snarky dumpling makes me laugh.”

But his amusement fled as he looked past the frown on her face to see how pale she was.

Pale and tired.

“Why do you look exhausted? I thought you slept last night,” he demanded, walking further into the room.

“I’ve really got to get back to work,” she told him. “Liston has been out there on her own for a while.”

“She’s fine. There’s some lady in there that she’s helping with a dress. She’s kind of jumpy, though.”

“Who?” Opal asked.

“The woman trying on the dress. Let out a squeal when she saw me.”

“Oh, dear Lord,” Opal muttered.

“What? She had clothes on, I don’t see what the big deal is. And I was looking for you. Don’t men come into this store?”

“Not often,” she replied dryly.

“Did you sleep?” He was thinking that she hadn’t and that she’d lied to him when he’d texted her this morning.

Which made him wonder if she’d lied about other things, considering she looked like she was in pain right now and she’d also told him her back was feeling better.

“Opal doesn’t sleep well,” Lilac informed him. “Not unless she hits a wall and then she will sleep like the dead.”

“I’m fine. I slept a bit last night,” Opal told them.

Right.

“I knew I should have come around to see you this morning,” he muttered. “Did you stop at the pharmacy to get your medicine?”

“I ran out of time.”

Oh, she was in trouble.

“What did you say before? That I have Big Daddy Energy? What kind of energy do I have right now?” He crossed his arms over his chest and glared down at her.

“Actually, it was Big Daddy Dick Energy. And I’d say that it’s a kind and forgiving energy that you’re exuding,” she told him.

“Nice try. Not even close.”

“If I had to guess, I’d say you looked constipated,” Ryleigh added.

He turned his glare to her.

“Yeah, constipated and hungry at the same time,” Lilac mused.

“Nope. Right now, I’ve got big spanking energy. As in someone is about to get their butt spanked. Any guesses who?”

“Ooh! I know that one!” Ryleigh cried, waving her hand in the air.

“You can’t spank her. She has a sore back.” Lilac stood up, looking defensive.

Oh shit.

The last thing Opal needed was her friends attempting to defend her from Renard. She had no idea how Renard would take that. Would he get offended?

Was she going to have to wade in? She would if she had to, there was no way she wanted him to hurt one of her friends.

Renard just nodded solemnly. “You’re right.”

Wait. Really?

“I would never spank Opal or do anything to harm her while she’s injured. And she will always have a safeword that I will honor. I never want to do anything to abuse her trust or to harm her.”

“Good answer,” Ryleigh said, staring up at him like she thought she’d won the lottery.

Only, it was Opal who had.

“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.

“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.

Or you’re just really good at lying to yourself.

Yeah, could be that.

“Opal,” he said quietly. “Look at me.”

“I really can’t go home, Renard.”

“Opal. Look at me.”

She raised her gaze to his, plastering a smile on her face.

“We good, baby?” he asked.

“Yep. We’re all good.”

Shit. Fuck.

He’d fucked up. He just wasn’t completely sure how. It had to do with what he’d said about Stefan. But hated hearing how that bastard hurt her.

She’d pulled back away and lied to him just now and he hated that.

Even though he knew it was his fault.

“I have to get back to work. Thanks for getting my medication.”

“I’m not leaving.”

“Um, what?” She gave him a startled look.

“If you’re not going home to rest, then I’m going to stay. Make sure you eat and don’t push yourself too hard.” She didn’t eat enough to his way of thinking.

“You . . . you can’t do that! Renard, this is where I work.”

“Don’t worry, you won’t even know I’m here.”