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A n hour later, she was browsing the shelves at the local home improvement store. It was a family-run store, like all the stores in Haven. The local town council didn’t allow any franchises or big chain stores to take up residence in town.

Pliers. That was what she needed.

But first, she had to get a replacement security light. The last thing she wanted to do was call Alec and tell him about the light. He might use it as an excuse to pull her out of her house and back to the Malone compound.

Not happening.

“Here is what we’re looking for, Onion.”

Shit. She recognized that voice.

She froze. Should she leave? Sneak out?

Do not be a coward, Opal.

Besides, it was too late. He was coming around the corner of the aisle, so there was no escaping now.

Renard spotted her immediately, his gaze narrowing as he strode down the aisle toward her. “What are you doing here?”

Lord, he was rude.

She placed her hands on her hips. “And good morning to you, too.”

A cooing sound came from his chest and her gaze dropped to the baby he had cradled to his chest.

“Why do you have a baby strapped to you?” she asked.

“She’s my human shield. In case anyone decides to take me out. Figure they’ll hesitate to shoot a baby.”

“What?” She gaped at him, aghast.

“Jesus, girl. I’m babysitting.”

“You’re babysitting?” she asked.

This was a weird town with very weird people.

But honestly, this was one of the weirdest things she’d heard to date.

“Nope. I stole this baby. Her parents have no idea that I’ve got her.”

Okay. He was joking.

He had to be joking. Eyeing him, though, she wasn’t so sure.

“What’s her name?”

“Carrot,” he replied.

“What? Her name can’t be carrot!” she exclaimed.

“Why not? Does she not look like a carrot? Hmm, you might be right. Maybe Potato or Chip.”

What was happening right now? And why was he looking at the same security lights that she’d been studying?

“Chip? Chip is a boy’s name, isn’t it?” she asked.

“Wow. I didn’t take you for being sexist.” He grabbed the most expensive security light on the display. One she definitely could not afford.

Instead she went for a far cheaper one as he started down the aisle.

“Put that light back,” he told her. “You’re getting this light.”

“What? What do you mean?” She attempted to chase after him.

Damn it.

“I’m not buying that light.” She managed to catch up with him as he paused to examine a security camera. “And I’m not sexist!”

“You just said that I couldn’t call Chip Chip because she’s a girl.”

“I didn’t mean that! It’s not really a proper name. Nor is Potato or Carrot!”

“Hmm. So you’re namist as well? Think it would be a good idea to get Curt to put in a security system. I’m surprised Malone hasn’t already organized it. Will need to talk to him about that. That’s a landlord’s responsibility.”

“You’re not speaking to Alec,” she told him, placing her hands on her hips in exasperation.

“You need one. For protection.”

“I do not! I don’t have anything anyone would want to steal so why would I need one?” she asked.

Honestly.

This man was too much.

“Wasn’t talking about protecting your stuff. Was talking about protecting you.”

He headed toward the counter.

“I do not need your protection!” She stomped after him. “And I am not namist. That’s not even a thing.”

“Then why do you care what I call my baby?”

“Your . . . your baby?”

He didn’t have a baby, did he?

But then where did the baby lying against his chest come from

“Renard!” A yell came from the front door and she stared in shock as Joel Saxon stormed into the store.

“Oh hell,” Trey muttered from behind the counter. He was only about sixteen. “I might need to get my dad.”

“Don’t worry,” Opal told him. “I’m sure everything is fine.”

“Stop yelling! You’ll wake up Chip!” Renard snarled in a quiet voice.

Saxon paused, looking confused. She had never seen the other man angry. He was always the epitome of control and calm. Kind of a necessity when you ran a BDSM club, she figured.

But right now he looked like he was about to separate Renard’s head from his shoulders.

She edged closer to Renard.

“Don’t worry,” Renard told her. “I won’t let him harm you.”

“Why would he harm me?” she countered, perplexed.

“Isn’t that why you were moving closer to me?” he asked. “For protection?”

“Yeah, I was looking to protect you from him ,” she replied.

He gave her an incredulous look and she braced herself for his ridicule. He was huge. What the heck could she do to protect him?

“Aww, you care about me.” He smiled. “That’s cute.” Then he scowled. “But don’t even think about getting between us.”

Lord.

The man had some serious mood swings.

“Who the hell is Chip?” Saxon demanded.

The baby started to grizzle and Renard patted her back. It suddenly occurred to her whose baby this had to be.

She couldn’t believe it had taken her so long to put it together.

“Your baby, who else?” Renard countered loudly. “And can you stop yelling? You’re upsetting her.”

“I’m upsetting her?” Saxon retorted. “She’s probably upset because you stole her.”

“You stole his baby?” Opal gaped up at Renard. “Have you lost your senses?”

“Of course he hasn’t,” Saxon told her. “He’d have to have some in the first place to lose any. Give me my baby, you lunatic.”

“I think that lunatic is a strong word,” Renard grumbled. “As my employer I’m not sure you’re allowed to call me that.”

“As your employer, I don’t think you’re allowed to steal my baby,” Saxon told him.

“You gave her to me. I didn’t even want her. Why would I want to lug around a baby? Here, have her back.”

He was absolutely lying. She wasn’t sure how, but she knew that he was. She could sense his reluctance to hand over the tiny baby. Why lie?

Maybe because it showed a softer side than he wanted to reveal. Or more weakness than he was comfortable with.

As he handed the baby over, she started to fuss and cry.

“See what you did with all your yelling?” Renard snapped at Saxon. “I had her sleeping peacefully, then you come in screaming. That’s not a good way to act around a baby.”

Saxon just gaped at him. “How the hell have I not strangled you yet?”

Renard shrugged. “Apparently, I’m irresistible to you and everyone else in this town. The amount of hugs I get is truly disgusting. Don’t people around here understand about germs?”

The baby started really crying. Big tears slid down her red and puffy cheeks.

“She needs to be fed,” Saxon said. “Listen, I appreciate you having her, but next time, could you tell me before you leave with her?”

“Next time? Who said there will be a next time? I’m not your babysitter. Urgh, give me Chip.” Reaching out, he took the baby back, settling her against his chest.

And it was shocking how quickly she settled.

What the hell?

Saxon sighed. “Why does my baby like you more than me?”

“I’m sure that’s not true,” Opal told him quickly.

“It is true,” Renard said.

She kicked him in the back of the leg, trying to be subtle.

“Ow! What the fuck was that for?” he complained.

“Don’t swear in front of the baby,” Saxon told him.

“It was for saying that the baby liked you more than him,” Opal explained.

“But she does. I told you, I’ve got something that makes me irresistible.”

“You’ve got a big head, is what you’ve got,” she countered. “Saxon, your baby loves you.”

“Aww, look, Chip’s asleep again,” Renard said.

“Her name is not Chip,” Saxon said as Renard handed the baby over again.

“Then give her a name. I can’t keep calling her Baby or she’ll think that’s her name.”

“It’s a better name than Chip,” Opal told Saxon.

Saxon shook his head with a mutter. “I’ve got to get back to Aspen and the boys. Luckily, she still thinks that you’ve got her back at the restaurant. What are you even doing here?”

“Getting a security light,” Renard retorted, placing the light on the counter. “Ring that up, boy.”

“His name is Trey,” she told him.

“Hmm, Trey. Not a bad name.”

“My baby girl will not be called Trey,” Saxon told Renard with a glare. “I’ll see you later. Are you going back to the restaurant?”

“Malina finally arrived and it’s my day off. I have other things to do.”

“Like installing a security light?” Saxon asked.

“Yep.” Renard pulled out his wallet.

“You are not paying for that!” Opal told him.

“It’s my security light; I’m paying for it.”

Oh. It was for him?

“Um, sorry. I’ll go get one for my house,” she said, turning away as Renard paid for that one.

She was embarrassed that she’d thought Renard was buying that light for her.

A hand reached out and lightly grasped her wrist. “Where’re you going?”

“Back to grab the light I put down,” she told him.

“Nope.”

He started to tug her out of the building.

“Hey! What are you doing?” she exclaimed. “Let go of me! I need to get a security light.”

“What was wrong with yours?” he asked, pausing.

“It broke.”

For some reason she didn’t want to tell him that it had been smashed into little pieces.

Renard grunted. “Good thing we’re installing a new one.” Then he started pulling her gently out of the shop again and onto the sidewalk.

“You said that wasn’t for me.”

“I did?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Huh. Must have lied. It’s definitely for you.”

“What do you mean, you lied?”

He turned and stared down at her. “I lied.”

“Why?”

Renard raised his eyebrows, looking incredulous. “To get what I wanted, of course. Why else would I have lied?”

“I just . . . I don’t . . . I can’t believe you’re just admitting it!”

“Ahh, so you’d rather I lie? You know, you should work on your communication skills. It can be hard to understand you.”

It was hard to understand her?

He was . . . running rings around her.

The rat!

“You’re just trying to distract me so I don’t point out the actual issue here,” she said as they headed toward his truck.

“There’s an issue? Do tell.”

“The issue is that you bought me a security light when I was going to buy my own. I also wanted to get some other things, but you dragged me out of there before I could.”

“Like what?” he asked.

“Like pliers.”

“I have pliers,” he stated as he opened the passenger door.

“Um, what are you doing?” she asked, staring from him to the open door.

“Opening the door for you,” he replied. “Do you want me to lift you in? Not sure how you can get up in those heels.”

“I can do anything in these heels,” she countered.

“Good to know,” he said, “Now, get in my truck.”

“Um. Have you ever heard of the word ‘please?’”

He grinned. “I have.”

Damn, he was so sexy when he smiled.

“Have you ever thought about using it?” she asked.

“Hmm, can’t say that I have.” He rubbed a hand over his beard, but she saw his grin widen.

“You’re terrible,” she told him without heat.

“I know. Now, get in the truck. Daylight’s wasting.”

“It’s only noon.”

“Yeah, but who knows how long it will take to get this security light secured?”

Opal sighed. “Look, I get you think you’re doing something nice?—”

“Something nice? Me?” He raised his eyebrows. “I don’t think so. Pretty sure I don’t know how to be nice.”

“Pretty sure that you like people to think you don’t know how to be nice, meanwhile, you’re going around behind their backs doing all these nice things.”

He crossed his arms over his chest while giving her a stern look. “Don’t be spreading any rumors about my niceness.”

“No?”

“No. I’m mean. I’m grouchy. I’m sarcastic. And I like it that way.”

Hmm. Seemed she’d touched a nerve.

Part of her wanted to keep prodding at him until he exploded and showed his true colors. That’s what the old Opal would do. But now, with Doctor Susie’s help, she could recognize those bad behaviors and stop herself.

Mostly.

She shouldn’t assume that everyone was bad until they proved they were good.

Apparently, it was meant to be the other way around.

But she still had problems thinking that way. It just seemed like she’d be constantly disappointed.

“You like being mean?” she questioned.

“Yep. Just ask my sous chefs. They’re probably fucking up my food as we speak.”

“Shouldn’t you go check on it, then? Wait. Didn’t you say this was your day off?”

He grunted. “Yeah, it is. The new chef that Saxon hired was running late so I started doing the prep for her.”

She winced, wondering if he’d yelled at the poor woman for being late. “Were you mean to her when she arrived late?”

“Nope. Her car broke down. Not her fault.”

And he just kept showing her glimpses of that marshmallow inside.

“Careful you don’t show me too much of your insides, I have a sweet tooth,” she warned.

“Am I supposed to know what that means?”

She didn’t want to explain it. Because she couldn’t believe she’d just said that.

“It doesn’t matter. Why do you care about replacing my security light? You didn’t break it. Why are you doing this?”

“Somebody has to. And I’ve got nothing better to do with my day. Get in.”