Page 105 of Renard's Deliverance

“Well, she needed some help. I got tired listening to her go on about that blue dress when it looked like a sack on her.”

“It looked that bad?” Mrs. Winchester asked.

“You know, Renard, my back is feeling a lot better. You can go home now.”

And it was. The medication from the pharmacy was doing a good job.

“Nope,” he replied, crossing his arms over his chest.

Opal turned back to Mrs. Winchester, trying to figure out what to say that wouldn’t sound awful while still being honest. “It wasn’t the best.”

Mrs. Winchester nodded, going back into the dressing room.

Opal frowned at Renard. “Are you sure you don’t have somewhere to be?”

“Nope.”

“What about the restaurant?”

“All under control.” He sat with his arms crossed over his chest, scowling at the next two women who entered. Opal didn’t know them.

She half expected the women to turn around and run with how he was staring at them. Instead, they started whispering to themselves, sending admiring glances his way.

Um. No.

He was hers.

So it was her turn to frown at them just as Mrs. Winchester approached the counter with the floral dress.

“I’ll take it,” she said decisively.

“You . . . you will?” Opal stared at her in shock. Because every week Mrs. Winchester came in to try on dresses and every week she left without one.

Opal had finally decided that she was just after some human company.

So this was a big shock.

“Yep. Decided this is the one.” And then the older woman nodded at Renard who nodded back. “Good idea having your man in here, Opal. Helps to have a male perspective.”

“I’d quite like a male perspective on this dress,” one of the women said, holding up a red, slinky dress that Opal was dying to try on but didn’t dare because it cost far more than she could afford.

Even with her staff discount.

“Won’t suit you,” Renard said abruptly.

The woman looked shocked, then frowned.

Ha!

Mrs. Winchester left and Opal turned to Renard to find those two women had gotten closer to him.

“What about this one?” The other woman held up a short black dress which would look amazing on her.

However, Opal didn’t like the way that she was staring at Renard. As though he was a snack and she wanted to eat him.

“Would you like me to take it to a dressing room?” Opal asked.

“What? Oh, yes.”

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