Page 130 of Renard's Deliverance

He rolled his eyes. “Obviously, that one is gender neutral.”

“Right. Good to know.” She looked around for her clothes before remembering that they were in the kitchen.

“Gem?”

“Yeah?” she said distractedly as she got out some clean underwear.

“Do you need a session?”

She turned to him. “What?”

“At the club. Do you need one?”

She tilted her head to the side. Did she need to go to the club? “I don’t think I need one, but I would like one.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do. My next night off.”

“Really?”

He walked toward her, then cupped her face between his hands. “Don’t look so surprised. I want to give you what you need, what you want. All you have to do is ask.”

He kissed her lightly, then walked away.

All she had to do was ask?

Was this really her life? Her own little place. Friends who cared about her. A man who wanted to give her what she needed.

All she had to do was ask.

24

Opal nestled back onto her sun lounger.

She had a diet soda sitting on an old crate next to her and she wore a two-piece bikini that she’d treated herself to.

Now, this was the life.

It was Sunday afternoon and she’d just gotten home from the Alec and Mia’s. She’d gone to Sunday lunch. Alone. Unfortunately Renard had gotten called into work since the other chef was running late.

Settling her sunglasses on her face, she sighed.

God, she loved being warm. And wearing whatever she liked as she sat in her own backyard with her swimming pool glistening under the sun.

All right, it wasn’t much of a swimming pool. But when she’d seen it in Mr. Oldsman’s shed, she’d known it would work for her. She’d thought about buying something bigger, however they were all out of her price range.

This was enough. And it was free.

Mr. Oldsman had been so grateful to her for helping him with his gardening that he’d given her the pool.

Grabbing her book, she started to read. She’d just gotten to the part where the heroine had discovered that the hero was actually a dragon.

She could not wait to see how that went.

“Gem! Gem, what the hell?” a voice growled at her, startling her.

Shit!

She jumped and looked around. What was going on?

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