Page 40 of Renard's Deliverance

She gave him an exasperated look as she took an exaggerated step back.

And now he was acting like a dick simply because he didn’t like the way he reacted to her.

What was that shit he’d spouted before about her having to tell him when someone made her skin itch?

Yeah. He was losing his fucking mind.

Calm it the fuck down. She ain’t interested. You ain’t interested.

“You can go inside if you want,” he told her gruffly. “Don’t have to stand out here in the cold watching me.”

“It’s sixty-four out here today. It’s hardly cold.”

Yeah. But he didn’t know if he could handle having her near him. It was distracting.

And even if it wasn’t cold, it wasn’t warm either. And she didn’t have a coat on.

“Where’s your coat?”

“Inside.”

“You should put it on.”

She slid her hands onto her hips. “I’m fine.”

She just had to keep challenging him, didn’t she? Well, he’d see about that. He started stripping off his flannel shirt.

“What are you doing?”

“Stripping?”

“Why?” she asked in a high-pitched voice.

“Because it’s cold out and you won’t go get your coat. So I’m gonna give you my shirt.” He tugged it fully off. He had an undershirt on, and he didn’t mind the cold.

“Put it back on!” she cried. “The Grackle is gonna think we’re having sex out here or something.”

He snorted. “She needs to find something else to do with her time. And Grackle?”

To his surprise, red filled Opal’s cheeks. “That’s not her real name, obviously. It’s just that she . . . “

“Cackles like a grackle?” he asked.

A grin filled her face, making her look almost carefree. It occurred to him then how often she seemed laden down with worry.

She should be worry free. Having fun all the time. She was young. Not old and fucked up like he was.

Which is why you should stay away from her, you old asshole.

Maybe he should go to the club tonight. Burn some of this off.

“I’ll go get my coat,” she told him with a huff. “But will you please get dressed?”

“You said please.”

“Yeah. Do manners work on you?” she asked.

He shrugged. “Not really. But you put your coat on and I’ll get dressed.”

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