Page 99 of Renard's Deliverance

“They sure are.” Opal sighed.

“You really like him, don’t you?” Lilac asked.

Did she?

“He’s an all right guy,” she replied.

“You do,” Ryleigh squealed.

“Hey, don’t make that noise,” Opal grumbled. “We aren’t serious. We’re just seeing where this goes. He doesn’t want anything serious.”

“He doesn’t?” Lilac asked softly.

“We don’t,” she amended.

Well, lied.

Because she felt more for him than she ever had for anyone. And she had a feeling that when this did end, she was going to be in a whole lot of trouble.

But did that mean she was going to call things off before she got further entangled in him?

Nope.

Because Stefan had been right.

She was as dumb as a sack of bricks.

“I’m so stupid,” she muttered. “I’m walking right into heartache and I’m gonna fall off the cliff and it will be my own damn fault.”

“Been there,” Lilac commiserated.

“Yeah, but Tanner was there to catch you,” she replied. “I’m going to end up battered and bruised and in pieces. I just fucking know it.”

“Why doesn’t he want more?” Ryleigh asked. “If he’s a good guy, then you should be able to trust him with who you really are.”

“He’s a good guy. And he does know me.”

“The real you?” Lilac asked skeptically. “Because we know you, Opal. And you don’t show just anyone the real you.”

Right. Because that part of her was easily hurt. Could be destroyed. And she didn’t want anyone to have that power over her.

At least not anyone but these two women. They’d sort of wormed their way into her life.

“Look, this isn’t a serious relationship, because there’s only room for one rocker on his front porch.”

Ryleigh and Lilac shared a look.

“Doesn’t he live in an apartment?” Ryleigh asked, sounding confused.

Opal waved a hand in the air. It was really getting hard to ignore the pain she was in. “I assume it’s not a literal porch.”

“Well, shit,” Lilac muttered.

Yep. Shit.

“Alec thought he was serious. He invited him to Sunday lunch,” Ryleigh said. “I should tell him that he’s messing you around.”

“He’s not messing me around. He made everything clear.” Sort of. “We’re just having some fun together and what’s wrong with that? A girl has needs. And he fills those needs. He’s got big dick daddy energy and I like that.”

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