Swiftcurrent Creek pont neuf

Had the circumstances been different, Wildfire might have been amused and possibly even flattered by Renoir's words. But his white knighting caused a shiver to travel from the back of her neck all the way down her spine. He seemed harmless enough, yet so had Goober. She certainly didn't trust him, with her welfare or anything else. She honestly found the offer creepy, though she stopped and wondered if she would have felt remotely the same way a month ago.

Swallowing and clenching her jaw a bit, Wildfire replied, "Thanks but no thanks. It may not be safe but if I can't look after myself... well, I'm screwed." She winced a second later, regretting her word choice. "I don't need a man to protect me," she added a little more waspishly, then mistakenly thought Renoir's deflation was due to her tone. He started chuckling, though, so she didn't know what to make of that.