“I’m not hungry.”
His dark gaze narrowed as he looked her over.
“You’ve had breakfast?” he asked.
It entered her head that she could lie, but she’d never managed to successfully pull that off with him. He’d always had a sixth sense when it came to her.
“I’m not hungry,” she repeated. “You know, you might want to get your ears cleaned out. I’ve heard wax build-up can make you really deaf.”
Duncan placed the bag on the counter and leaned closer. Laken forced herself not to take a step back as his scent surrounded her. Hot, molten male. Her insides quivered.
“You’re losing weight you didn’t have to lose, Laken. You need to take better care of yourself.” He ran his thumb under her eye. For a brief moment she leaned into him before pulling back. “You have bags under your eyes. Your light was on late last night, can’t you sleep?”
Her gaze shot up to meet his concerned one. She blushed, remembering how she hadn’t bothered to pull down her drapes last night. Most evenings she was so worn out by the time she got to bed that she barely managed to find the energy to brush her teeth. She worked all day in her store, then spent hours at night working on new designs. Some days she didn’t even leave the building.
“Spying on me, Deputy?” She winced at the breathy tone of her voice as she tried glaring at him.
He winked, giving her a quick grin. Her breath caught. He didn’t smile often, but when he did… well it would take a stronger woman than her to resist the appeal of that smile.
“I was on duty last night. I just happened to be driving past.”
That was not disappointment she felt. It was not.
“Well, go stalk someone else,” she sniped, inwardly wincing at the acid in her tone. “I don’t need or want you looking out for me.”
“You’re wrong, Laken,” he said in a deep voice. “You need me more than you realize. Something’s wrong and I want to know what it is. You’re not eating or sleeping. You’re snapping at everyone, even those just trying to help you. Keep up this heavy workload you’re subjecting yourself to and you’re going to end up in the hospital.”
She snorted. “Jeez, could you be any more overdramatic? Plenty of people around here work long hours, Duncan. Do you go around lecturing all of them?”
Duncan sighed. “Why are you so angry at me, Laken? I know I made mistakes years ago. I was too caught up in my career to give you the attention you deserved. Don’t you think I deeply regret that? But I wasn’t the only one who made mistakes. Why did you run off? You never even gave me a proper explanation for why you broke things off. I think you owe me that much, don’t you?”
“I told you why. Things weren’t working out.” She couldn’t meet his eyes. “Do we have to rehash this over and over? You’re like a bad batch of chili; you just keep repeating yourself. We’re over, Duncan, we have been for years, and it’s time you moved on with your life. I have.”
Pain tore through her, but she forced herself to keep calm. She couldn’t handle Duncan right now. He had always been a force to reckon with and if he set his sights on something then he would let nothing get in his way. He had been a hugely successful linebacker, had made a fortune in endorsements.
She couldn’t afford to have him focus all his attention on her. Because she had secrets that she was determined no one would ever uncover.
“You never could lie very well,” he told her. “I’m not sure what is going on with you, but I do know that I missed you. A lot.” He took hold of her hand. “I want us to try again. Go out on a date with me, Laken.”
This was the third time he’d asked her on a date. Each time was harder than the last to say no.
She pulled her hand free, clenching her teeth against the initial surge of pleasure. A “yes” hovered on her lips. God, how easy it would be to fall back into Duncan’s arms. But she couldn’t get involved with him. Duncan would never let her secrets die.
“I’m not doing this again. I’m not going to be your doormat.”
His eyes grew cold. “You were never my doormat and you know it. What we did was always consensual and you loved being my submissive. You can spit and snarl at me all you like, but I am not giving up on you. Not this time. I learn from my mistakes, Laken. I would cherish you.”
“Would you give up BDSM for me?” Christ, how had that slipped out? She wasn’t even sure that was what she wanted. The thought of playing with Duncan again filled her with fear and longing. It was a sickening mix that made her head ache and her whole body throb.
He gazed at her thoughtfully. “Now why would you want me to do that? You loved being my submissive. Does this have something to do with why you broke things off? Did something happen to make you afraid of submitting to me, Laken?”
Christ, this is what she got for letting down her guard. She couldn’t let Duncan close and keep her secrets.
She snorted, rolling her eyes. “Nothing happened. I just got sick of letting you boss me around and beat on me. Now, are you going to buy something or what? Time is money.”
She held her breath as she watched him. Please, let him give this up. Duncan merely stared at her for a long moment before nodding. She didn’t like that thoughtful look in his eyes.
“Eat the pastry, Laken,” he ordered before turning and walking out the door.