Lila frowned at her. “What were you thinking about? You had a funny look on your face. Like you were scared.” Lila glanced over at Duncan suspiciously. “Is everything okay between the two of you?” Her voice indicated there would be trouble if it wasn’t. Laken’s lips twitched at the thought of tiny Lila taking on Duncan.
“Everything is fine between us.”
The look Lila shot her said she knew she was lying. Laken sighed.
“Well, okay, there is something going on. He’s acting odd.”
“He watches you a lot,” Savannah said thoughtfully, looking at the man in question, “but not in a weird way. He’s protective, I think. Like just now, when he saw you looking upset. Logan sometimes watches me that way, as though he can sense when I need him.” She smiled. “So did Duncan wallop on your butt for going to Saxon’s without him?” she asked.
“Gavin told me if I ever go there again he’s going to use this new paddle he brought online.” Lila wrinkled her nose.
“You got off easy,” Savannah said. “Logan couldn’t even wait until we got home to spank me. He climbed in the backseat with me, then half-way home he got Max to pull over, drew me over his lap and… well, I didn’t sit comfortably for the rest of the ride home. I really wish they would fix those potholes on our driveway,” she said with a grimace.
“Oh, Savannah, I’m sorry,” Laken said guiltily. She reached across to squeeze the curvy blonde’s hand.
“Oh don’t be.” Savi grinned. “Although my guys said I can never go back there, they took me home and gave me such a good time that I forgot all about the sting in my butt.” She winked and Laken couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’m surprised Duncan didn’t spank you,” she added. “Marlee Robins said he threatened to spank her one day when he caught her trying to climb that old oak out by her house to get her cat.”
“What?” Laken exclaimed, jealousy surging through her.
“Relax, honey,” Lila told her. “Marlee Robins has a doting husband, who probably warmed her butt when he got home and heard the story. Still, Duncan is definitely a possessive guy; I bet he didn’t like you going there without him. And wasn’t that the point? To get his attention?”
Laken blushed a bit. “Yeah, I guess so. But he’s also stubborn as hell; I can’t seem to get it through that thick head of his that I’m not going to break with a firm touch.”
Lila snorted. “Well, I know you’re not fragile. Although you do look as though a stiff wind would knock you over, have you thought about eating once in a while?”
Laken rolled her eyes. “I eat. Don’t be dramatic.”
“Well, sometimes men don’t see what we do,” Savi told her. “Make him see how strong you are.”
“How, though? Every time I try to talk to him, he changes the topic.”
“Oh, not through talking,” Lila said. “You have to do something to get through to him. Shock him. Make it so totally obvious what you want so he can’t ignore you.”
Make him see. She guessed she could do that.
“Food’s ready, ladies,” Trace said with a wink at his fiancé as he placed a huge platter of steaks on the table.
“I’ll go get the salads,” Lila said, jumping up.
“Don’t worry, baby,” Trace told her, grabbing hold of her shoulder to stop her. “The others are getting them. You sit.”
Laken looked over with a smile as the other guys walked over to the outdoor table, arms laden with salads, drinks, plates and cutlery. Duncan sat next to her, crowding close. She bit back a small sigh of pleasure. He sent her a small wink, and then proceeded to fill both of their plates.
By the time he was done, her plate was overflowing with her favorite salads and choice cuts of meat.
“Duncan, you don’t seriously think I can eat this much, do you?”
He stared down at her plate, then shrugged. “Do the best you can.”
She barely managed a third of the plate before pushing it away. Laken watched Colin give Lila a kiss on her forehead. Max had pulled Savannah onto his lap and was rubbing her back.
Both her friends looked utterly content. That’s what she wanted.
Duncan pulled her under his arm as he carried on a conversation with Logan. Laken snuggled in happily. He cared about her. She just had to get him to open up about what was bothering him.
Chapter Ten