“But it just needs to cool down—” she started to protest, despite knowing it was a losing argument.
Duncan gave her a dark look and she found herself moving toward his truck before she thought about it. Duncan locked up her car and followed her as he spoke on his phone.
“Thanks, Matt,” he said as he entered his truck before shutting off his phone.
“Matt’s going to come get it?” she asked. Matt Simpson was the local mechanic. She winced, wondering how she was going to pay that bill.
Duncan nodded.
The drive home was mainly silent, with Laken glancing over at Duncan every so often. What was his problem? She wasn’t his prisoner. Duncan had never been so controlling before.
Duncan pulled up to her apartment, then climbed out, coming around to open her door.
“Inside. Now,” he growled.
Oh crap. She knew that tone. Much as she wanted to defy him, she found herself turning and climbing the stairs to her apartment.
“Wait here until I check the place over,” he ordered, reaching past her to unlock the door.
With a sigh of exasperation she waited until he’d stepped into the small apartment, then followed him. He was being ridiculous. Like someone was really going to be waiting inside her apartment.
Duncan returned, his face turning thunderous as he found her in the small kitchenette, waving her note around.
“See! Here it is,” she told him.
His gaze darkened, becoming harder. He pointed at the sofa in the living area. “Sit.”
Swallowing the lump of worry that had formed in her throat, she sat.
“Did I not just tell you to wait outside?” he asked in a surprisingly calm voice, considering the tenseness of his body.
“Yes, but don’t you think you’re overreacting just a bit? I get that you’re a cop and that you see lots of crap, but the likelihood of anyone hiding in my apartment, waiting to attack me is pretty low, don’t you think?”
“I will not take risks with your safety, Laken. And I will not allow you to, either. Did you not agree to tell me if you were going anywhere?”
“I left you a note,” she protested as his eyes drilled into hers. “I’m not sure why I even agreed to that. I was feeling suffocated. I just wanted to see my dads.”
“I would have taken you if you’d waited for me.”
“I don’t need you to escort me, Duncan. I don’t get why I need to check in with you constantly. What the hell is going on?”
He wouldn’t meet her gaze. “Do I not tell you if I’m going to be home late?”
“Yes.”
He ran his hand over his hair, blowing out his breath. She could see the stress on his face. He’d really been worried. “I’m sorry you’ve been feeling smothered, but I was really worried. I want your promise that you will keep your cell on you at all times.”
“I will. I’m sorry. I just wanted some peace and quiet.”
He sat, pulling her onto his lap, rocking her slightly. “I know I’ve been a bit overbearing lately. I just want you safe.”
“I know.”
She stared down at her hands. “It seems like you’ve been kind of obsessive about safety lately. Mine, in particular.”
He let his head drop back, closing his eyes. There were dark patches underneath. He looked exhausted and stressed.
Well, it was now or never, she guessed. Taking a deep breath, she slid off his lap and drawing off her t-shirt and bra, she slid onto her knees in front of him. Keeping her gaze down, although she longed to peek, she placed her hands palm up on her thighs and straightened her back.