“Thanks, I’m full.”
“Come here then.” He patted his chest and she snuggled into his side. His arm came around her, holding her close as he dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Just relax, baby, lean on me. I’m going to keep you safe, I promise.”
Laken closed her eyes, the heat of his body as well as his low voice lulling her into a lazy, dreamlike state. As he turned on the television, she drifted off to sleep.
***
Laken leaned over to grab a box filled with clothing. Her necklace slipped off and she made a grab for it, snatching it up before it could land on the ground.
“Damn it,” she swore.
“What’s wrong?” Savannah asked. She’d stopped in to grab the deliveries that Laken needed to get to the clothing store in Freestown. She’d hated to ask, but Savannah was going there anyway. Duncan had offered to take her, but he couldn’t get off until later.
“Oh, my necklace fell off. The clasp is loose,” she said.
“Let me see.” Savannah reached out for the collar. Laken was reluctant to hand it over, but had no plausible reason not to.
“Doesn’t look too hard to fix, why don’t I drop it into the jeweler and get them to fix the clasp. I’ll pick it up on my way home.”
Laken chewed at her lip. “I don’t know.” Duncan had ordered her to keep it on except for bathing and bed. She didn’t want to let it out of her sight.
“I’ll take good care of it. Otherwise it might fall off and break.” Savannah pushed it into her pocket.
Laken nodded reluctantly before saying goodbye to her friend.
***
Duncan walked into Laken’s shop after a long day. Shit, he was finding it harder to concentrate on the job. He’d love to just pick Laken up and take her away somewhere warm and exotic.
“Hey, sugar,” he called out, locking the door behind him and switching the sign over to closed. It was well past the time she should have shut up, but she usually waited until he came to collect her.
She came out of the back with a frown on her face. “Is it that late already?” Her hand came up to her neck. He’d noticed she often liked to play with her collar. He scowled as he noticed it was missing.
“Where’s your collar?” he asked sharply.
“The clasp was loose and it kept falling off. Savannah took it to the jewellers in Freestown. Only I expected her back hours ago.”
She chewed at her thumbnail.
“You should have told me it was loose, I would have gotten it fixed for you.” He glanced at the clock. “That’s odd she’s not back. Think she forgot to bring it back to you?”
“I don’t know. I’ll call her.” Laken grabbed her cell phone as Duncan watched her.
Laken put her phone down with a frown. “No answer. Maybe she’s still driving.”
Duncan snorted. “Since when has that ever stopped her from using her phone? I’ve pulled her up twice in the last six months for doing just that. Her men need to spank her butt more often.”
“Hmm,” Laken said, her mind clearly on something else. “Do you think she’s been in an accident?”
Laken’s phone rang and she answered it quickly.
“Hi Charity. She didn’t? Oh no, I’ll have to go. Yes, I’ll let you know.” She ended the call, looking at him with fear. “That was Charity, the lady who sells my clothes in Freestown. She said Savannah never turned up today. Where is she?”
Duncan pulled out his own phone. “I’ll call Max. Maybe they’re all at home and Savi’s just lost track of time.”
The phone was picked up on the second ring.
“Duncan, I was just about to call you,” Max answered, sounding almost frantic.