Page 29 of Bear in a Bakery
“You were a horrible partner, Blake, and an even worse lover. I don’t owe you anything.”
His lips pulled into a thin line, the rise and fall of his chest matching Dax’s.
“Insult me all you want while you write out the check, okay?”
“I’m not paying you back for something you gifted to me.”
“You never had time for me,” Blake hissed. He spun away from Dax to face her. Dax gripped the Blake’s shoulder, but it didn’t deter him. “You were never worth my time. That stupid list you started? Oh yeah, I saw it. Add something else to it: Eats too many cupcakes. Seriously.” He waved a hand suggestively at her body and frowned.
Dax grabbed huge handfuls of Blake’s suit and hauled him backwards so fast he tipped back onto his heels. Without mercy, he dragged the smaller man toward the door. Blake twisted, partially freeing himself. His hand shot around the back of Dax’s neck and the two locked in a grip. In a blink, Dax gripped the front of the other man’s neck with an unforgiving grip.
Blake’s face turned red, then a purple.
“I’ll shift and eat your fucking heart out. Do you hear me? You’re nothing but a small, impotent bear. Completely unable to defend yourself against an Alpha like me. We’re not done, do you hear me? But you are going to leave, right now.”
The door slammed open with a resounding crack as Becks threw it open. Dax pushed his adversary through with an added shove that sent Blake flying. He pulled the door shut and flipped the deadbolt.
Allie slumped against the counter, her chest tight and breath coming in hard pulls. She wanted to shrink and hide, to just curl up into herself and turn off Blake’s words. He’d seen the list. The one she’d felt compelled to write because he made her feel so small. There was no denying the truth anymore. Blake had always made her feel like less than he deserved, like an inferior woman because she had goals and aspirations that didn’t include waiting and doting on him for hours a day.
It was shit. He was shit. She knew this.
But why did his words hurt so bad?
Dax took her upper arms in his hands, but she couldn’t look up at him. It was embarrassing, humiliating that he’d heard what Blake had said. That list, that stupid list, was an expression of her dissatisfaction with her life and herself. It had never been meant for another’s eyes—especially Blake’s. The worst thing is that, though she’d used it as a tool to get rid of negativity, she’d instead, started to really believe there was something wrong with her. It had taken her so long to undo the damage Blake had done to her self-confidence and value of her own worth. And here she was, believing it all over again.
“Allie, look at me.”
His soft, caring voice brought tears to her eyes. She couldn’t do this right now. She needed time to process the humiliation and lick her wounds.
“I need you to go.”
Allie stepped back; her arms suddenly cold where his hands had been.
“Let’s talk about this.”
She shook her head and studied the lines of her hardwood floor. “No. I don’t want to talk about anything. Thank you for everything, but I need to be alone.”
I need time to not feel worthless again.
Dax moved to her before she could react, taking her face between his hands and tipping her face up. His lips found hers in a kiss that poured out adoration like melted chocolate. It was quick, and then he stepped back and walked out the door before she could even catch her breath.
She stood where she was for several minutes. It seemed as if her rib cage had fallen out and left a gaping hole where a bright light of joy and confidence had just been.
It was a good thing she’d sent Dax away. If she hadn’t been worthy of Blake, how would she ever make Dax happy?
She was too much to handle, but not nearly enough for a man like him.
