Tied Bond (Bonded Duet 2)

I pulled my nightshirt off, then yanked on a T-shirt and some jeans, adding a sweater to boot. The cold was no joke, and I was sure I was allergic to it. “With my feet.”

Ford’s head whipped up, his brows lowering on his head. “You’re gonna walk to the store?”

“Yep.” I sat on the edge of the bed and put some socks on, and then I pushed my feet into my ankle boots.

“No.” Ford stood, cradling Leo in his arms. “You can take my car.”

I tilted my head to the side. “Won’t you need it?”

“I’m working on a case that keeps me in the office all day.” I stood, and he placed a kiss on the top of my head. “I’ll drive us to my work, and then we can switch, and you take the car.”

“But what if you need it at some point?” I shook my head. “I can’t keep your car all day, Ford.”

“Bring it back to me at lunch, and I’ll drive you home.” I bit down on my bottom lip, realizing that my lack of transportation was starting to be an issue. I’d never needed a car before because I’d always relied on rides, but now I had Leo and errands to run, and I was starting to see the need for my own.

“Okay, then.” I heaved a breath. “But I’ll have it back to you by twelve. No later.”

“Sounds good to me.” He stepped closer, his body inches from mine, Leo the only thing separating us. I lifted up on my tiptoes, and he met me halfway with his lips. “You ready to leave, then?”

I nodded and walked out of the bedroom, then down the stairs. I grabbed my purse on the way and opened my mouth to call Lottie, but she was already beside me. “You taking her? Or should I?”

“I’ll take her, and then she can come home with you when I bring you back,” Ford said as he opened the front door. Lottie and I followed him out, and he locked up behind us. I was glad when he opened the back door to strap Leo in because the car seat was a nightmare and took me what felt like forever to figure out each time I had to use it.

The engine roared to life when Ford turned on the ignition, and then we were away, heading toward the DEA offices. The closer to the offices we got, the more nerves rolled through my body. I’d never driven Ford’s car before, and I was afraid I’d damage it by scraping against a fence or something. He loved his car, and it was always in pristine condition.

He rolled to a stop in front of the security gate and spoke to the man in the booth, explaining that I’d need to be let out and back in after I’d been to the grocery store in a couple of hours. He asked for my ID, so I fished it out of my wallet and handed it over.

Ford took my hand. “What’s the matter?”

“Huh?” I whipped my head around to face him. “What?”

“You’re bouncing your leg like a jockey racing a horse.” He raised his brow. “What’s the matter?”

I inhaled a breath, trying to get my nerves under control. “I’m just…I’ve never driven your car before.” The security guy passed my ID back, and I slipped it into my wallet.

“It works like every other car,” Ford quipped back, tapping the steering wheel as if to prove his point as he drove through the security gate and then pulled up outside the front entrance. “You’ll be fine. It’s the safest place you can be, remember?” I did remember. He’d told me about all the things he’d had fitted onto the car and how it was bulletproof. But it wasn’t me I was worried about.

“What if I scratch it?”

He shrugged. “Then I’ll fix it.” He opened the door and got out, and I stared at him as he moved around to my side and opened my door too. He was acting as if we did this every day. “It’ll be fine, Baby Belle.” He held his hand out for me, and I placed mine in his and let him help me out. “It’s only a car.”

I glanced back at the shiny metal and cringed. “But it’s your car.” I shook my head and turned back to him, my shoulders drooping. “I need to get my own.”

“You do need your own car, but not because you might damage mine.” He pulled me against him, and my hands landed on his chest. His embrace calmed me, and I knew I was being overdramatic about it, but it was because I was nervous. “Stop fretting. Go to the store, come back, and then I’ll take you for lunch before you go home. Okay?”

“Lunch?”

“Yep. I may even indulge you with your favorite…”

My eyes widened. “Burgers?”

“And fries.” He bent down and moved his face closer to mine. “Calm down. You’re fine.” He pressed his lips to mine gently, and I got lost in his touch until he pulled back and let me go. I couldn’t help staring at him as he opened up the back door to let Lottie out, and then reached across the seats to give Leo a kiss on the head. His jeans pulled taut against his ass, and I took in my fill. “See you later, little man.” He pushed back out and handed me the keys. “Love you, Baby Belle.”

“Love you too,” I heaved out, trudging around to the other side of the car. I had no option but to drive it. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

Lottie stood beside Ford as they waited for me to get inside, and I quickly adjusted the seat forward so I could reach the pedals. My legs were half the length of Ford’s. As soon as I felt comfortable, I turned the ignition on and moved the car toward the security gate. It opened as soon as I stopped, and I glanced in the rearview mirror to take one last look at Ford, who was grinning up a storm.

“Thank you,” I told the guy in the booth, and slowly pulled out. My hands clenched the steering wheel so tight I was sure I’d lose feeling soon, but once I was halfway to the store, I started to get the hang of the car and relaxed back a little. It was wider than the last car I’d driven—my mom’s—and a tiny tap of the gas made it fly. I could hear Leo fussing in his seat, and a quick look at the time told me I needed to feed him before we went into the store.