Swear (Landry Family #4)(29)

Ellie charges back, threatening Violet, as I chuckle. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I see Sienna's name on the screen.

I motion to them I need to take the call and head to the back. "Hello?"

"Hey, Ford! Are you busy?"

"It depends on what you want."

"Well, I need a ride."

"Why?"

She sighs dramatically into the line. "I rode with Camilla to get manicures and she went first. She was finished when I was just starting, so she said she was going to run a few errands and come back to get me. I can't get her to even respond to my texts now, and I'm tired of sitting here. I'm only a few blocks from Landry Security, so I thought maybe you'd take pity on your baby sister and come get me."

"You could walk," I offer.

"It's a hundred degrees out there!"

Ellie's voice drifts to the back and I get an idea. "Can I call you right back?"

"You aren't going to leave me sitting here too, are you?"

"Get an attitude and I just might leave you to an Uber."

"Call me back," she growls and hangs up.

Moseying to the front, it's Violet that catches my eye first. I toss her a wink.

"Who was that?" Violet asks carefully, trying to make sure that's what I intended her to do.

"My sister Sienna. She's stranded at a nail place and needs a ride."

A look of understand flickers through Violet's eyes. "Weren't you dropped off here?"

"Yup. I told her she'd have to take a cab or something."

Violet looks at Ellie. "Why don't you take Ford to get her?"

Ellie's jaw drops as she looks at Violet and then me. "Um, well, I . . ."

"You totally don't have to," I say. "Really. She can call someone else. It's fine."

"But you were just saying you needed to run out and grab some thumb tacks and stuff, right?" Violet prods. "Let me finish what we were doing and you run Ford to grab his sister."

"But I . . ." she gulps. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Violet says, nudging her towards me.

"If you don't want to, Ellie, it's fine," I grin.

She searches my face and I can almost see the cogs turning. Finally, she throws back her shoulders and smiles. "Let me grab my keys."



Ellie

What the hell am I doing?

It takes two attempts to get the keys in the ignition. Ford is too close, looking entirely too sinful, and smelling way too freaking good to think clearly.

In my little car, he completely dominates the space. It's like my brain refuses to work with him in the passenger's seat next to me. Where he could reach out and touch me. And move his fingers to my-

"Ellie?"

"Ah!" I say, jumping back in my seat. My hands clasp over my heart as it stalls in my chest. "You scared me!"



       
         
       
        

"Saying your name?" he laughs. "What on Earth is wrong with you?"

"Nothing," I mutter, pulling my sunglasses over my eyes in hopes he doesn't see me blush. "Where is Sienna?"

He gives me the address, and I pull out onto the street. We drive for a few miles with no sound besides the radio quietly playing a hip-hop station Violet had on this morning.

"Do you listen to this?" he asks, turning the sound up. "This is horrible."

"It was all Violet," I laugh. "I usually listen to country."

"I knew I loved you."

Pressing a swallow, I try to let those words go in one ear and out the other. I'm sure it was just a slip of the tongue, a casual use of words people say each and every day.

I knew I loved you.

I gulp again.

A song by a popular artist comes on the radio and he taps his foot against the floorboard in rhythm. The insistent tip-tap begins to drive me up the wall.

"Okay," I say, flipping off the radio. "Let's talk."

"Okay. Let's talk," he repeats.

"What are you? A canary?"

"A canary?" he laughs. "You mean a parrot."

"No, a canary. Canaries talk."

"Do they? I don't think so."

"Look it up," I laugh. "We had a canary when I was little and it talked."

He gives me the cutest, silliest look. "I'm sure it did."

I smack him on the shoulder. That's all it takes for the air to shift. He must feel it too because he cranks up the air conditioner.

"I've been hot all fucking day," he grumbles.

I want to comment that he looks fucking hot every time I see him. I could make a note about how hard his shoulder just was when I hit him and how I'd like to roam my hands down his biceps and feel him flex his body while he's up against mine. Or on mine. Or under mine. Or inside mine.