Bonded

4

The next evening, I spent far too long staring at my reflection in the mirror, second-guessing everything. My dress, a simple yet elegant navy-blue wrap dress, was far from extravagant, but it was the nicest thing I owned. My hair, usually a wild mess of soft waves, had been tamed into a sleek, half-up style. I’d even added a hint of makeup—mascara to make my eyes pop and a subtle pink gloss on my lips.

“Why am I doing this?” I whispered to myself, smoothing the fabric over my hips.

Because Caleb Thorn had asked me to.

He was the kind of man who didn’t take no for an answer. And maybe, just maybe, I didn’t want to say no.

The sound of a car pulling up outside broke through my thoughts. I peeked out the window and immediately felt my stomach flip.

A sleek black car—no, a luxury car—sat at the curb. It gleamed under the streetlights, its presence commanding attention. And there he was, standing beside it in a tailored black suit, looking every bit like he’d stepped out of a movie.

I grabbed my coat and purse, hesitating at the door. Was this a terrible idea? Probably. But my curiosity won out.

When I stepped outside, the cool evening air bit at my bare legs. Caleb’s gaze snapped to me instantly, and I could feel the intensity of his eyes as they roamed over me.

“You look stunning,” he said, his voice low and smooth.

“Thank you,” I murmured, feeling my cheeks flush under his scrutiny.

He opened the car door for me, and I hesitated for only a moment before sliding into the plush leather seat. The interior smelled faintly of cedar and something distinctly Caleb—a warm, intoxicating scent that made my heart race.

As he settled into the driver’s seat, I couldn’t help but glance at him. He looked effortlessly composed, his hand resting on the steering wheel and his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

“Where are we going?” I asked, breaking the silence.

“You’ll see,” he replied, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

The city blurred past as we drove, the streets giving way to quieter, more secluded areas. I tried to focus on the scenery, but my attention kept drifting back to Caleb.

“Do you always do this?” I asked after a moment.

“Do what?”

“Show up at someone’s work, ask them to dinner, and then sweep them off in a car like this?”

He chuckled softly. “Not exactly.”

“So why me?” The question slipped out before I could stop it.

He didn’t answer right away. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter, more serious. “Because there’s something about you, Ivy. Something I can’t quite figure out yet.”

I stared at him, unsure how to respond. No one had ever spoken to me like that before, like I was some kind of mystery they wanted to unravel.

The car slowed, and I realized we were pulling up to a gated estate. My breath caught as the gates opened, revealing a sprawling mansion surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens.

“This is…your house?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“One of them,” he said casually, as if owning multiple mansions was perfectly normal.

The car came to a stop, and Caleb stepped out, walking around to open my door. I climbed out, feeling small and out of place as I took in the grandeur of the estate.

“Come on,” he said, offering his hand.

I hesitated, then placed my hand in his. His grip was firm yet gentle, and a strange sense of comfort washed over me as he led me up the steps to the front door.

The interior was even more breathtaking than the exterior. High ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and polished marble floors made the space feel like something out of a dream.

“This is where you live?” I asked, still trying to process it all.

“For now,” he said with a shrug. “I tend to move around a lot.”

Before I could ask what that meant, a man in a crisp black suit appeared. “Good evening, Mr. Thorn,” he said with a slight bow.

“Good evening, Henry,” Caleb replied. “This is Ivy. We’ll be dining in the private room tonight.”

“Of course,” Henry said, giving me a polite nod before disappearing down a hallway.

I turned to Caleb, my eyebrows raised. “You have staff?”

He smirked. “Does that surprise you?”

“Yes,” I admitted. “Most people don’t have butlers.”

“I’m not most people,” he said, his voice taking on that teasing edge again.

As we walked through the mansion, I couldn’t help but feel like I was in over my head. Everything about Caleb’s world was so far removed from mine.

The private dining room was smaller than I expected, but no less impressive. A table was set for two, complete with candles and an array of dishes that looked far too fancy for me to pronounce.

“I thought we were going out,” I said as he pulled out a chair for me.

“This is better,” he said, taking the seat across from me. “No distractions.”

The meal was exquisite, though I could barely focus on the food. Caleb kept the conversation light at first, asking about my favorite books, my job at the bookstore, and the places I’d always wanted to visit.

“You’ve never been outside the city?” he asked at one point, his tone almost disbelieving.

I shook my head. “I’ve never really had the chance. Traveling isn’t exactly in my budget.”

His expression softened, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something vulnerable in his eyes. “Ivy, there’s so much more out there than this city. You deserve to see it all.”

His words caught me off guard, and I looked down at my plate, unsure how to respond.

As the evening went on, I found myself relaxing around him. He was charming, attentive, and surprisingly easy to talk to. But there was still an air of mystery about him, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

When dinner was over, he walked me to the door, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back.

“Thank you,” I said softly, turning to face him.

“For what?”

“For…all of this. It’s more than I expected.”

He smiled, his gray eyes locking onto mine. “It’s just the beginning, Ivy.”

My heart skipped a beat at his words, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that he meant more than just dinner. As I stepped into the cool night air, I wondered what exactly I’d gotten myself into—and whether I was ready for what came next.