Free Reluctant Hero (The Dunamis Covenant Book 1) by Ron Francis Page A

the next tree and tell me I've been punk'd. It's all still hard for me to believe." The car sped along the highway, but Abby was unsure of where they were. She did, however, know where they were going.
    "Ashton who? What are you talking about? Just take off your clothes!"
    "Seriously, you don't know who Ashton Kutcher is? Do Ethereals not own TVs?" Thomas replied.
    "TJ!" she yelled impatiently.
    "Fine!" he yelled back. "I just want to go on record as saying that under normal circumstances, a beautiful woman asking you to take off your clothes is a good thing, but this... feels kinda creepy." The other Mage in the front seat with Asa stifled a laugh while Abby shot daggers at the man with her eyes. TJ took off his shirt and handed it to her and she threw it out the window. He noticed they were near the Grapevine Mills mall. He began to take off his pants, making sure he had his wallet, keys and phone. As Thomas struggled to rid himself of his pants, Abby scowled. This vehicle certainly doesn't feel as roomy as advertised , she thought. Thomas wound up almost laying across Abby's lap in an awkward position; which she didn't really mind. She threw his pants out the window, and Asa changed direction and began heading back to Arlington. TJ looked a little self conscious sitting next her wearing nothing but boxers and shoes. He caught her eyeing him and seemed to become a little more comfortable.
    "Eyes forward," he called out with a smirk. He seemed to enjoy the embarrassed look that crossed her face as she snapped out of her thoughts of him.
    "That wasn't funny, you know," she said with a scowl. She noticed they were driving towards the entrance ramp for Interstate Thirty East. They would be back at the safe house soon.
    "I enjoyed it." He replied with a chuckle.
    "It's nice to know that you have not matured very much since you left New York." She glanced at his body again. It was not a good idea for her to be sitting next to him while he looked like this. When she heard he was a post office worker, she had not pictured someone in such great shape. He wasn't a muscle head, but he was also far from small. He was ripped and looking at him was getting her flustered. The more she tried to look away, the more she was drawn to the man sitting next to her. She caught herself licking her lips and thought, dear God, woman, get a hold of yourself . She knew her reaction was in part due to the spell that bound them together, but it was also because he was hot.
    "Are you sweating, Abby?" He asked with a mischievous smirk.
    "No, I am not sweating, TJ, this is a most awkward situation for me, and I would appreciate it if we could ride in silence."
    She realized he wasn't ready to conclude his fun when he added, "I don't think silence is such a good idea, Abby, it just leaves too much opportunity for the mind to wander to places it shouldn't go."
    Asa laughed and he called from the front, "It looks as though the spell is breaking and the Paladin spirit is returning to our friend, this is good news, Abby." The other Mage was struggling to keep his composure.
    "I believe I hate you all," She replied while folding her arms across her chest, and she wasn't entirely sure the comment was in jest.
    The Explorer reached its destination when it pulled up in front of an old, white house on Randal Mill Road. It was another Ethereal safe house. Abby looked at Thomas and smiled as she produced the bag of clothes he had packed. "I'll carry this in for you," she said with a good amount of humor in her voice.
    "You had my clothes the whole time, and you made me sit here almost naked?"
    "I might have thought to give them to you sooner had you stopped teasing me long enough for me to speak." She laughed and ran into the house with his bag, making him have to cross the expansive lawn in his underwear only to arrive in time for her to lock the door.

Chapter seven
     
    Thomas woke up at one-thirty Saturday afternoon; he hadn't fallen asleep until almost seven in