Free Bonded (The Raegan Mason Trilogy) by Cheryl Courtney Page B

his shin I mistakenly kicked.  “Nice kick.”  He grimaced through his teeth.
    “I’m so sorry, Kyler. I didn’t mean to kick you.”  I stammered, standing up trying to apologize away my mistake as the server approached our table.
    “Is there a problem?” The server asked calmly.  She was tall, blonde and very aware of the gorgeous man rubbing his shin.
    “Everything’s just fine.” Julie responded.  I sat down embarrassed but attempted to put my apologetic face on for Kyler.  He just smirked at me as if all were forgiven.
    “Can I get you something to drink?”  She waited patiently for our drink orders.
    “I’ll have an iced tea.” Julie replied.  “And can we get a basket of bread for our starving friend?” She motioned to me as a new wave of embarrassing flush crossed my face.
    “I’ll have a tea as well.” I replied quietly.
    “Make that three iced teas.”  Kyler finished our drink order.  “They have really good food here.  We come here once a week.  I haven’t tried everything on the menu, but everything I have tried is good.  I would recommend the lobster.  I heard they fly it in from Maine.”  He smiled encouragingly at me to ease my embarrassment.  The hum I felt in my bones as he spoke was soothing.  I only wished Julie wasn’t a witness to this little moment.
    “Sounds good to me.” Julie responded.  “Now where were we, before Raegan here kicked the crap out of you?”  She glared at me out of the corner of her eye, waiting for the kick she so deserved.
    Kyler chuckled.  “I had a great time at the party and after the party.  I was surprised to find Raegan on the beach so late at night.”  His foot bumped up against mine under the table, and I could feel the electricity flow from my foot up through my body.  I inhaled slowly so it didn’t come out as the gasp that wanted to escape.  I kept my eyes on his face.  He hadn’t shaved this morning so the faint stubble was there.  It made him look even more attractive in a rough kind of way.  His eyes flickered back to me as he rubbed his chin and smirked.
    I really needed to have my head examined.  I could swear he heard my thoughts sometimes.  I picked up the menu and started looking through it so I could avoid both sets of eyes narrowing in on my red cheeks.  Kyler’s foot stayed in contact with mine.  He was wearing beach sandals so his skin was touching mine.  I kept as still as possible so that I could continue to feel that addictive pulse from him.
    “What were you doing on the beach last night?” Julie questioned.  “Haven’t you heard about all of the recent sexual assault cases going on around here?  Several girls have been either date raped or assaulted in some way.  They haven’t caught the guy yet.  All of the victims claimed they were drugged but no traces of drugs have been found in their blood tests.  But none of them remember his face or any other descriptions of him.  You really shouldn’t be alone on the beach at night.”  Julie lectured.
    Our server had returned with our drinks and bread basket.  She waited for our orders, or I guess my order since Julie and Kyler were both getting the lobster special.  “I guess I’ll have the shrimp scampi and a salad with no croutons.  Thanks.”  I handed her my menu and she walked away.
    “Well?  Why were you out there?” Julie persisted.
    I shrugged and looked away.  “I just…”
    “She needed some air after being hit on by Jaxon.” Kyler replied.  “She was contemplating the cosmos, isn’t that right?”  He smiled and I returned his smile remembering him pointing out the constellations.
    “Uh huh.  So you two just happened to be at the same place at the same time ‘contemplating the cosmos’?”  She flicked her black eyes between us expecting more details.
    “Really, Jewels.  We just hung out for a bit and talked.” While we had a moonlit swim and walked hand-in-hand down the beach.  Mental sigh.  I