Free Tuesday (Timeless Series #2) by E. L. Todd

clothes and his shiny watch.
    “I’m so excited to meet you.” Instead of shaking his hand, Marie hugged him like they were long lost friends. “I’ve been looking forward to this all night.”
    “Oh…” Kyle’s lips stretched into a grin. “I’m glad someone’s excited. Whenever Frankie sees me, she just seems bored.”
    “She’s just rough around the edges.” Marie laughed it off but she shot me a glare.
    Kyle pulled out the chair for me before he sat down.
    When I froze at his gesture, I realized it’d been a really long time since I went on a date. I almost didn’t know how to act. It was like I forgot how to date. “Thanks…” I lowered myself into the chair.
    Axel stared at Kyle without bothering to be discreet about it.
    Marie picked up her menu then turned it so the guys couldn’t see us leaning over the table and talking. “Damn, he’s really cute.”
    “I know.” There wasn’t any doubt about that. When I saw him at the gym, I was immediately smitten.
    “You did a great job finding him. He has really pretty eyes.”
    Axel cleared his throat. “I have really pretty eyes too.”
    Marie’s face reddened in embarrassment then she lowered her menu like nothing happened.
    Kyle kept grinning like an idiot.
    I looked at my menu and tried to act like this wasn’t incredibly awkward. “What are you getting?”
    Kyle moved his hand to my thigh. “Not sure. What about you?”
    I tensed when he showed me affection in public. It rubbed me the wrong way, and I couldn’t explain why. We were on a date so that’s what should happen but…something was off.
    Axel glanced at Kyle’s hand then sipped his water.
    “Probably the spaghetti.” I set the menu down.
    “Maybe we can share a strand of pasta like that Disney movie.” He squeezed my thigh under the table.
    “Maybe…” I needed wine.
    “So, Kyle.” Axel set his water aside. “What do you do for a living?”
    Kyle answered the question in stride. “I run a—”
    “Do not interrogate him.” I shot Axel a deadly look. “We’re here to have fun, not examine his resume.”
    Axel glared at me. “I’m getting to know your boyfriend.”
    “He’s not my boyfriend.” I didn’t mean to sound so harsh but it just came out.
    “Ouch.” Kyle squeezed my thigh again like he was teasing me.
    The waitress came and took our order, thankfully. It was nice to have something to do instead of just stare awkwardly at each other. But once she was gone, the gloom returned.
    “As you were saying,” Axel said. “Before my bratty sister interrupted you.”
    “She is a brat,” Kyle said with a laugh.
    “I’ll second that,” Marie said with a raised hand.
    I rolled my eyes in irritation.
    “I own a law firm in Manhattan. It’s on Sixth and Broadway.” Kyle took a drink of his wine.
    Axel obviously didn’t expect that judging the surprised look on his face. “You own a firm?”
    “Yes.” Kyle remained humble about it.
    “How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?” Axel asked.
    I narrowed my eyes on him. “Interrogation…”
    “Baby, it’s fine,” Kyle said.
    I didn’t like to be called that outside of the bedroom but I didn’t correct him.
    “I’m thirty,” Kyle said. “My father was a lawyer, and he passed away a few years ago. His firm went to me and now I run it.”
    “Oh…” Axel nodded in understanding. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
    “He and I were really close so it was hard,” Kyle said. “But working in his office makes it feel like he’s still there sometimes…” His voice trailed away.
    My heart ached for him so I rested my hand on his.
    When he felt the affection, he smiled and squeezed my fingers.
    Marie grinned as she watched our interaction. “So, this has been going on for a long time.” She leaned forward on the edge of her seat.
    Kyle turned to me. “You talk about me, huh?” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I knew you were into me.”
    “I tell her everything,” I said. “She’s my best