Read Online Song of the Surf (Pacific Shores Book 3) by Lynnette Bonner - Free Book Online Page B

jacket broadening his shoulders. She worried the toe of her shoe through the fibers of their welcome mat, never taking her gaze off his face. “I’m glad you came.”
    He tilted his head and so much emotion caressed the one word he spoke. “Dakota…”
    She reached out and took his hand, calling over her shoulder, “Mom, I’ll be back in a couple hours, okay?” Without waiting for a reply she ran, pulling Jason after her down the walk.
    He laughed. “Dakota, I’m here to help you pack remember? What are you doing?”
    She stopped at his bike and sidled close to him, resting one hand on his chest. “Take me for a ride.”
    He shook his head. “I only have one helmet. And you don’t have any protective gear.”
    “Jason.” She tilted him a coy look and couldn’t avoid the way her gaze dropped to his lips. “This will be our last night together for a whole year. Take me for a ride. It’ll be okay. Just to Shady Shore. Just for a little bit. I’m almost done packing. We can finish when we get back.”
    He bent and pressed his forehead to hers. “As much as I want to we shouldn’t. With only one helmet—”
    Her lips separated the distance between them and settled on his. She felt his jolt of surprise that matched her own. Because while they’d come close to kissing a couple times, they’d never done so before. She pulled back, feeling the heat in her face. “Just to Shady Shore?” All she wanted was a few more intimate moments with him. Moments to cling to in the year ahead.
    His gaze flitted to the road and back to her, and she knew he’d already relented. “Fine, but you have to wear the helmet. At least you’re in jeans. My dad is going to kill me if he catches word of this.”
    She giggled. “I promise not to tell him.”
    Pain flickered over his features at the reminder she wouldn’t be around for a long time to come. He settled the helmet over her head and adjusted the strap under her chin, then gave it a rap. “You good?”
    She nodded.
    “Alright. Let’s do this.” He swung a leg over his bike and waited for her to climb on.
    She settled up close behind him and wrapped her arms around the warmth of his torso.
    The motorbike roared to life, and he eased it out of the driveway.
    Shady Shore was only a mile from her house. It should have been a short ride. Would have been if Jason hadn’t been going over the speed limit and tossing a smile at her over his shoulder. Would have been except for the guy in the white pickup who’d been hurrying to the beach to go surfing after a few drinks at the bar. The guy who had swung a left in front of them as they came around the corner at the entrance just before Shady Shore.
    One minute she and Jason were laughing with the wind in their faces and life stretching out long and full before them, and the next…nothing but searing anguish and darkness.
    The doctors told Dakota the helmet saved her life.
    The man in the truck walked away with a few scratches.
    Jason hadn’t been so lucky….

    Justus swept Dakota up and strode to the side of the road. He settled her on her good leg and then wrapped his arms around her. Dakota shuddered and sniffled against his chest. Tightness constricted his breathing and his concern ramped up by the second. Had she been hurt? He didn’t think so. As close as they had come to hitting the kid, the worst jolt would have been when he first hit the brakes.
    Maybe almost hitting the kid was what had terrified her so badly?
    He leaned sideways, trying to see her face, which was still buried against his chest. “Dakota? It’s okay. We’re all safe. The kid’s safe. You’re safe. I’m safe.” He rubbed one hand over her back. “Everything’s okay.” The top of her head fit perfectly beneath his chin, and the vanilla and floral scent she always wore taunted him with its nearness. He swallowed and chastised himself for noticing how good she smelled when she was obviously only in need of a friend with a listening