A Safe Surrender: A Donnelley Brother's Novel (Donnelley Brothers Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

their hands wandering to places no one had ever touched me.
    My face flamed bright red as I averted my eyes to anywhere else. It wasn’t long before I found that my toes were the safest place to look. Leaning against the wall, I admired my socked feet with the little cartoon characters smiling goofily up at me.
    “Nice socks.” A deep voice sounded in my ear and I jumped, looking up into water-blue eyes.
    My heart stuttered as I took in his appearance. His hair was long and shaggy blond - like a surfer’s and his eyes were framed in thick blond lashes. He was tall, towering over my five foot four inches and his shoulders were broad. I could tell by the glass of his eyes that he was either drinking or doing drugs - but he seemed nice enough and I didn’t know anyone at this party.
    “Hi.” I said shyly.
    He grinned, cocking his head to the side as he studied me through those stunning eyes. “What’s your name?”
    “Kami,”
    He held out his hand, and uncertainly, I placed mine in his. “Hello, Kami,” he shook my hand, but didn’t let it go. “I’m Rhett.”
    “Rhett?” I smiled. “That’s different.”
    “So is Kami.”
    “It’s Kamilla.” I stated. “Kami’s short.”
    “I like it.” He licked his lips and my heart raced. “I like you, Kami.”
    I tried to ignore my racing pulse as I struggled to reply. “You don’t know me.”
    He cocked his head. “Not yet. But I will know you.” He brought my hand up to his lips. “And I’ll make you mine.”
    I didn’t say anything as I stared up at this handsome creature. Never before had anyone spoken such words to me. Never before had anyone made me want to belong to another the way Rhett did.
    And I didn’t even know him...
    Tightening my hand on the steering wheel, I shook my head at fifteen-year-old Kami and seventeen year old Rhett. He had been such a smooth talker then, sweeping me right off my feet. But the reality was very different. He’d sensed my insecurities then and like the vulture he was, he’d pounced. I couldn’t help it, I was blaming it all on the socks. If I hadn’t worn those damn childlike socks, I might never have attracted Rhett.
    But if I hadn’t had Rhett, what would the last seven years of my life been like? Although he’d become a danger to me, he hadn’t always been that way. He used to be my safe place - his arms used to protect me.
    Once upon a time, I thought Rhett would do anything for me. Fifteen-year-old Kami never would have thought, for even a moment, that Rhett was capable of the horrors he’d enacted last night.
    But that Kami was gone. This Kami was ready to take control of her life and the first step was leaving.

Chapter 3
    I pulled into the Banff Inn and prayed they had a room. People were everywhere, lugging ski’s and snowboard’s through the snow, checking into rooms, and congregating in cherry cheeked masses as they recounted the fun of their day on the ski slopes with an animation I couldn’t help but admire.
    Killing the ignition, I pulled the hood of my sweater onto my head and darted from the car. Running through the swirl of falling snowflakes, I moved into the hotel. Placing my hands onto the check-in desk, I smiled at the receptionist.
    “Hello. I don’t have a room booked, but I was wondering if you have one available?”
    She smiled and scanned the computer screen. “We do. How many beds?”
    “Oh, it’s just me.”
    She blinked. “So one bed?”
    Slowly, I nodded. “Please.”
    She rang me through before handing me a key card. “There’s underground parking and you’re in room 208.” She smiled widely. “Enjoy your stay.”
    “Thank you.” I gave a small finger-wave as I walked back outside. Unlocking my car, I sunk into the driver’s seat before driving toward the underground parking garage. I was exhausted and I couldn’t wait to get in the shower and let some of the day’s stress wash away.
    I don’t exactly think my mind has really accepted my actions as reality