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

yet. It’s only six o’clock right now and I don’t expect my phone to explode with calls from Rhett until around ten when I don’t return home from work. I doubt he’ll notice my clothing gone and I didn’t really take much else. However, I know that when he does realize I’ve left - all hell will break loose.
    Parking my car, I pulled my suitcases from the trunk before wheeling them to the elevator. I pressed the second floor and waited. It didn’t take me long to find my room. Ignoring the rowdy bunches of college kids lingering in the halls, I closed and locked my door behind me, leaning my back against the door as I sighed. I breathed in and out, in and out, in and out.
    Pulling my phone from the pocket of my hoodie, I dialed Ember’s number.
    She answered on the first ring. “Did you make it?”
    “I’m at a hotel in Banff. I’ll stay here the night and drive to the Donnelley Ranch tomorrow morning.” I whispered. “I can’t believe I’ve ran away.”
    “You didn’t run away, Kami. You’re just taking the steps you had to take to make your life better.” I nodded as she spoke assuredly through the phone.
    Holding back my tears, I replied. “I wish I was as confident as you that what I’ve done is the right thing.”
    “Hey,” Ember scolded gently. “You’ve done the right thing. You’re just afraid and alone right now, Kami, but you won’t always be. I promise the people at the Donnelley Ranch are super nice and the Donnelley brothers aren’t bad to look at either.”
    I scoffed. “I am definitely not looking for another man, Ember.”
    I imagined her rolling her eyes. “You’ll change your mind when you see how hot they are. Seriously, sweetie, that’s hot with a capital H.”
    I chuckled. “Thanks for making me laugh.”
    “No problem.” She assured. “So, I’m figuring by the lack of panic in your voice that Rhett hasn’t figured out you’ve left yet, huh?”
    “He hasn’t called.”
    “He will, Kami.” She said matter of fact. “And when he does, you need to ignore it. Do not answer your phone. Just turn it off when he starts calling, you hear me?”
    “I hear you, Ember.” I said under my breath. And then I repeated, not for her, but for me. “I’ll ignore his calls.”
    “Good.” She kissed the air into the phone. “I love you, sweetie, and I’m proud of you.”
    “I love you too.”
    “Call me for anything, anytime.” Her tone was filled with warning and I knew she was serious.
    “I will.” I promised.
    “Bye.”
    I hugged myself. “Bye, Ember.”
    Hanging up my phone, I padded across the little room. Tossing my phone onto the bed, I lifted my suitcase before emptying its contents onto the bed. In my frazzled packing moments, I’d made quite a mess of my suitcase. I didn’t have anything else to do for the remainder of the night, so I organized my suitcases, had a long hot shower, turned off my phone, and went to bed.
    ***
    I arrived at the Donnelley Ranch at 9:32 a.m. feeling nervous and excited. True to my suspicions, Rhett had blown up my phone with calls and messages. I’d deleted every one of them without reading or listening. If I listened to them, I feared I’d grow weak and either tell him where I was or return home to him.
    Home - I no longer had a home. I had nowhere to go or be but here at the Ranch. Every ounce of my strength to stay away from Rhett revolved around my getting this job and having a place to be without the man I’d relied on for comfort and the illusion of safety for much too long.
    Wearing my best interview outfit of black dress pants paired with a fantastic pair of high-heeled boots, a flowing cream top and a black blazer, I felt confident and hopeful. I wore my hair down like usual. My hair was my favorite feature. It was thick, dark brown, and reached down to the small of my back in loose curls. I was of Spanish descent and it was obvious by my curvy, but toned figure. My mother had been positively gorgeous and Rhett