The Heavenly Surrender Read Online Free

seen—in her entire life she’d never seen such a beautiful woman!
    “Hola,” the dark beauty greeted in a melodious voice thick and rich with the sound of Mexico. She offered a soft and friendly hand to Genieva. Genieva could only nod in response, so the woman continued. “I’m Lita,” she explained, her beautiful smile sparkling. “I’m so glad that Brevan has finally taken vows,” Lita sighed. She placed one hand daintily over her heart and shook her head indicating concern. “We were all so afraid he would never settle down and start la familia.”
    Lita McLean’s voice was as lovely as a songbird’s, and the richness of her accent spilled from her lips like a dark, liquid confection. Her hair was thick and bluish-black—pulled into a braid hanging nearly to her knees. Her eyes were the deepest of brown, her cheeks rosy, and her lips the color of wine. Genieva sighed as she thought of her own pitifully common features in comparison.
    All the same, Genieva was finally drawn from her wonderment and able to take Lita’s extended hand. “It’s so nice to meet you, Lita. I’m…I’m sorry to stare so, but you’re so beautiful!” she said.
    Lita giggled and placed a graceful hand on Genieva’s shoulder. “Oh no, Genieva!” The scarlet of a lovely blush rose to her cheeks as she explained, “You flatter me, Genieva. I don’t deserve such a compliment. I see myself every day in the…how you say? Espejo?” she asked, looking to Brian.
    “Mirror,” Brian answered.
    “Yes, yes. The mirror. Every day I look into it and am sad to see myself looking back at me.”
    Everyone shook their heads in disagreement, and Genieva could only stand silent, unable to comprehend the reason for such a remark.
    “Lita is forever and always goin’ on and on about how ugly and fat she is,” Brenna explained to Genieva. “She only does it to be makin’ me feel a bit better, she does.”
    Brevan looked at Lita and spoke plainly, “Ya’re lookin’ as lovely as the summer skies today, Lita.”
    Lita’s deepening blush did not go unnoticed by Genieva. Neither did the shy manner in which the dark-haired beauty momentarily cast her gaze to the ground.
    “Muchas gracias, Brevan.”
    “So,” Brevan began, turning to Genieva, “ya’ve met me brother and his lovely wife…and me wee brat of a sister and her love muffin ya have. I’ll be takin’ charge of yar time now, and we’ll have a go ’round the place while I tell ya what needs to be done to keep things runnin’ smooth.” Hunkering down, he quite improperly took hold of Genieva’s ankle, studying her shoe for a moment. Genieva thumped him squarely on the head with one fist—an entirely natural reflex to being so brazenly accosted. Brevan dropped her foot—looked up at her with profound irritation.
    “Hey now, lassie. What would ya be beatin’ me so for?” he asked.
    Upon seeing the irate expression on his face, Genieva immediately began to wring her hands.
    “Forgive me, Mr. McLean…but I am quite unaccustomed to being handled in a manner on which society frowns.”
    He seemed to completely ignore her explanation and simply reached down to take hold of her ankle once more—resuming his study of her shoe. “Are these the only sort of shoes ya would be ownin’, lass?” he asked.
    “Of course,” Genieva answered, wrenching her ankle from his grasp again. She stepped backward several steps to ensure her ankle remained hidden—to ensure her modesty.
    “Well, then day after tomorrow we’ll be ridin’ back to town to purchase ya somethin’ more useful,” Brevan informed her. He rose to his full, intimidating height—glaring down at her.
    “Brevan McLean!” Brenna scolded. “She be your wife! Not some new horse ya’ve acquired. Next thing ya know ya’ll be tryin’ to nail her boots onto her feet ya will.”
    “Brevan wouldn’t know what to do with a woman if she walked up and pinched him in the bum, for sure and for certain,” Brian