Resisting Destiny: Sullivan Brother's Book 3 - Cayson's Story (Resisting Love - Sullivan Brothers) by Chanta Rand Read Free Book Online Page B

apartment would be ready. She really wanted La’Treece there with her.
    La’Treece knew her almost better than she knew herself. She knew that Destiny’s mama had been in the military and had decided not to reenlist when she found out she was pregnant with Destiny. She knew about her mama’s PSTD. She knew about her mama’s ‘crazy bouts’ and that she couldn’t take care of Destiny properly. And most important, she knew about mama’s death in the Veteran’s Affairs hospital the month before Destiny’s thirteenth birthday. Poor Mama. She served her country, but nobody was there to help her when she needed it most. All Destiny had left of her was a gold locket with her picture. It dangled like a precious memory from a tiny chain on Destiny’s neck. Merely touching the smooth metal gave her renewed strength. She could do this. 
    From that point on, s he poured herself into her work. There was always plenty to be done. A few of the girls in the temp pool even invited her to lunch. They were cool to hang with, but they weren’t La’Treece. 
    One night, Destiny came home exhausted. She thought about making dinner. But her previous attempts in Cayson’s kitchen always ended in disaster. Her last failure had her a little skittish. Spaghetti shouldn’t be that hard to make! Yet, somehow, she’d ended up with overcooked meat and undercooked pasta. She was convinced the appliances in Cayson’s kitchen were conspiring against her.  She wanted to at least earn her keep by cooking, but lately, Cayson never got home before ten p.m. anyway.  She was sure he’d pick up something to eat.
    After shedding her work clo thes and slipping into a pair of fleece pajamas, she curled up on the couch with a pint of Ben and Jerry’s Coffee Toffee Bar Crunch ice cream. She flipped through channels until she landed on a popular sitcom. It was one of La’Treece’s favorites. In fact, they’d watched it a few weeks ago sitting in this very spot. Destiny shoveled ice cream into her mouth as she watched the show. Soon, her melancholy disappeared, and she was cracking up at the antics of the lead character. This was therapy for her. Laughter was good for the soul.
    The moment the commercial came on, she heard the front doorknob rattle. She froze, spoon in mid-air. It was only seven p.m. Much too early for Cayson to be home. And besides, she hadn’t heard the garage door opening. He normally parked his Porsche there. Her heart thumped in her chest.  If that wasn’t Cayson, then who could it be?
    Somebody was trying to break in!
    She jumped up from the couch, abandoning her post.  Someone on the other side of the door was frantically jiggling the knob.  She imagined an intruder trying to pick the lock.  Her eyes darted across the living room in search of a weapon. She grabbed an iron fireplace poker and stood ready, legs braced wide, the poker swung high over her head.
    C’mon, you bastard. You might get in, but I’m getting a few good licks in first!
    Finally, the intruder gave up and started banging on the door. Destiny jumped, started by the noise. 
    “Cayson!” a female voice called from outside the door. “Are you in there? Cayson, open up!”
    Destiny placed a palm over her heaving chest.  Surely, a burglar wouldn’t know her victim by name? She lowered the poker, but advanced toward the door cautiously. She peered out the peephole, and saw a petite gray-haired woman standing on the porch holding an oversized pink Tupperware container. A burglar would definitely not bring dessert.
    When Destiny opened the door, a pair of chiseled, blue eyes stared at her. The sunset dipped low, creating an eerie red backdrop against the woman’s pudgy frame. The “intruder” gasped. By the look on her face, she was just as shocked to see Destiny as Destiny was to see her.
    “Who are you?” Destiny demanded.
    “Irene Sullivan.” Her eyes dropped to the poker in Destiny’s hand. “Who are you?”
    “ Destiny Jackson. I live