Total Surrender by Rebecca Zanetti Read Free Book Online Page B

right tire before the first snowfall, Piper.”
    She paused. “Huh?”
    “It looks low.” He winked at Rachel. “Maybe you can assist me.”
    Rachel sputtered and turned a lovely shade of pink. Piper hid her smile but nodded, warmth flushing through her. What a nice man. “Thanks, Earl.”
    The doorbell pealed.
    Piper sighed and hustled to yank open the door. “Brian.” She smiled up at his smoothly shaven face. “Did we have plans?” It wasn’t normal for him to just show up.
    “No.” He pushed an errant curl off her forehead. “Butyou didn’t call when you returned home from work, and you always call.”
    Oh. She’d completely forgotten, but she was happy to see him. “I’m sorry.”
    He shrugged, strong shoulders moving beneath his expertly cut suit. “I was in the neighborhood showing a house, so I thought to drop by.” His blond hair waved back from his cut features, giving him the look of a wayward surfer wearing a suit. Although with his sparkling blue eyes, he looked sexy in the slate gray. “Also, I sold the brick rancher up on the hill and thought we could celebrate with a quick dessert down at Possums.”
    She blinked. A surprise date? Now that sounded like fun. Then she frowned, remembering the code she needed to write. “I have to work tonight.” Regret tasted bitter on her tongue.
    Brian frowned. “You don’t have time for cheesecake?”
    She shuffled her feet. So far, she’d disappointed every male in her life in one day. “I really shouldn’t.”
    He reached for her arm, his fingers warm and firm. Reassuring. “You really should.” A quick grin counteracted the demanding tone. “We’ve talked about you wanting to give more in a relationship, and I’m trying to help break down those walls you’ve built to protect your heart, which I’d very much like to see.” He grinned, all good humor and charm.
    She kind of liked her walls, but they had discussed her being more open with him, and she was seriously tired of failing at relationships. “I know, but I need to work.”
    “Just one hour.” He leaned in close, and his mellow aftershave scent of salty ocean surrounded her. She breathed deep.
    One hour probably wouldn’t put her that far behind, and she liked the spontaneity. Plus, Earl would love to be leftalone with Rachel for a little while, and maybe her mother would relax and have some fun. She was certainly due. If the woman wasn’t going to rehash the past with the commander, maybe she could find some sweet romance with Earl. “Well, one hour. Then I have to get back to work.”
    Brian’s gaze unclouded. “Perfect. Grab a sweater—it’s getting cold.”
    She nodded and ran inside to kiss her mother on the cheek before fetching a dark green cardigan. She’d celebrate with Brian and then work on the program the rest of the night. Really, who needed sleep?

CHAPTER
4
    J ORY FLIPPED ONTO his stomach on the small cot, sweat coating his body, his heart racing. Somewhere, deep in his mind, he knew he was dreaming.
    Even so, he couldn’t stop the parade of images ricocheting off imaginary walls. Training as a kid—his first kill—the second he’d escaped. Memories upon memories.
    Then, suddenly, the dream mellowed. Slid right into a parody of reality with him in the cage, his brain humming, death inching closer to his spine.
    He stood from the cot and faced the empty vestibule. The commander and Dr. Madison morphed through the outside walls to hover beyond his cell, their images wavering in and out like ghouls. Thecommander drew a Glock and pointed it at Jory’s chest.
    Interesting. Yet he crouched to defend himself, somehow, because he couldn’t die yet. Not before he’d accomplished the one thing he’d been created for: not until he’d saved his brothers. If he had a destiny¸ it was one he’d choose, and saving them would be his final act.
    A whisper sounded behind him, and he half turned to find Piper standing barefooted in a pale pink teddy. What the