Free A Safe Surrender: A Donnelley Brother's Novel (Donnelley Brothers Book 2) by Alannah Carbonneau

her morning shot of caffeine, than she was delusional. There was no way I was giving her coffee if there was any potential possibility of me having to face her growly fiancé. The man kinda scared me. I mean, he was nice and all, but his intensity was just off the charts.
    Another loud knock sounded through the space, bringing me back to the here and now. Tightening my towel around my body, I raced through the hallway to the front door. Without checking to see who stood on the other side, I pulled it open and gasped, slamming it closed in Kyle’s shocked face.
    Through the door, I called. “I’m so sorry!”
    “It’s all good.” Kyle answered. “I, uh, brought your car.”
    “Really!” The excitement in my voice was unmistakable and I thought I heard him chuckle, but I couldn’t be certain through the heavy wood of the door. “Count to ten and come in. I’m going to go get changed.”
    “One, two, three,” I didn’t catch the rest. I was already closing the door of my small bedroom.
    Racing through the articles of clothes I had, I decided on a pair of leggings and a long, baggy gray sweater. My body was a little more sore today than it had been the night before and I wanted to wear comfortable clothes. Brushing my hair, I quickly blow-dried it before greeting Kyle in the living room for a second time.
    “Good morning.” I breathed and Kyle turned around from where he’d started a fire for me for the second time in a matter of twelve hours. “Thanks for starting another fire.”
    “No problem.” His eyes froze on my face and his hands curled into tight fists. One moment, the man was across the room from me, and the next, he was standing an inch away from me. My shoulder blades were pressed into the wall behind me, and as he picked up his hand, I cringed inward. It was habit - nothing more - but it set a flame of rage in his dark eyes. “Kami, the bruises on your face,” he swallowed, as though having a difficult time forcing them from his throat. “They’re not from the car accident.”
    Shit, shit, shit ! I’d completely forgotten, in my panic to get ready, to put makeup on. “Kyle,”
    “Don’t lie to me.” He growled through a tense breath. “Was it your ex, Rhett?”
    “They’re not from the accident.” I said. It was the only way I could admit this aloud to him. I felt so terribly ashamed and weak. Here I was in this strong man’s presence, and I was nothing more than a battered and bruised animal with trust issues and a low self-esteem. As much as I wanted to be worthy of his concern, I didn’t feel that I was. My eyes were moist with tears and my heart was breaking in my chest. Not only had Rhett hurt me physically and scarred me mentally - he’d wounded my pride. Even from a distance, Rhett and his abusive ways could damage me. “Please,” I whispered to the floor between our feet. “Stop looking at them, Kyle.”
    Warm thick fingers slid beneath my chin, gently lifting my face, forcing my eyes to meet his. There was a storm of rage fighting with compassion for dominance in the depths of his ebony eyes. “You have nothing to be ashamed of, Kami.” His words sounded like a declaration. “You left. Do you know how strong that makes you?”
    I couldn’t help it, the sting of tears misting my eyes turned into a waterfall. Sobs wracked my body and Kyle sighed, pulling me tight against his chest. Pressing my face into his chest, I cried as he rubbed my back. There was nothing sexual about this comfort Kyle provided to me. In this moment, he was the strength I needed to stand on my feet and fight the demon of my wounded self-esteem. Kyle was right; I wasn’t weak and worthless for having been that woman. I was strong, because as hard as it had been, I’d left Rhett. And through the hardships that lay ahead, I would never return to Rhett - it was because of that, that I was strong.
    Pulling away from Kyle, I sniffled. “Thank you, Kyle. You’re,” my voice croaked. “You’re a