A Safe Surrender: A Donnelley Brother's Novel (Donnelley Brothers Book 2) by Alannah Carbonneau
Authors: Alannah Carbonneau
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snow crunched as I tried to pull myself from the ditch. My knees were weak now that the adrenaline had faded, leaving a depressed feeling of weight behind. Stumbling through the white mass, I righted myself, praying he hadn’t noticed.
This prayer was unanswered. And before I knew it, I found myself cradled in his arms and against his chest as he climbed through the snow, entirely unfazed.
I gasped, blushing furiously. “I’m fine, really. You can put me down.”
“You can barely walk.” He announced in reply.
“It’s just the snow.” I grappled for a retort. “I’m not used to it being so deep.”
He grunted. “You’ve just been in an accident. It’s best you’re not walking around before you’ve decided if anything is hurt.”
“I can’t just decide I’m hurt.” I scoffed. “It doesn’t work that way.”
“Adrenaline often masks pain.” He was now walking on the road, carrying me with ease. “I’m not putting you down.”
I didn’t say anything else as he moved to the passenger side of the truck. He opened the door with my body still cradled against his hard chest before placing me gently in the seat. This man didn’t know me, but he treated me with a solid care I had yet to experience from a man. It was refreshing. Maybe there were good men in this world. Maybe they didn’t all hide behind easy grins, promises and water-blue eyes.
“You should probably put your seatbelt on.” He said softly, his dark eyes sweeping over my face. “And uh, there’s Kleenex in the glove-box if you need it.”
I hadn’t realized until then, that I was still crying. Crap, he must think I’m such a child. Forcing the words from my throat, I spoke. “Thank you.”
He nodded, “No problem.” His hand moved to close the door when I jumped.
“Wait!” My voice was louder than usual and I instantly lowered my tone, as his eyes looked me over. “My purse is still in my car - and my groceries.” I could feel my face flaming red, but I couldn’t leave all my groceries. I couldn’t afford to leave everything I’d purchased to freeze out here all night. “I can’t leave it here.”
Pursing his lips, he nodded. “You stay here, I’ll get everything.”
“I can help.” I waved off his worry, stilling in the seat as he pinned no-nonsense eyes on me.
“If you move from this truck, we’ll be leaving everything behind, because I will drive away.” His tone was all deep and growly, but still, I wasn’t afraid of him. I simply wanted to relax in the seat and trust him to honor his words. “I’ll get your groceries and purse so long as you remain here where I know you won’t injure yourself further.”
I promised. “I’ll stay here.”
The corner of his lip twitched in what resembled the formations of a smile. “Good.”
The man closed the door of the truck and I tried to watch him through the windshield, but there was no point. I could barely see a thing. Instead, I opened his glove box to retrieve the Kleenex he’d been talking about. Dabbing my eyes, I tried to wipe away the evidence of my panic. I wasn’t much of a crier, so it was shocking that I’d cried so hard for so long. It was also embarrassing. Whoever this man was, was stronger than any other man I had ever encountered. His strength was solid and quiet, but known. And I’d broken down into a blubbering mess in his presence. I hoped - prayed, that I wouldn’t see much more of him past this night.
My thoughts were interrupted as the back door of the truck was pulled open and groceries were placed on the floor and seat behind me. He didn’t say anything as slammed the door shut, encasing me once again within the heat of the cab. It didn’t take long for the driver’s door to open and the man to climb inside.
He glanced at me. “Your car keys are in your purse.” His eyes swung forward and he pulled slowly from the shoulder of the road. “Are you planning on staying at the Ranch for a while?”
I frowned. “Why do
This prayer was unanswered. And before I knew it, I found myself cradled in his arms and against his chest as he climbed through the snow, entirely unfazed.
I gasped, blushing furiously. “I’m fine, really. You can put me down.”
“You can barely walk.” He announced in reply.
“It’s just the snow.” I grappled for a retort. “I’m not used to it being so deep.”
He grunted. “You’ve just been in an accident. It’s best you’re not walking around before you’ve decided if anything is hurt.”
“I can’t just decide I’m hurt.” I scoffed. “It doesn’t work that way.”
“Adrenaline often masks pain.” He was now walking on the road, carrying me with ease. “I’m not putting you down.”
I didn’t say anything else as he moved to the passenger side of the truck. He opened the door with my body still cradled against his hard chest before placing me gently in the seat. This man didn’t know me, but he treated me with a solid care I had yet to experience from a man. It was refreshing. Maybe there were good men in this world. Maybe they didn’t all hide behind easy grins, promises and water-blue eyes.
“You should probably put your seatbelt on.” He said softly, his dark eyes sweeping over my face. “And uh, there’s Kleenex in the glove-box if you need it.”
I hadn’t realized until then, that I was still crying. Crap, he must think I’m such a child. Forcing the words from my throat, I spoke. “Thank you.”
He nodded, “No problem.” His hand moved to close the door when I jumped.
“Wait!” My voice was louder than usual and I instantly lowered my tone, as his eyes looked me over. “My purse is still in my car - and my groceries.” I could feel my face flaming red, but I couldn’t leave all my groceries. I couldn’t afford to leave everything I’d purchased to freeze out here all night. “I can’t leave it here.”
Pursing his lips, he nodded. “You stay here, I’ll get everything.”
“I can help.” I waved off his worry, stilling in the seat as he pinned no-nonsense eyes on me.
“If you move from this truck, we’ll be leaving everything behind, because I will drive away.” His tone was all deep and growly, but still, I wasn’t afraid of him. I simply wanted to relax in the seat and trust him to honor his words. “I’ll get your groceries and purse so long as you remain here where I know you won’t injure yourself further.”
I promised. “I’ll stay here.”
The corner of his lip twitched in what resembled the formations of a smile. “Good.”
The man closed the door of the truck and I tried to watch him through the windshield, but there was no point. I could barely see a thing. Instead, I opened his glove box to retrieve the Kleenex he’d been talking about. Dabbing my eyes, I tried to wipe away the evidence of my panic. I wasn’t much of a crier, so it was shocking that I’d cried so hard for so long. It was also embarrassing. Whoever this man was, was stronger than any other man I had ever encountered. His strength was solid and quiet, but known. And I’d broken down into a blubbering mess in his presence. I hoped - prayed, that I wouldn’t see much more of him past this night.
My thoughts were interrupted as the back door of the truck was pulled open and groceries were placed on the floor and seat behind me. He didn’t say anything as slammed the door shut, encasing me once again within the heat of the cab. It didn’t take long for the driver’s door to open and the man to climb inside.
He glanced at me. “Your car keys are in your purse.” His eyes swung forward and he pulled slowly from the shoulder of the road. “Are you planning on staying at the Ranch for a while?”
I frowned. “Why do
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