Centaur Redemption (Touched Series) Read Online Free Page A

señorita.”
    Bianca was beautiful and had the poise of a beauty queen.  Her complexion after a week here was a golden-bronze, and her perfect blonde hair was never out of place.  If Barbie were a real person instead of a toy, she would be Bianca.  This near-supermodel leaned over her plate inhaling a fat burrito; even more unexpected were the tears streaming freely down her cheeks and the snot running like a faucet from her nose.  My image of Bianca as a beauty queen was officially blown forever after seeing her like this. 
    I handed her a handful of napkins as Gage shook his head at her and asked, “More water?”
    Without waiting for her to answer, the man behind the counter ran over to our table and put two cold bottles of water in front of her.  She uncapped the first and sucked down half the bottle before she could answer, “Gracias.”
    When she sat up and leaned back in her chair, her eyes were as red as the peppers on the hot sauce bottle’s label.  Her tear ducts were working overtime as tears continued zipping down her cheeks.  I grabbed Gage’s arm and asked, “Is she going to be okay?”
    “I’m convinced that little lady could substitute plutonium for orange juice at breakfast and never miss a beat.  She’ll be fine.”
    Hardly able to believe her reaction to the sauce, “Is it really that hot?”
    Gage smiled, “Here, try this.”  He took a toothpick and dipped the tip into the offensive bottle.  “Put just the tip on your tongue and you tell me.” 
    I did as Gage instructed.  The width of a toothpick is less than a millimeter, yet touching it to my tongue felt like I had just gargled with battery acid.  “Holy crap, Bianca!  Do you have a superpower or something?”
    Tears still rolled freely from her eyes, but her enormous smile shone through.  “I like it hot.”
    Gage wrapped his hand over hers, “Okay, Super Girl.  Finish your lunch.  We’ve got a plane to catch.”
    Bianca bought two bottles of the Atomic Sauce and slid them into her purse.  We climbed back into the awaiting SUVs and were at the airport thirty minutes later.  The jet was waiting for us.  Beau was the first one up the steps into the jet with Lacey right on his heels. 
    We were all settling in for the long flight when I looked around for a quick headcount.  I only saw twelve counting Drake and me.  Will and Gretchen were sitting in two seats facing Ben and Bart.  Gage and Bianca were sitting across from Drake and me.  Bruce and Hannah were snuggled up on a sofa with a portable DVD player between them.  Katherine was sitting on a chair watching Brent stuff something large into a closet.  Twelve.  Who was missing?
    The captain’s voice came on the speaker, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to welcome you aboard Strayer Air.  In the event of a water landing, your chair serves as a floatation device, but I recommend latching onto Ben because he’s wearing enough cologne to repel even the hungriest shark.”
    In disbelief I turned to Drake, “Is Beau flying the plane?”
    I could hear the laughter in Lacey’s voice over the intercom, “This is the co-pilot.  We’ll be cruising at thirty thousand feet, so in the event of a water landing, sharks should be the least of your concerns.”
    Drake touched my knee, “Relax, Cami.  All your brothers have their pilot's licenses.  I’ve flown with Brent and Ben lots of times.”
    “Brent and Ben?  But not Beau?”
    His hand cupped my knee in a reassuring way, “He’s just goofing around.”
    Will stood up from his seat and closed the exterior door.  He leaned into the cockpit to say something to Beau then returned to his seat.  Everyone looked at ease, as if it were the most normal thing in the world to be talking about water landings on a private jet.  The engines throttled up, and we taxied away from the terminal.  In a matter of minutes, we were airborne.
    I couldn’t be sure, but guessed that Gretchen sensed my apprehension.  Her