Surrender Read Online Free Page B

hand, she shoved her fingers in her pockets and allowed him to lead her to the huge front door. A handsome young man appeared, greeted them, and faded away into the house like a wraith.
    "That was my assistant, Gerard. He will not bother us while you are here." Of course not. In spite of his words to the contrary, she was a prisoner. I guess that makes Lyon my jailer, she thought. What on earth does he have planned?
    "I've tried to make my home as comfortable as I could for you, Isabella. What do you think?"
    She turned toward the sound of his voice, and immediately her sense of smell kicked in. On the cherry wood table in the center of the large, marble-floored vestibule, stood an elaborate wide-cut crystal vase holding several dozen incredible lavender roses.
    Her favorite. How'd he know?
    "I asked your father what variety you favored."
    She frowned. Did he read minds, too? If he did, she was in big trouble. Maybe this was a gesture to lull her into a false sense of security, but she had to admit, maybe the presence of her beloved lavender roses was merely a gesture of kindness. Don't defend him, she told herself. Remember why you're here, to trade your body for your business. The flowers are to trick you into thinking he's human. Don't fall for it. She continued to inhale the magnificent scent and almost missed the tapping of feet clicking on the marble floor. A distant sound made its way to the front of the house, straight toward them.
    What on earth?
    She stood in stunned amazement as two of the most beautiful creatures she'd ever seen rounded a corner and barreled toward them with deliberate purpose, straight into Lyon's open arms.
    "Well, good morning, ladies."
    One blonde, the other a redhead, both with sleek bodies, almost knocked him over with their combined exuberance. Their love and devotion to Lyon was plain to see as they kissed and nuzzled him.
    Isabella couldn't help but smile.
    As she watched, the red and golden retrievers wrestled their master to the floor and playfully licked his scarred face, causing his expression to change to one of pure enjoyment. Lyon actually laughing? Impossible.
    He drew up on his knees and accepted their displays of affection, while petting and embracing them. "Yes, yes, I missed you too, now get off me. We have company. This is Isabella."
    As if they had understood, they turned to Isabella, side-by-side, waiting.
    "The red head is Eugenia—the blonde, Ophelia." Lyon knelt between them and ran his hands through their shiny coats. "I rescued them from the pound, just hours from their inevitable demise. They'd been abused and abandoned. An associate of mine notified me of their predicament. Next thing I knew, they were in my car, and here they are. Don't be afraid."
    Isabella laughed. "Afraid? Lyon, they're stunning. Eugenia and Ophelia, huh?"
    "I'd been reading Shakespeare when I adopted them," he explained.
    "My, aren't you gorgeous?"
    And the animals were, despite Eugenia missing one eye and Ophelia's mangled left ear. As Isabella shook their paws and petted them, the dogs seemed to nod in agreement, enjoying the attention.
    Lyon cleared his throat. "Go on, ladies. I'll be back to play with you later." The lithe, stately creatures, obviously enamored with their master, nuzzled Lyon's cheek then trotted away, their tails wagging furiously. He loved his animals. How would he treat her as a guest in his house? Would she be as 'well loved'?
    "You saved their lives." Holding back tears, she managed the words on a whisper, watching the animals trot out of sight.
    Lyon shrugged. "They were suffering and needed someone to take care of them." The way you took care of me when I needed someone . She turned to face Lyon and simply nodded, noting the loneliness she saw in those beautiful blue eyes. "Lyon, I . . . . " Before she could form the words , she found herself lifted into his arms and swept up a winding flight of stairs as if she weighed no more than a rose petal. His smile suddenly