Read Online Finding Trust (Centre Games) by Natalie Gayle - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Natalie Gayle
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he held no false hopes or illusions now.
Brayden was what he was and nothing could change that. His enhanced hearing, smell, strength, speed, and stamina was just a little too weird for many people. He was also trapped because he could not just divulge his strange physiological enhancements. It was not just his secret to protect. And he was not a person that could enter a serious relationship with anything but trust and disclosure.
Chapter Four
In a few short minutes, they were back in the powerful 4WD and heading along the M1 towards her place. The air-conditioning was working overtime in defence to the intense heat of New Year’s Day. She slumped back against the seat, lost in thought, going through the last few weeks and trying to make sense of what Bray had jettisoned her with.
Could there really be someone within their veterinary hospital passing information on their Hendra virus research operating out of their animal hospital? She couldn’t see how. Her brain was automatically resisting the thought or the possibility. It was logical. If there was information passing from the hospital, then that meant someone on her staff had betrayed her and her father. It wasn’t possible! Was it? She counted all the staff as friends. They were dedicated professionals who took immense pride and satisfaction in their job and the care they provided to their clients and their animals.
She must really have been brooding because Bray reached across and took her hand in his, giving it a warm, reassuring squeeze.
“It’ll be okay.”
Rihanna might not have believed him but she did feel better. That had no doubt been his plan. It felt so good to be connected with him. Almost peaceful, secure but so definitely aware of his innate power and something else she couldn’t really label right now. A feeling surprisingly familiar but different somehow. And it was reassuring in its familiarity. She had become so used to being independent and responsible, it felt good to be able to rely on someone else for a change.
She loved her father dearly but the man just was not interested in anything other than treating horses. So that meant the bulk of the practice management and general day-to-day organisation fell to her. Ever since her mother had died of cancer fourteen years ago, her father had immersed himself in the practical side of the hospital. He worked from dawn till well into the night, every day. When he did come in from the hospital, he flopped in front of the television and numbed his mind till sleep eventually took hold.
Honestly, she didn’t know what he would do if he didn’t have the horses to distract him. They seemed to be the only thing that really mattered to him anymore. The only real reason he got out of bed each morning. He’d never got over the death of her mother. She knew he loved her more than anything in the world but couldn’t help but think her near-identical resemblance to her mother made it very difficult for him to spend time with her. The constant reminder was just too painful.
She missed him so much. Just thinking about what their relationship had come to brought tears to her eyes. Rihanna turned her head to look out the passenger side window in defiance to the tears. She feared Brayden would realise she was crying again. Well, it was true—she just didn’t feel like talking about it or anyone intruding at the moment. Her emotions were just too jumbled.
Brayden immediately noticed a lonely tear streak down the side of her soft cheek. His sense of smell had alerted him to the saltiness of her tears. He’d become very familiar with the scent of her tears last night. He didn’t really know her well but some other sense suggested that he back off and give her some space. She had been through a lot in the last eighteen hours and if things were as he expected, it was going to get a whole lot worse before it got better.
They drove on in silence until he approached Biddaddaba. As if finally coming
Brayden was what he was and nothing could change that. His enhanced hearing, smell, strength, speed, and stamina was just a little too weird for many people. He was also trapped because he could not just divulge his strange physiological enhancements. It was not just his secret to protect. And he was not a person that could enter a serious relationship with anything but trust and disclosure.
Chapter Four
In a few short minutes, they were back in the powerful 4WD and heading along the M1 towards her place. The air-conditioning was working overtime in defence to the intense heat of New Year’s Day. She slumped back against the seat, lost in thought, going through the last few weeks and trying to make sense of what Bray had jettisoned her with.
Could there really be someone within their veterinary hospital passing information on their Hendra virus research operating out of their animal hospital? She couldn’t see how. Her brain was automatically resisting the thought or the possibility. It was logical. If there was information passing from the hospital, then that meant someone on her staff had betrayed her and her father. It wasn’t possible! Was it? She counted all the staff as friends. They were dedicated professionals who took immense pride and satisfaction in their job and the care they provided to their clients and their animals.
She must really have been brooding because Bray reached across and took her hand in his, giving it a warm, reassuring squeeze.
“It’ll be okay.”
Rihanna might not have believed him but she did feel better. That had no doubt been his plan. It felt so good to be connected with him. Almost peaceful, secure but so definitely aware of his innate power and something else she couldn’t really label right now. A feeling surprisingly familiar but different somehow. And it was reassuring in its familiarity. She had become so used to being independent and responsible, it felt good to be able to rely on someone else for a change.
She loved her father dearly but the man just was not interested in anything other than treating horses. So that meant the bulk of the practice management and general day-to-day organisation fell to her. Ever since her mother had died of cancer fourteen years ago, her father had immersed himself in the practical side of the hospital. He worked from dawn till well into the night, every day. When he did come in from the hospital, he flopped in front of the television and numbed his mind till sleep eventually took hold.
Honestly, she didn’t know what he would do if he didn’t have the horses to distract him. They seemed to be the only thing that really mattered to him anymore. The only real reason he got out of bed each morning. He’d never got over the death of her mother. She knew he loved her more than anything in the world but couldn’t help but think her near-identical resemblance to her mother made it very difficult for him to spend time with her. The constant reminder was just too painful.
She missed him so much. Just thinking about what their relationship had come to brought tears to her eyes. Rihanna turned her head to look out the passenger side window in defiance to the tears. She feared Brayden would realise she was crying again. Well, it was true—she just didn’t feel like talking about it or anyone intruding at the moment. Her emotions were just too jumbled.
Brayden immediately noticed a lonely tear streak down the side of her soft cheek. His sense of smell had alerted him to the saltiness of her tears. He’d become very familiar with the scent of her tears last night. He didn’t really know her well but some other sense suggested that he back off and give her some space. She had been through a lot in the last eighteen hours and if things were as he expected, it was going to get a whole lot worse before it got better.
They drove on in silence until he approached Biddaddaba. As if finally coming
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