Burned: Black Cipher Files #3 (Black Cipher Files series) Read Online Free PDF

open.”
    Mama completely disregarded the fact that there was a man with her. A big, unkempt, burly man’s man who’d clearly not just come over to fix a squeaky hinge.
    I blinked. Blinked again. A man .
    Blue rubbed a big, masculine hand through his brown, shoulder length strands. “I think she’s a little surprised, honey.”
    Honey? Had he just called my mother honey ? I swallowed and tried to wrap my brain around the sight in front of me.
    The last time I’d seen my mother with a man had been thirteen years ago. To the day. “Mama?”
    Mama brushed past Blue to come stand in front of me. Her hands were clasped together in front of her. She was wearing a pink cotton sweater I particularly loved on her. The color gave a delicate blush to her cheeks and a sparkle to her brown eyes.
    Or maybe it was the man.
    She hunched her shoulders up to her ears, twisting her hands in front of her chest. “I have something to talk to you about.”
    I snorted. “I’d guess.” Involuntarily, I moved my hand to my forehead. My heart began to pound. The lights in the store suddenly seemed inordinately bright.
    “Well, I was waiting for the right moment.”
    Too late. “For what?”
    “Blue,” she faltered, her eyebrows crinkled into a little frown as she obviously searched for the right words. “Blue and I....”
    Blue and I. As if they were a couple. As if they were together. Which could not possibly be correct. It was Mama and me against the world, against the monster.
    My head throbbed, a deep pain at the base of my skull made me feel as if I were the one who’d gotten dumped off a surfboard and into the waves.
    “It’s fine.” I patted her shoulder. They’d hooked up. She didn’t need to say it out loud. I’d seen enough television to know, to understand what a hook up was. There was no need to embarrass anyone further.
    Mama glanced back at Blue, her shoulders slumped helplessly. Then she straightened, lifted her chin. “I don’t think you understand.”
    “Boy, that association meeting must have gotten really crazy, huh?” I smiled and pretended I wasn’t completely freaked by the situation. “Blue, next time go easy on the tequila. Mom’s a lightweight.”
    “Sunshine.” Blue moved closer to me until they were both practically surrounding me. “This has nothing to do with tequila.”
    Of course it did. That was the only logical explanation. Although Mama sure didn’t look hung over. Her body was strung tight and she radiated tension, but she was practically glowing.
    “Sunny,” Mama reached out, took my hand in hers, and when I looked at our clasped hands, a ring with a beautiful oval moonstone surrounded by silver filigree on her left hand shone back at me.
    “We’re getting married.”

Seven
    Routine and discipline were the cornerstones to any fitness regimen. And Zeke religiously exercised to keep his body and mind in top shape. Exercise also helped to keep his OCD from overtaking his conscious thoughts, physical activity calmed his brain, and helped him concentrate. Most days he loved it. The problem was, today he didn’t feel like working out.
    Zeke finished his crunches and started on his pushups.
    One, two, three, he counted to ten, then rested for a beat of ten. He tried to let his mind wander as he levered up and down, completing his daily reps, but his thoughts kept returning to last night.
    To the way the moonlight rippled over Sunshine’s shiny black braid just like it rippled over the waves. To the shadowed fear in her eyes. Not fear of him. Fear of the water. To the attraction that he thought flashed between them.
    Zeke tugged on his running shoes. Ugh. He’d rather be swimming but he needed a wet suit—no duh, he’d been crazy to get in that water last night—and none of the swim/surf shops were open yet. He’d pick one up later today but for now he’d take a quick jog around town, get the lay of the land, scope out the logistics.
    And he was abso-freaking-lutely lying to