Free Destiny Revealed (There's Always Tomorrow Book 2) by M.D. Saperstein

her a hug.
    “You might still have to,” Melina teases, sending a glance Vance's way. He smirks. “But listen, can you keep my friend company while I talk to Vance?” she asks, motioning to Harper, who is standing slightly behind her.
    Dayne's eyes flick behind her to look at Harper. Melina hears Dayne's breath catch. “Uh, yeah...yeah I can do that,” he murmurs and moves around Melina to go stand in front of Harper.
    Dayne takes her hand and kisses the back of it as he murmurs something about how nice it is to meet her. Melina smiles and starts toward Vance, who is still standing by the stairs. She stops in front of him and laces her fingers in his as she looks up at him.
    “Shall we go upstairs?” Melina asks.
    Vance just nods and leads her up the stairs to his room in silence. He is very subdued and reserved and he seems nervous. Once in his room, he shuts the door and locks it. Vance then takes her over to the bed and sits down on the end, pulling her down next to him. He stares down at their intertwined hands for the longest time before finally speaking.
    “I'm sorry, Melina. I've been such an idiot,” he says quietly, running his thumb over her knuckles.
    “I don't understand why.”
    Vance shrugs and rakes a hand through his hair. Melina guesses that he's been doing that a lot lately with how it’s sticking straight up. He lifts his eyes to search hers. Melina can see that he is still unsure and it pisses her off. She takes her hand back and stands, pacing a couple of feet away from him.
    “Why did you call me, Vance?” Melina snaps when she turns around to face him.
    Vance's brows furrow and his mouth thins. “Because I want to be with you, Melina. I don't want to lose you.”
    “Then fucking act like it, dammit! I want to be with you, too, but not if you’re going to be doubting our relationship every step of the way,” Melina says fiercely.
    Vance sighs heavily and drops his head into his hands, elbows resting on his knees. “I get lost in my own head. I've never been this way with any other woman,” he mumbles.
    “Let me in that thick skull of yours and help you find your way out,” she steps a little closer, just enough to poke him in the temple.
    Vance lifts his face, just a trace of a smile playing across his sexy lips. “I’d really like that.”
    Melina steps between his knees, forcing him to sit up straight. He tips his head back to look up at her and rests his hands on her hips. She cups his face, her fingers playing with the hair at the back of his neck. Her heart flutters a little. She is so falling for this guy.
    Melina leans in, brushing her lips lightly against his. Vance's hands tighten on her hips, his breath hissing out across her lips. “I care about you, Vance. I want to be with you, and I want this to work. Tell me what’s going on. Please don't push me away again,” Melina whispers, her lips brushing his.

    Vance's eyes slide closed and he sighs, almost sounding relieved. He nods. Vance grabs her hand and pulls her gently so that she sits on the edge of the bed next to him.
    “Several months before we met, I was on a call for a bank robbery, and I got shot…”
    Melina’s hands fly to her mouth as she gasps in shock. Worry – and some other emotion he can’t exactly pinpoint – fills her eyes.
    “Do you really want to know the rest? It’s not pretty,” he asks.
    Melina just nods affirmatively, her hands now crossed over her heart.
    Vance takes a deep breath and continues, “I took two bullets to the chest…”
    “Were you wearing your vest?” she interrupts.
    Vance chuckles. “Yes, baby. Are you going to let me finish?” He smiles warmly, loving how worried she is for him. He leans in and brushes a soft kiss across her temple.
    “Sorry, go on,” she tells him, her hand now holding his.
    “So like I was saying…” he starts, then pauses to see if she interrupts again. “…I was shot twice in the chest, but I was wearing my vest.  Unfortunately, the