Free Vibrant Heart: Book 1 in the Great Plains Romance Series by Corrissa James Page A

feel the concern as they reached out toward her, but she shook them off. “Fine, I’m fine. I just—I can’t.”
    She heard a loud crash from the table next to them, followed by the irritated voice that had been calling Trish earlier. “What do you think you’re doing?” It was a shriek that silenced everyone in the restaurant, and Melanie held her breath, afraid they would hear how close she was to hyperventilating. “Get your manager—I want you fired!”
    She heard Trish’s sob, then saw her streak past the table.
    “Sir, let’s speak outside.” Jake’s voice was calm, controlled, and Melanie’s heart shattered. He was more concerned about helping Trish.
    She turned to tell her father she was leaving, but she heard the unmistakable sound of a fist connecting with a face. Was this what he did to Raymond last night? Was this how he handles problems? Set to leave, Melanie gave Jake a final glance, but all she saw was his back. The angry customer, who was several inches taller than Jake, pulled back his fist and punched Jake in the stomach, hefting him into the air. Without thinking, Melanie reached out and snatched the crystal bowl off their table seconds before Jake landed on it. But her hands were shaking, and the bowl slipped from her fingers, crashing to the floor and shattering into tiny pieces.
    “No!” she sobbed, looking down at the shards of glass all around her.
     

Chapter Sixteen
    Jake heard Melanie’s shriek, followed by her sobbing, and completely forgot about Bruce Garrison standing over him, waiting to finish what he’d started. The punch hadn’t been much, certainly nothing Jake couldn’t handle, but it had upset Melanie. Now he felt the overwhelming need to tell her he was okay while also wanting to jump up and shout from the rooftops that she cared about him. At least she didn’t want him to get hurt.
    But when he turned to look at her, she was staring at her own hands, tears rolling down her face. He saw the shattered glass all around her feet and his elation was replaced with fear. Fear laced with a blackness that made him want to throttle Bruce. Luckily for the other man, the hotel staff were on high alert. Two of the kitchen staff, two quite burly men who Jake had brought with him from the last hotel he opened, were already escorting Bruce from the restaurant. Bruce was yelling and fighting his escort, but one look from Jake and Bruce was practically pulling them to the exit.
    Jake rolled off the table and swept Melanie up into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest. She continued sobbing, her entire body shuddering each time she inhaled for yet another sob. He waved off her father as he carried her to the front office area and placed her carefully into an office chair. Grabbing the first aid kit from the wall and slamming the office door, he told himself it was to protect her privacy, that it had nothing to do with the fact that his hands were shaking or that his panic was rising. She was still sobbing and didn’t seem to be calming down. He squatted in front of her, carefully examining her legs.
    “I don’t see any cuts.”
    The tears fell faster.
    “Are you hurt?” He held her hands and looked up into her face, but she turned away from him. “Mel, darlin’, please. Tell me what’s wrong.” When she still wouldn’t look at him, he pulled her up to sit in the chair, holding her on his lap. He rocked her lightly, terrified by the fact that he couldn’t get her to stop crying.
    After several moments, Jake considered calling 911. He was out of his depths, but he didn’t want to let go of her for even the few seconds it would take to fish his phone out of his pocket.
    Melanie took several deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down. “I’m fine.” Her voice cracked, and she sat up, turning away from Jake to wipe the tears from her face.
    “Melanie.” He cleared his throat, further unnerved by how shaken his own voice sounded.
    She pushed herself off his lap to