Destiny Revealed (There's Always Tomorrow Book 2)

by Saperstein, M. D.

  “You single?” Dayne asks.

  “What's it to ya?” Harper asks, eyebrow raises in question.

  “Listen, I'm not one to beat around the bush so I'm just gonna lay it out there for ya; I'm ready to jump over this counter and get you naked and under me. I'd rather not get into trouble with another dude for coming onto his girl.”

  Harper's eyes flash excitedly. “Is that so? Well, I am single, but I'm not a whore. I don't sleep with guys only minutes after meeting them,” she says.

  Dayne growls in annoyance. “Can you be a whore just this once?”

  Harper laughs, thank God. Dayne knows that he can be crude, and some chicks just don't swallow it well.

  “No, I can't. I have a five date minimum before you get into these panties, my friend.”

  Dayne practically chokes on his beer. “Five dates?” he wheezes.

  “Hey, I have a reputation to uphold and being a slut isn't it.” Harper shrugs.

  Dammit, but he respects her for that. He hates it, but he does respect it. If he wants in her pants, he'll have to start dating her. Well shit, isn't that a good way to weed out the fuckers who only want some pussy. Now he has to decide if he’s one of those fuckers. Is she worth the risk? Maybe.

  Harper chuckles. “Unsure now? Not surprised, I get rid of a lot of losers this way.”

  Did she just call him a loser? Oh hell no!

  “Friday night, are you free?” Dayne asks.

  Harper eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Maybe, what did you have in mind?”

  “Date number one, baby.” Dayne smiles mischievously.

  Harper tries to hide her smile by taking a sip of her wine. “I hope you come up with something good because if it’s dinner and a movie, there won't be a date number two. I get bored easily,” Harper says, the challenge clear.

  Dayne's stomach flips with excitement. Oh yeah, this is gonna be fun.

  “I've got something in mind, but it's gonna be a surprise,” Dayne murmurs before sipping his beer.

  Harper narrows her eyes at him with suspicion, but the little smirk on her face tells Dayne that she likes being surprised. She’s curious now and he has to keep her that way if he wants to make it to date number five. And when - not if - he makes it to date number five, he’s going to make sure that she never forgets Dayne Propers.

  “What's your policy for kissing?” Dayne asks dryly, expecting her to say the second date or something.

  Harper smiles, places her wine glass down, and skirts the counter. Dayne turns to face her. She stops right in front of him, their bodies almost touching. She seems even tinier this close up. Dayne practically shakes with need. The thought of wrapping her up in his arms and screwing her into oblivion overwhelms his mind. Harper reaches up and draws lazy circles on his t-shirted chest with her nail. Her eyes lift up to meet his.

  “For you, I'll waive my first date policy for kissing,” Harper purrs.

  Dayne snatches her wrist to stop her from driving him crazy. “Woman, I'm on thin ice here; I suggest that you don't tease me,” he growls and pushes her back against the counter, trapping her in with his hands on the counter.

  Harper's eyes flash with a mixture of emotions - excitement, desire, a little bit of fear, and carnal need. Dayne captures her delicious mouth with his, his head swimming at the contact. Her lips are silky smooth and he instantly needs more. He coaxes her mouth open with his tongue then dives inside. He can't hold back the groan that tears up his throat. She tastes as sweet as the wine that she’s drinking. Dayne is lost. He presses his body against hers and wraps his arms around her waist.

  Dayne can feel Harper clutching the back of his t-shirt. The soft breathy moans coming from her are driving him crazy. He wants to be inside of her so fucking bad. He's never felt this level of attraction before, not even to his ex. It’s this crazy animal need to take her and claim her.

  “Are you sure...about waiting...until date number five?” Dayne murmurs between kisses, dragging his lips down to her neck. He presses his hips against hers, his erection letting her know how desperately he wants her.

  Harper's breath hitches when he nips her ear, but she somehow finds her control and strength because she gently pushes him back. “Yes, I'm sure,” she breathes.

  Dayne groans in disappointment and takes another step back. She smells so good, and being this close is not helping him. Dayne rakes a hand through his hair then scrubs his face. “Fuck.” He exhales.

  Harper stands there panting, one hand to her chest. Her lips are now a dark pink and slightly swollen from kissing him. It's not like he’s been without sex and is crazed; in fact, he just slept with some chick he met at the coffee shop a few nights ago. So it isn't like he’s sex deprived. But shit, he’s ready to rip her clothes off and do her right here on the counter, not caring who walks in and sees them.

  Dayne turns and walks away.

  “Hey, where are you going?” Harper asks, sounding confused and hurt.

  “I'm going to take a cold shower before I do something that'll make you hate me,” Dayne mutters without stopping.

  He jogs up the stairs and almost runs into Vance and Melina as they’re coming out of Vance's room.

  “Hey, man, you alright?” Vance asks, looking amused.

  Dayne clenches his jaw and struggles to be calm. He glances at Melina, who is giving him a knowing smile. Bitch! She knew the effect Harper would have on him, and she knew about her rules!

  “You, Melina, are now on my shit list,” he snarls.

  Melina laughs. “What’d I do?”

  “You brought that evil temptress into my house knowing full well about her five date policy. My dick is ready to explode,” Dayne growls at her.

  Melina rolls her lips in to keep from laughing.

  “’Evil temptress,’” Vance repeats, chuckling.

  “When's your first date?” Melina giggles, somehow knowing without him even telling her.

  “Friday, fuck you very much!” Dayne snaps and storms off toward his room.

  “Where are you going?” Vance calls after him.

  “To take a cold shower!” he yells back, walks into his room, and slams the door shut. He can hear Vance and Melina cracking up as they start down the stairs.

  Dayne sighs and heads into his bathroom, where he strips down, turns on the cold water in the shower, and gets in. The cold water feels amazing on his heated skin. How the hell is he going to survive five dates without going out of his fucking mind? He’s just praying that she’s not shit in the sack.

  **Harper**

  Harper takes a seat at the kitchen table after Dayne walks out. She is seriously freaking out. Her heart is pounding out of her chest, her stomach is threatening to fly away from all of the butterflies in it, and her mind is racing with all kinds of dirty thoughts.

  Before today, Harper would have argued that love at first sight is impossible. But she has no other explanation for what she is feeling. It isn't just lust. There’s some kind of deep connection that has never been there with any other guy she's ever been with. Oh, and the way he made her burn by just looking at her. She’s screwed.

  She really must be in her own world because she doesn't hear Melina come into the kitchen until she’s standing right next to her. Harper jumps in her seat when Melina touches her shoulder. “You scared me,” Harper yelps.

  Melina gives her a small smile. “Sorry, are you okay?” she asks, concern in her eyes.

  “Oh...yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking,” Harper says with a quick tight smile.

  Then Harper notices that Vance is leaning on the counter where Dayne was, a knowing smirk on his face. Harper blushes. She fucking blushes! She can't believe it. She never blushes, ever.

  “You really got under his skin. He’s a bit shaken up over it, too.” Vance smiles softly.

  Harper opens and closes her mouth a couple of times, but nothing comes out. Another first. She just snaps her mouth shut.

  “Since you’re gonna be seeing him, I need to wa
rn you; Dayne is not the right guy for you. He went through a nasty divorce about five years ago, and he's still fucked up from it. So don’t go into this with hopes of a long term anything, I don’t want you to get hurt. He refuses to commit, refuses to fall in love again, and refuses to be vulnerable at the hands of a woman. The most you’re gonna get from Dayne is great sex,” Vance says sadly. Harper can see that it hurts him to admit that his friend is the way he is.

  “That's sad,” Harper murmurs.

  Vance nods. “I will say, though, that I’ve never seen him get this worked up over a chick he just met. Maybe it's a good sign for you. If he does end up falling for you, he's gonna be kicking and screaming the whole time; he will not fall quietly, that's for sure.”

  Harper chuckles. “Well, let's get through the first date and see how that goes. Then we'll worry about the whole falling in love part.”

  Vance smiles and nods. “Good plan.”

  Melina walks over to Vance and tucks herself under his arm. They really are a gorgeous couple.

  “So are you two okay now?” Harper asks, nodding in their direction.

  Melina turns her smiling face up to look at Vance. “Yeah, we're okay,” she says softly.

  Vance leans down and gives her a lingering kiss on the lips.

  “Thank fucking god,” Harper whispers.

  Chapter 6

  “So, how have you and Melina been?” Tripp asks him.

  Vance is sitting in the chair to the right of Tripp's desk at the station. He has a few minutes to spare while Mike is getting dressed in the locker room. It's been two weeks since he’s been back together with Melina.

  “We're good. She’s been busy getting ready for a runway show, so I haven't seen her in a couple of days.” Vance sighs and runs a hand through his hair.

  “A runway show? For real? That's awesome,” Tripp says, impressed.

  Vance smiles. “She got us all tickets.”

  “Shut the fuck up, are you serious?” Tripp asks excitedly.

  “Yep, she told me last night. The show is this Saturday, and we all have front row seats,” Vance replies.

  Tripp throws his arms up and whoops, causing some of the other detectives to turn and give him questioning looks. “What? Mind your business,” Tripp snaps.

  Vance chuckles.

  “This is amazing! We get to watch a bunch of sexy supermodels strut down a runway in barely there undies from the front row. Fuck yes, dude. Your girlfriend is awesome!” Tripp smiles wide and gives Vance a light smack on the face.

  “Yeah, yeah, just cover your eyes when my woman gets on the runway,” Vance sneers teasingly.

  Tripp snorts. “Fuck you, dude! She’s on the runway, she's fair game to ogle.”

  Vance throws his head back and laughs. “Don't make me hurt you.”

  Tripp laughs.

  “Summers! You have a visitor!” calls Officer Downy from the doorway behind Vance.

  Vance looks over his shoulder to see Melina walk through the doorway. His heart leaps up in his throat at the sight of her. Can the woman get any more stunning? She smiles at him and it brightens up the whole office. Vance stands and walks to meet her.

  As he walks over to her, he takes in her appearance. She is in a pretty, royal blue dress that stops just above mid-thigh. She has a thin gold belt around her waist with matching stilettos. The top of the dress is a scoop neck with three quarter sleeves. It isn't tight but it isn't overly baggy either. She looks stylish, like she just stepped out of a magazine. She has a matching gold clutch purse in one hand, her other hanging loosely by her side. Her hair is done up in a loose side braid that hangs over her left shoulder, long enough to hang down past her breast. Beyond just her looks, her confidence is mesmerizing.

  Every set of eyes in the place is on her, and for the first time, Vance doesn't care. He’s been missing her and just wants to wrap his arms around her. When he gets close enough, he grabs her around the waist and pulls her up against him. Melina smiles warmly up at him before cupping his face and giving him a delicious kiss on the lips. When she pulls back, she giggles and rubs the lipstick off his mouth with her thumb.

  “Sorry, I forgot,” she says.

  Vance shoos her hand away then bends down to nuzzle her neck, pulling in a deep breath of her scent. Melina wraps her arms around his neck and hugs him tightly.

  “I’ve missed you,” Vance murmurs against her neck.

  “I’ve missed you, too,” Melina replies softly and lets him go. “Sorry, I've been so busy...”

  “Shh, you gotta do what you gotta do,” Vance says, putting a finger over her lips to shush her.

  Vance takes her hand and leads her over to Tripp's desk. He sits back down in the chair and pulls her onto his lap.

  “Hi, Tripp,” Melina says sweetly after she is comfortably seated on his thigh.

  “Hey, my new best friend,” Tripp says with a stupid grin on his face.

  Melina laughs. “I guess you’ve heard about the tickets?”

  “Oh, yes, and I love you for them.”

  Melina laughs again and shakes her head.

  Vance lets his gaze roam over her, from her beautiful smiling face, to her long sexy legs, which are crossed at the knee. They have yet to consummate their relationship. There just hasn't been time with their work schedules. But the image of Melina on his bed nude pops into his head often, and he is dying to get her naked on his bed again, and as soon as possible.

  Melina opens her purse and pulls out an envelope. “I brought you guys the tickets just in case I don't have another chance to get them to you before Saturday,” Melina says and hands the envelope to Tripp.

  Vance frowns. “But that's three days away. Are you saying that I'm not going to see you at all until Saturday?”

  Melina sighs. “I don't know, baby. My days are so full with fittings, rehearsals, dress rehearsals, photo shoots, press conferences, blah blah blah. And I need to sleep and eat somewhere in between.”

  Vance pouts, sticking his bottom lip out. He knows that he isn't playing fair, but he wants some time with her, too. Melina gives him a pained look. “Vance, don't look at me like that,” she says quietly.

  “Can't I come over your place whenever you’re done?” Vance asks.

  “I'm just gonna be going right to bed; we're not going to be able to hang out or anything.” Melina frowns.

  “We don't have to do anything, I'll just come and sleep with you; at least I'll get some time to hold you.”

  Tripp makes a gagging noise next to him. Both Vance and Melina shoot him a dirty look, making him laugh.

  “Hey! It's Melina!” Mike exclaims from behind them, startling Melina.

  Mike walks around them, coming to a stop in front of them. He gives Melina a kiss on the cheek. “Hey, sweetheart.”

  “Hi, Mikey,” she replies with a small smile.

  “What the fuck is going on out here? Quit the socializing and get back to fucking work!” Chief Peterson’s voice booms from the doorway of his office.

  Their heads all whip around to look at the man as he stomps over toward them. Vance stands Melina up then stands next to her as she smooths out her dress. Chief Peterson comes to a stop in front of them.

  “Let me guess, Melina Higgins?” Chief Peterson sneers, giving her a disgusted look. At Melina's nod, Chief Peterson turns to Vance. “What the hell is she doing here other than being the reason why my station has come to a standstill?” he barks.

  “Melina is just dropping something off to me, Sir. She was just leaving,” Vance says.

  “Dropping something off to you? You're still seeing her?” Chief Peterson asks, eyes narrowed.

  “Yes, Sir,” Vance grinds out through clenched teeth. His personal life is none of the Chief's damn business.

  “She is right here,” Melina snaps at the Chief. “Don’t talk about me as if I'm not standing right here. I hate that.”

  Vance bites back a groan. Shit, she’s going to get him into even deeper trouble.

&
nbsp; Chief Peterson stares at her, his left eye twitching, a sign that he’s now thoroughly pissed off. “You, my dear, are not welcome in this station. You’ve done nothing but get my officers into trouble because they’re too busy staring at you. And ever since you started screwing one of my best officers, he's been on the verge of getting fired...”

  “Chief, that's enough,” Vance says firmly, stepping in front of Melina.

  “Did you really just interrupt me son?” Chief Peterson says slowly and quietly, which is even more dangerous than him yelling.

  “Yes, Sir. That was completely out of line,” Vance says, standing his ground and knowing full well that he will likely get fired for his insubordination, but he won't let anyone talk to Melina like that.

  Vance sees the Chief’s jaw bulge as his face starts to turn red. Oh fuck, he is so dead.

  “Get in my office, right now,” Chief Peterson growls low through clenched teeth.

  Melina watches in horror as Vance trudges off to his Chief's office. The door slams closed behind them. As soon as it is closed, the Chief gets right up in Vance's face and starts screaming at him. Vance doesn't flinch; he just stands there and takes it. Melina turns to Mike and Tripp, both looking grim as they watch as Vance is admonished.

  “Is he getting fired?” Melina squeaks.

  “Hopefully not,” Tripp murmurs.

  “Oh god, this is all my fault,” Melina breathes, pressing her hand to her mouth.

  “Not really, he could’ve kept his mouth shut. But if the Chief spoke to my girlfriend like that, I would have done the same thing,” Mike says, giving her a small smile.

  That doesn't really make Melina feel any better. She turns back to watch Vance. He’s calm and composed, unlike the other man, who is having a hissy fit. Melina doesn't know how Vance is just standing there, hands clasped in front of him, while this guy screams at him, an inch away from his face. Melina sees Vance's mouth move but doesn't know what he says. The Chief stares at him for a second before turning to go sit behind his desk.