Page 13 of A Veteran’s Second Chance

She gasps, and I pull her toward me so she’s between my legs.

Our faces are close enough that her breath tickles my lips. Her gaze scans my face, and she doesn’t pull away. My heart’s pounding a drumbeat I can no longer ignore. My gaze darts to her parted lips and back to her wide eyes. We stare at each other for a beat. She could pull away, but instead she leans toward me.

My lips meet hers, and she parts them for me, allowing me entry with a small sigh. I slide a hand behind her neck and pull her toward me.

She tastes as I remember, of chocolate and mint and everything good. My tongue darts between her teeth, and she still doesn’t pull away. She’s letting me kiss her and maybe, just maybe, there’s a chance for us.

My other hand slides around her waist and over the smooth rump of her peachy ass. She moans as I deepen the kiss. Her hands slide down my chest, her fingers caressing every ridge of muscle.

It’s perfect, she’s perfect, she’s everything I’ve missed, and it feels so damn right to have her in my arms.

Then she’s pulling away and I drop my arms, immediately feeling the loss of her.

She wipes her swollen lips and shakes her head. “We can’t do that.”

Her expression is regret and something like terror.

“Savanna…” I reach for her, and she steps further away.

“Don’t, Logan. Just don’t.”

She goes to her desk and takes a sip of water.

“I can’t do this. It’s unprofessional, not to mention an extremely bad idea. I could get fired for making out with you in my treatment room.”

I slide off the bed and reach for my t-shirt.

“So it’s not the making out you object to, it’s the location?”

She shakes her head. “No. I’m not doing this with you. You broke my heart, Logan. You don’t get to waltz in here and make out with me.”

She’s not saying she didn’t like it. But she is saying I’m a giant ass for hurting her.

“Fair enough.” I slide my t-shirt back on and catch her peeking at my chest one last time. She can’t help herself, and I feel exactly the same.

She sits at her desk and swivels on the seat so she’s facing her computer and away from me.

“I’m going to transfer you to Cliff. I won’t risk my job because of you.”

That tells me more than she intended. Savanna can’t treat me because she can’t be neutral about me, and that gives me hope. I hurt her badly, but maybe, just maybe, there’s a chance to make it up to her.

“Hey.” I stride toward her and stop right in front of her, close enough that I can see her pulse beating in her neck. “I’m not sorry for giving you the freedom you needed to become the woman you are. But I am sorry I hurt you. And I will do whatever it takes to make it up to you.”

Savanna stiffens and her lips part, but she doesn’t say anything. I don’t know what I expected. It’s going to take a lot more than words to make it up to her.

She gives me a quick nod, and I’ll take that for now. I turn toward the door and leave her in peace.

It’s time to think strategy and what I can do to make Savanna forgive me and trust me again.

9

SAVANNA

“What do you mean you’re treating him? Can’t Cliff take him?”

I put the bowl of cat food on the ground for Panda, and he meows happily, unlike my sister, whose anger on my behalf ripples down the phone.

“I’ve transferred him to Cliff, but he can’t take him until next week.”