Read Hearts Aflame Collection: 4-Book Bundle for Free Online

the slight discontent, which rose up within him well
hidden. Apparently, he hadn’t done a good enough job. He had no
idea Meena had watched him so closely. She was like a mother to the
messengers, but she liked to keep things impersonal.
    Taking a deep breath, he rose to his feet. He
could feel his wings vibrating behind him, the only evidence that
he was badly agitated.
    “Thank you, Meena.”
    She eyed him for a brief moment then nodded
in satisfaction. “Head on over to the Dispatch Department; they’ll
give you everything you need. Shalom, Messenger.”
    With a slight bow, he turned and walked out
to face his fate.

    Chapter One

    “You know what your problem is?”
    Melissa didn’t even bother looking up from
her computer. “I’m guessing you’re going to tell me.” She ran a
patient eye through the spreadsheet as she tried her best to ignore
her best friend, whom she also shared an office with.
    “Yes, I will. You’ve become an emotional
coward.”
    Melissa felt like she’d just received a dirty
slap to the face. She carefully took her hands off the keyboard and
slowly turned to look at the only other person in her office. The
first thing she took in was Trina’s defensive posture then she
looked into her eyes and saw her silent apology, but it was laced
with determination.
    “What did you say?”
    “I said, you’ve become an emotional
coward.”
    “Yes, that’s what I thought you said.” With
that she turned back to her screen, but her concentration was shot.
She took a deep breath and tried to swallow the hurt that was
rising up deep within her. How could Trina say such a thing,
knowing all she’d been through? She turned back to her.
    “I can’t believe you just said that. How
could you say that?”
    Trina’s huge blue eyes clouded, “I’m sorry
Mel, I know you’ve been through a lot, but you’ve locked yourself
up.”
    “I have not!”
    “Okay, so when was the last time you went on
a date?”
    “Just because I’ve become discriminating
doesn’t mean I’ve become a coward.”
    “Discriminating? Is that what you call this…”
she waved her hands in exasperation. “Jeremy was a weasel and he
did horrible things to you, but it’s been a year, for heaven’s
sake!”
    “I’m done with men.”
    “Don’t you see? He’s won then.”
    Melissa frowned, “What do you mean by that?
He’s gone from my life and I’m trying to move on. That doesn’t mean
he’s won anything.”
    “Oh, but it does. He’s left you and he’s made
sure you’d never find anyone else to love.”
    Melissa fell back against her chair as though
she’d had the wind knocked out of her sails. Is that what had
happened? Had Jeremy soured her so badly on love? Was that his
revenge for her divorcing him? The thought had her feeling
nauseous. She’d been heartbroken when she’d discovered that all the
time they’d been married, Jeremy had been cheating on her. The
betrayal had been of epic proportions and she’d sworn off men
completely. Did that mean that he’d won? Was that not a rational
reaction to a betrayal of such magnitude? She was confused and not
a little pissed off at Trina for triggering such thoughts in her
mind. Sitting up straight, she turned once more to her
computer.
    “Look, I’m not ready to talk about this
now.”
    “You’re never ready and if you have your way,
you never will be.”
    “What the hell would you have me do? Drag the
next guy I see to my house and have sex with him?”
    “I’m willing to volunteer.”
    They turned to see Max standing by the door
with a charming smile on his face. Max worked in the next office
and they often shared lunch together.
    Melissa rolled her eyes at him.
    “Get out of here, Max. We’re discussing
important stuff here.” Trina waved him away.
    His face fell dramatically, “Hey, I can do
girl talk and I’m really very good at sex talk.”
    “The discussion is over so there’s nothing to
talk about.” Melissa told him.
    “Aww, you