Page 7 of Silver Flirt

“Why not? Of all the times to let yourself get carried away, I think this it.”

“Because. Bash broke my heart back in high school when he asked Amber to prom instead of me. It was so embarrassing that I cried for weeks afterward. I can’t open myself up to that kind of hurt again.”

“Oh, honey.” Lisa’s voice gentles. “That was a lifetime ago. You’ve both grown up a lot since then. Maybe this is the universe giving you a second chance.”

I shake my head even as my treacherous heart leaps at the idea. “Or maybe it’s the universe playing a cruel joke. Dangling the one man I could never have in front of me again only to snatch him away.”

“You’re overthinking this, Melissa. Just go to dinner. Enjoy his company. See what happens.” Lisa’s voice takes on a wistful tone. “And for God’s sake, if he makes a move, don’t push him away.”

I know she’s talking from experience, remembering her own twisty path to happily ever after with John.

“Okay,” I finally relent. “I’ll try to keep an open mind.”

“Good. And an open heart. Now go get your man!”

I hang up and take one last look in the mirror, my hazel eyes glinting back at me with a mix of nerves and anticipation. I can do this. It’s just dinner with an old friend. No big deal.

I walk out of the bathroom and head towards the elevators where Bash is waiting, leaning casually against the wall, his strong arms crossed over his broad chest. As I approach, he straightens up, a slow smile spreading across his face.

“Ready?” he asks.

I take a deep breath and nod. “Ready.”

Chapter Three

BASH

“I think you’re going to like this place,” Melissa says as I open the door for her. “It’s got a great vibe.”

I nod, trying to focus on her words and not the sway of her hips in that tight dress as she walks inside ahead of me.

The place she chose is pretty cute for a downtown bar. The interior is dimly lit, with small tables scattered around and Latin music pulsing from hidden speakers. It’s intimate. Sexy.

Just like her.

It’s been years since I’ve seen Melissa, but time has only made her sexier. Her wavy blonde hair cascades over her shoulders like a waterfall of silk, while her tight black work dress hugs her luscious curves in all the right places.

There’s also a newfound confidence in how she carries herself now, a self-assured woman completely at home in her own skin.

It’s a huge turn-on.

“Have you been here before?” I ask, my hand lingering on the small of her back as the hostess leads us to a booth in a quiet corner.

Melissa slides in and I follow, our thighs brushing under the table. “A few times,” she says. “With some girlfriends from work.”

I bite back the urge to ask if she’s ever brought a date here.

I’m not usually a possessive guy. But this place is crawling with douchebags in expensive suits, eyeing Melissa up and down like she’s a piece of meat. I grit my teeth, fighting the urge to punch every one of these assholes in the face.

This isn’t a date, I remind myself. We’re just two old friends catching up.

Except I want to do a hell of a lot more than catch up. I want to taste every inch of her smooth skin. I want to hear her moan my name as I make her come undone. I want to claim her. Mark her. Show all these pricks that she’s off-limits.

That she’s mine.

Even if she doesn’t know it yet.

I flag the bartender. “Whiskey, neat, please. And for the lady...”

---