Page 8 of Silver Flirt

“Dirty martini, three olives,” Melissa finishes.

The bartender nods and turns to make our drinks.

“I have to admit, I’m impressed,” I say, leaning in close so she can hear me over the din of the bar.

“Why is that?”

“A dirty martini is a serious drink.”

Melissa arches one perfect eyebrow. “You think I can’t handle it?”

“Oh, I have no doubt you can handle just about anything, Counselor.” I flash her a grin. “I’m just remembering the girl who used to gag on wine coolers at high school parties.”

I instantly regret my choice of words as the image of Melissa gagging on something else entirely fills my mind. I shift in my seat, trying to adjust myself discreetly under the table.

She laughs, a genuine smile lighting up her face. “That was a long time ago. I’ve refined my palate since then.”

I let my gaze travel deliberately down her body. “You’ve refined a lot of things.”

A faint blush colors her cheeks and she looks away. But not before I catch the darkening of her eyes, the quickening of her breath. It seems I’m not the only one feeling this explosive chemistry.

The bartender slides our drinks in front of us and I raise my glass. “To reconnecting with old friends.”

Melissa clinks her martini against my whiskey. “To reconnecting,” she echoes.

I watch her full lips wrap around the rim of the glass as she takes a sip. She makes even that simple act look sensual.

“So, what’s it like being a big-shot lawyer these days?” I ask as I take a sip of my drink. “Saving the world one case at a time?”

Melissa chuckles and shrugs. “It’s been okay, I guess.”

I quirk a brow at her. “With an office like yours, things seem like they’re a lot more than okay.”

“I mean, I love what I do, but...” She pauses, twirling the olive skewer between her slim fingers. “Things at the firm have been a little rocky lately, to be honest.”

“Oh yeah? How so?”

She sighs heavily. “They’re thinking about cutting our pro bono program. You know, the cases we take on for free to help people who can’t afford legal representation.” Her hazel eyes flash with passion. “It’s something I really believe in, something that gives real meaning to my work. But the other partners just see it as a financial drain.”

“That’s bullshit,” I growl, suddenly feeling fiercely protective of her and her ideals.

Her eyes widen slightly at my vehement response. “I didn’t realize you were so supportive of pro bono work,” she says softly.

“I’m supportive of anything that matters to you,” I tell her honestly, holding her gaze. “I always have been.”

Something flickers in her expression, a flash of vulnerability quickly masked. She clears her throat. “Well, what about you, Bash? What have you been up to all these years besides getting even more charming?”

I grin at her over the rim of my glass. “You think I’m charming, huh?”

She rolls her eyes but can’t quite hide her smile. “I think you know exactly how charming you are. You always did.”

“Nah, I was just a cocky kid back then,” I say with a self-deprecating shrug. “I didn’t know shit.”

Especially when it came to you.

I take another sip of whiskey, the smooth burn fortifying me. “But to answer your question - after I retired from baseball, I decided to open a bar in Barton Beach.”

“Really?” Melissa’s eyes sparkle with interest. “Tell me more.”