Page 17 of Silver Flirt

“Working together, huh?” Brett smirks knowingly. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”

“Oh fuck off,” I grumble, tossing a bar rag at his head.

He dodges it easily, laughing. “I knew it! You’re sleeping with her, aren’t you?”

I scowl at him. “None of your fucking business.”

“Holy shit!” Brett slaps the bar, his face splitting into a wide smile. “Man, I’m happy for you. I know you’ve been head over heels for Melissa since we were teenagers.”

“Yeah, well, it’s still early days. We’re just seeing where things go.”

But inside, my heart is doing fucking cartwheels at the thought of Melissa being mine. It’s only been three weeks since Melissa and I have reconnected, but they’ve been the best three weeks of my life.

The more time I spend with her, the harder I fall. I can’t get enough of her quick wit, gorgeous smile, and how her eyes light up when she’s talking about something she’s passionate about. And don’t even get me started on what that woman can do in the bedroom.

Jesus Christ.

I’ve spent the last two weekends in Houston, finding any excuse to be near her. Helping with the case, taking her out to dinner, spending lazy Sundays tangled up in her sheets. It’s like I’m addicted. I crave her presence like a fucking junkie.

Brett is still grinning at me like the cat that caught the canary. “Man, I haven’t seen you this googly-eyed over a girl since...well, since Melissa back in high school.”

I flip him off good-naturedly.

Brett raises his glass in a toast. “Well, here’s to second chances and getting the girl.”

I clink my glass against his, a smile spreading across my face. “I’ll drink to that.”

“So, does this mean you’re planning to move to Houston? Or is Melissa gonna relocate to Barton Beach?”

I blow out a breath, running a hand through my hair. “Honestly, man, we haven’t really talked about it. Hell, we haven’t even defined what this is between us yet.”

“But you want to.”

It’s not a question. Brett knows me too well.

I nod slowly, my gaze drifting off into the distance. “Yeah, I do. I mean, I know it’s fast, but...” I trail off, trying to find the right words.

Brett claps me on the shoulder. “I get it, bro. When you know, you know.”

His words echo in my head as he drains his glass.

I know it’s probably way too soon to be thinking about forever. But damn if I don’t want to march right up to Melissa and tell her exactly how I feel. To claim her as mine and never let her go.

My hand tightens around my glass as I imagine slipping a ring on her finger. Making her my wife. My partner in every sense of the word.

Fuck, I’m in deep. And for once, I’m not even a little bit scared.

Because when it comes to Melissa, I’m all in. She’s it for me, and I’m going to make sure she knows it.

I excuse myself and head to my office behind the bar. It’s time for my daily call with Melissa. I’ve been ringing her up at 6:30 on the dot for the past week, right when she gets off work.

It may not be the most romantic gesture, but I want her to know that she can count on me. That I’m reliable. That I’ll always be there for her, no matter what.

I shut the office door behind me and sink into my chair, pulling out my phone. My fingers itch to dial Melissa’s number, desperate to hear her voice.

But before I can hit call, my phone starts vibrating in my hand.

Speak of the devil.

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