Page 10 of Silver Flirt

Our gazes catch and hold, the air between us charging with electricity. I feel the pull, the urge to lean in and capture her lips with mine.

But I resist. As much as I want Melissa, I don’t want to scare her off yet. I clear my throat, breaking the spell. “You want another round?”

Melissa glances at her watch. “I should actually get going soon. It’s getting pretty late.”

I nod, tamping down my disappointment. I signal the bartender for the check. “Well can I at least walk you out?”

Melissa hesitates for a moment, then nods. “Sure. I’d like that.”

We settle the tab and I guide her through the crowd with my hand on her lower back, staking my claim. Let all these suits see she’s leaving with me.

Outside, the muggy Houston air envelopes us. “Which way is your car?” I ask her.

“Oh, I’m actually parked a few blocks away in a garage.” She gestures vaguely down the street.

I frown slightly. I don’t like the idea of my girl walking alone at night.

“Let me walk with you,” I say, trying to keep my tone casual. “Keep you company.”

Melissa hesitates again. “Are you sure? I don’t want to take you out of your way...”

“I’m positive.” I give her my most charming smile. “It would be my pleasure to escort you, counselor.”

She links her arm through mine with a small smile. “Such a gentleman.”

“I have my moments.”

We stroll down the sidewalk, our strides matching effortlessly. It feels right to have her next to me like this.

“Bash, I...” Melissa pauses, biting her lip. “I’m sorry I didn’t make it to your retirement game. After you invited me and everything. I feel terrible about that.”

“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. You’re a busy woman. “I squeeze her arm reassuringly. “And besides, I know you had your reasons.”

It’s the closest that we’ve come to talking about all the unresolved history between us.

Melissa’s brows furrow, her expression serious. “I know, but I still feel bad. I should have at least called to let you know.”

I shrug, trying to lighten the mood. “Hey, it worked out in the end. We got our second chance tonight.”

She smiles again, a small one this time. “Yeah, we did.”

We walk the rest of the way in comfortable silence. But all too soon, we arrive at the parking garage. And I’m not ready for this night to end.

Melissa turns to face me as we reach her white Porsche SUV. “It was great catching up with you, Bash.”

My eyes drop to her mouth. “The pleasure was all mine.”

Fuck. I know that kissing Melissa is probably a bad idea right now. Especially since we still have things we need to talk about. Not to mention that she’s my lawyer.

Melissa swallows hard. “I’ll reach out on Monday about your case once I hear back from my friend at the Attorney General’s office.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Then I lean in slowly, giving her every chance to pull away.

But she doesn’t.

Instead, her eyelids flutter closed as the distance between us slowly starts to evaporate.

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