Silver Flirt (Tempted in Texas #3)

1. Bash

Chapter One

BASH

“What do you mean the money is gone?” I stare at Malcolm like he has two heads.

Celeste sighs. “He means it’s gone, Bash.”

My eyes flit back and forth between the two of them. “All of it?”

Malcolm nods grimly. “Every penny. The accounts are empty. Trevor is officially in the wind.”

“Fuck.” I slam my fist on the table, making the glasses rattle as frustration and disbelief burn through my veins.

It’s a typical sweltering Friday afternoon in Barton Beach, and I’m sitting with Malcolm and Celeste at my bar, the Silver Coop. We were supposed to be having our monthly board meeting for my softball foundation, Diamond Dreams.

Instead, I’ve just spent the last half hour listening to Malcolm explain how our other board member, Trevor, just fucked us over.

I squeeze my eyes shut and pinch the bridge of my nose. I should have seen this coming.

Trevor always rubbed me the wrong way, but I never thought he would sink this low and steal from a charity—from kids who need this money.

“I knew that snake was bad news from day one,” Celeste mutters, shaking her head. “Never trusted him.”

“We should call the police,” I say firmly, reaching for my phone. “File a report, freeze the accounts, something.”

“The police won’t be able to do much,” Malcolm says with a heavy sigh. “He’s probably long gone by now.”

“So we’re just supposed to sit on our asses and do nothing?” I practically shout, anger pulsing through me. “Let that bastard get away with it?”

“Of course not.” Celeste has always been the level-headed one. “But we need a plan. We can’t go off half-cocked.”

I rake a hand through my hair, knowing she’s right but hating it.

I started this foundation to make a difference, to give back after my pro baseball career ended. It’s my way of staying connected to the game I love. Helping talented girls get to college through softball. We’re only in our second year, but I thought we were making real progress. Gaining momentum.

Some of those girls were probably spending the money in their heads already. Dreaming about their futures.

Now, their hopes have been ripped away unless I can figure out how to fix this mess.

“Well, we have to do something.” I look to Malcolm and Celeste. “The scholarship banquet is in four weeks. We can’t let those players down.”

I slump back in my chair, anger and frustration churning in my gut. I have given so much to baseball over the years. It made me a star and gave me wealth and fame beyond my wildest dreams.

But it also took pieces of me. My body, through injuries. My youth, with all the time on the road. A shot at a normal life and a family.

Diamond Dreams was supposed to be my way of evening the score. Ensuring the game gave back as much as it took.

“What are you thinking, Bash?” Celeste asks, studying me from across the table.

“I’m thinking we fight,” I reply.

She arches a brow. “Physically or legally?”

“Legally. I’m sick and tired of scammers pulling this shit and getting away with it.” The words burst out of me in a furious rush. “It’s not right. We can’t let Trevor walk.”

Celeste nods slowly. “My agent might know some lawyers who could help.”

“No,” I cut in firmly. “I’ve got someone else in mind.”

Malcolm cocks his head. “Who?”

I hesitate for a split second. But really, there’s only one person I trust to handle this. Only one person I know will fight like hell for what’s right.

“Melissa Graham.”

Malcolm frowns. “I thought Melissa hated you.”

Understatement of the fucking century.

“Who’s Melissa?” Celeste asks.

Melissa Graham. Brilliant, driven, takes-no-prisoners Melissa Graham. My high school English tutor. The girl I fell in love with at seventeen.

The one whose heart I broke when I was too chickenshit to tell her how I really felt.

I sigh as I rub my temples. “She’s someone I used to know. A lawyer in Houston. We went to high school together.”

Another understatement.

My mind drifts back to high school, to those long afternoons in the library with Melissa. I can still picture her so clearly - bent over a textbook, pen caught between her teeth as she concentrated. Blonde hair falling in waves around her face. Those intense hazel eyes that seemed to see right through all my bullshit.

Fuck, she was stunning.

Melissa was smart, ambitious, didn’t give a damn about being popular. She challenged me, kept me on my toes in a way no one else did.

What started as tutoring sessions slowly turned into something more. Talking, joking around, opening up in a way I never had with anyone else. Melissa got me in a way no one else did. Believed in me when I barely believed in myself.

She’s the reason I graduated, the reason I made it to the majors. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her.

And how did I repay her?

By being a complete and total asshole.

Malcolm’s brow furrows. “Are you sure reaching out to Melissa is a good idea?”

No, I’m not sure.

Given the bad blood between me and Melissa, she has every reason to tell me to go to hell. Especially after the way I treated her all those years ago.

But what other options do I have? Trevor screwed us over royally. We need a legal bulldog on this, someone who will sink their teeth in and not let go until justice is served.

And that’s Melissa to a tee.

I still remember the way her hazel eyes would flash when she got passionate about something. She never backed down from an argument, even when we were just dumb teenagers.

That fire and conviction is exactly what Diamond Dreams needs right now.

“I hear you, Malcolm,” I say slowly, rubbing a hand over my stubbled jaw. “But we’re out of options. Melissa’s our best shot at recovering the money and nailing Trevor’s lying ass to the wall.”

“You really think she’ll help us? Help you?”

I shrug, trying to project a confidence I don’t quite feel. “Honestly? No idea. But I have to try. For the girls. They deserve a chance to chase their dreams.”

And maybe this is my chance to make things right with Melissa. To apologize for being a colossal dickhead back in the day.

Celeste lets out a low whistle. “Geez, what did you do to this woman? Break her heart or something?”

I shift uncomfortably in my seat. “You could say that.”

More like I tore her heart out and did the cha-cha on it.

I close my eyes, the memory of that day still painfully clear even after all these years as I start to tell Celeste the whole story.

I had planned to ask Melissa to prom. But when the time came, I froze, the words sticking in my throat. I just couldn’t do it. Couldn’t risk our friendship, risk losing her if she didn’t feel the same way.

So, like the pathetic coward I was, I changed course at the last second. I told Melissa I needed help asking our school’s sluttiest cheerleader, Amber Freemont to prom. That I wanted her advice on what to write.

I’ll never forget the way the light in Melissa’s eyes dimmed that day, the way her smile faltered for a split second before she forced it back into place.

She helped me write the note. Gave me pointers on what to say, even though I could tell it killed her to do it. And then she left without another word.

Things were never the same between us after that.

She still tutored me. Still helped me pass my classes and graduate. But the easy rapport we’d once shared was gone, replaced by a cold, professional distance.

I broke her trust that day, shattering our special bond. And I’ve never forgiven myself for it.

“Yeah, I don’t know Bash. That sounds messy,” Celeste replies when I’m done. “What if she’s married now? Or has a boyfriend who won’t like the idea of you showing up out of the blue?”

“She doesn’t have a boyfriend,” I reply without thinking.

“How do you know?”

Shit. I walked right into that one.

I shrug, trying to play it cool. “I follow her on social media.”

Celeste snorts. “Right. So basically, you’re stalking her.”

“I am not stalking her,” I snap, even as a flush creeps up my neck. “Jesus, fuck. I just like to know what she’s up to. That’s all.”

And it’s the truth.

Over the years, I’ve found myself checking Melissa’s profiles more times than I care to admit. Scanning her posts for any mention of a man in her life. Some days, it’s the only thing that keeps me sane.

Pathetic, I know. But I can’t help it.

I’m still hung up on Melissa fucking Graham. Even after all this time.

Malcolm watches me with a knowing look in his eyes. “Are you sure this is just about the case? It sounds to me like there’s more to it than that.”

Irritation spikes through me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He holds up his hands in a placating gesture. “Easy, man. I’m just saying, it seems like there’s some unfinished business between you two. And maybe going to her for help isn’t only about the foundation.”

“Of course it’s about the foundation,” I snap, even as a small, traitorous part of me whispers that he might be onto something. “Those girls are my priority. I’m not going to let them down because of my ancient history with Melissa.”

I stand abruptly. “You know what? I don’t have to explain myself to you. To either of you.”

“Where are you going?”

I snatch my keys off the table. “Houston.”