Page 129 of Mr. Flirt

My thoughts felt fuzzy, but I needed to get back to my routine. What happened last night was obviously a mistake.

This wasn’t how I needed to present myself after finally being offered partner.

I looked around the bedroom, trying to avoid Shep’s gaze. His side of the bed looked made as if I’d slept in it alone.

Taking a sip of coffee, I reluctantly brought my eyes to Shep.

“Did we?”

Shep smiled and shook his head. “No. You fell asleep in my arms, and I carried you to the bed. I slept in the spare room.”

My chest squished into an emotional mess of longing and annoyance. Why did he constantly have to do the right thing?

“Well, thank you. I’m sorry about intruding last night. I’d obviously had too much to drink. My head is thanking me today.” I rubbed my forehead and took another sip of coffee.

“Do you remember anything from last night?” Shep asked as his brows quirked. His long, lean, and muscular body stretched in front of me as he rested his elbow on a dresser.

“I remember Cliff and seeing you at the bar and then coming over here,” I mumbled, not wanting to admit how much I remembered.

Because it had all been a big misunderstanding of epic proportions. We were on separate tracks apart and leading away from one another, which was the smart and stable thing to do. And then I had too many martinis and fell at his doorstep, professing my feelings.

I scowled. What had I been thinking?

Weakness.

Something I loathed.

“Anything else?” The mischievous sparkle in his eyes made me smile before I pressed my lips together into a frown.

I gave him a dirty look. “Well, you obviously didn’t have your way with me.”

Shep chuckled and shook his head. His eyes locked on mine, and I felt goosebumps spread across my skin. The chemistry was undeniable.

“We both said a lot of things last night,” he started. “And I want you to know I meant every single thing I said.”

The conversation had started flooding through me, and I stiffened. I bit back a defeated grunt of frustration.

“But it feels like your guard is already up again.” He drew a breath and nodded. “Yeah. Pretty sure it’s like last night never happened.”

“It’s just that a lot has happened in recent weeks. I made partner. I closed the deal for Danni. I’m focused on my career.” I almost choked on the last word, and without warning, tears pricked my lids.

He took a couple of steps closer. “Congrats on making partner. That’s a huge deal.”

Butterflies in my belly crashed into one another as he reached his hand over and touched my chin. “I hope you’re as proud of yourself as I am.”

I tried taming the insect belly and laughed nervously as every piece of stone surrounding my heart crumbled.

“Shep, thank you. I needed to hear that. Mae couldn’t care less. Danni has a mini-Lucy brain. My mom never returned my calls, and my assistant just asked about a raise. So, thank you.” Tears rimmed my eyes as I swallowed down my embarrassment. I essentially had no one, and I’d pushed away the someone who’d made me happier than anything or anyone.

His words from last night fluttered into my soul, and I wiped away the tears in my eyes.

“Did you mean what you said last night? All of it?” I asked.

“All of it.” Shep took a step closer. “Lucy, I love you.”

My body rumbled from his words, and my throat tightened. I swallowed down the lump of tears that no longer buried my heart in loneliness.

“And I’m sorry. I’m sorry for making really ridiculous mistakes. I’m not falling for my friends’ dares or pranks any longer. It’s not worth it because even the most innocent of dares somehow turns into life-altering occurrences around you.”

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