Jace stared at his phone screen, his fingers still hovering over the message he'd just sent. He'd been waiting for a response for what felt like forever, but nothing came. He could only hope she was busy, that she wasn't avoiding him.
And then, a vibration.
His pulse quickened as he saw the notification.
Mel Parker:
The rose was beautiful. Thank you.
His chest loosened. That was it. A simple, genuine reply.
It wasn't much, but it was enough to make him smile.
It was the first step. And he'd been patient enough to wait for it.
He typed a quick reply:
"I'm glad you liked it. I'm thinking of something even better next time."
He hit send and leaned back in his chair, trying to ignore the giddiness that had started to settle in his chest. He had no idea how far this would go, but for the first time in a long time, he felt like maybe—just maybe—something real could come of this.
---
The next day, Mel walked into the office a little earlier than usual, trying to get a jump on the workday before the chaos set in. The usual buzz of ringing phones, tapping keyboards, and the sound of heels clicking against tile filled the air as she made her way to her desk.
She sat down and immediately noticed something different.
The box.
The box from yesterday—the one that had held the rose—was gone. She didn't know why that made her heart sink, but it did.
She shook her head, willing herself to focus on the spreadsheet in front of her.
Minutes passed, and just as she was starting to feel like she had control of the day, she heard a voice behind her.
"Mel."
Her heart skipped a beat.
She turned around to find Jace standing there, looking every bit as composed as he had when they'd met. His dark jacket was casually thrown over one shoulder, and his eyes—those damned eyes—locked onto hers.
For a moment, she couldn't speak.
"I—uh," she stuttered, sitting up straighter. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Jace smirked, taking a step closer. "I was hoping I could catch you before your day really got started."
Mel glanced around, half-worried that someone would overhear. "You're not supposed to be here," she whispered. "I'm at work."
"I know," he said softly, his gaze softening. "I'm just… I'm trying to find a way to show you I'm serious about this."
Her chest tightened. "Jace, we can't do this here."
He leaned in a little, lowering his voice. "Then how about after work? Dinner. Just you and me. No distractions. No pressure."
She opened her mouth, about to decline again, but before the words came out, he continued.
"I know you're not ready, and I'm not asking for anything crazy. But I'm not going anywhere, Mel. I can wait."
She stared at him, her mind racing. She wanted to tell him no. She wanted to tell him that it was too soon, that she couldn't get involved with someone like him, someone who was just… too much.
But instead, she heard herself say, "Okay. Dinner. After work."
He smiled. A real smile. And in that moment, Mel realized just how much she'd been holding her breath.
---
By the time the workday ended, Mel was still buzzing. She couldn't quite wrap her mind around the fact that she'd agreed to dinner with Jace—really agreed, and not just as a casual thing.
It wasn't like her to just say yes. Especially not to someone like him.
And yet, here she was, walking into the small upscale restaurant he'd chosen, already feeling her nerves prickling.
"Mel," Jace greeted her with that easy smile as she walked in, already waiting by the hostess desk. "I'm glad you came."
She managed a smile back, though it didn't quite feel natural. "I said I would."
He led her to a private corner booth, away from the bustling crowd, and they both sat down. The soft lighting made everything feel more intimate. There was a sense of quiet between them, but not an uncomfortable one.
For a moment, neither of them said anything. The waiter appeared and took their drink orders, giving them a chance to settle in.
"I wasn't expecting you to agree so quickly," Jace said as the waiter left.
Mel shifted uncomfortably in her seat, trying to break the tension. "I wasn't either," she admitted. "But… you've been persistent."
"I don't mind being persistent when it's worth it."
She met his gaze then. For a second, everything felt like it stopped. There was something in his eyes—something deeper than just attraction. Something that made her heart skip.
But she couldn't let herself get swept up in it. Not yet.
"So, tell me," Jace said, his voice low, "why'd you say no to me before?"
Mel set down her glass of wine, her fingers tracing the rim as she considered her answer. "I didn't know what it meant. You're… you're not like the guys I usually go for."
"Good," he said, his lips curling slightly. "I don't want to be like anyone else."
Her heart fluttered again, and she couldn't help but laugh a little. "You're certainly not like anyone else."
"Don't be scared of me," he added, his voice growing serious. "I'm not going anywhere, Mel. I know you're hesitant. But if you're willing to take a chance, I'll show you I'm worth it."
She took a deep breath, her mind racing. He was laying it out, clear and honest. She'd been so afraid to admit it, but maybe—just maybe—she had already taken the first step without realizing it.
"You're different," she whispered, "and I'm not sure how to handle that."
Jace reached across the table, his hand gently covering hers. The warmth of his touch sent a rush of heat up her arm, and she shivered. He squeezed her hand softly.
"I won't rush you, Mel," he said, his voice a little rough. "I just want you to know that I'm here. No games. No pressure."
She looked down at their hands, her thumb gently grazing over his knuckles. Her breath caught in her chest. The world around them faded a little.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze back to his, her heart pounding louder now.
"I'm scared," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But… maybe I can try."
Jace's expression softened. "You don't have to be scared. I won't hurt you, Mel."
And in that moment, she believed him.
Without another word, he leaned in just slightly, his lips brushing against her cheek in the softest, most tentative kiss. It was gentle—more of a promise than anything else. But it made her breath hitch. And her heart race.
Mel closed her eyes for a second, feeling the warmth of his closeness, letting herself believe that maybe, just maybe, this could be something more than she'd ever expected.
The rest of the evening passed in a haze. The conversation flowed easily—jokes, stories about their pasts, light teasing—but every so often, Jace's hand would find hers, and their fingers would entwine, holding on just a little longer than necessary.
As they finished their dessert, the mood shifted. There was no need for words now. They were both just… present.
When they finally stood to leave, Jace looked down at her, his fingers brushing the back of her hand again.
"Thank you for giving this a chance," he said softly.
She nodded, unable to find her voice for a moment. Instead, she smiled up at him, feeling something shift within her—something warm and undeniable.
"I'm glad I did," she replied.
And as they walked out into the cool night air, Mel allowed herself to relax, just a little. For the first time in a long time, she wasn't thinking about the past or what she was afraid of. She was just… here. With him.
And it felt like a star