Her Silent Revenge novel Chapter 95

Besides, Salem's market research looks impeccable as always. There's a gap for precisely what we're offering with the affluent folks who want to live a Scandinavian style lake life without leaving the continent—a niche we could easily fill.

"Agreed." I tap the table and let all four wheels of my chair hit the floor. "Fine. I'll work out a payment schedule and run it by you guys. Enough to help Evelyn and renovate at least one pilot property we'll target to launch before the year ends."

"Okay. And nice work, Salem," Dexter says. "Those market reports were flawless. Couldn't find any fault if I tried."

No doubt his number-crunching, money freak ass did try, too.

Dexter loves looking for errors almost as much as he loves studying nutrition labels.

"They were solid," Archer agrees. The tiniest jealousy bug bites the back of my neck when he smiles at her. "If you ever get sick of managing the day-to-day, we could use a full-time analyst here at headquarters."

Fucker.

I knew it.

Salem smiles, and just like with Arch, I know what's coming.

"Thanks," she says, "but I wouldn't make a good full-time number cruncher. I need to talk to people and move around to stay on my toes."

Yes, she does.

Salem Hopper has bigger and better dreams than being cooped up in our office.

I've seen her researching charter boats and marina businesses on the side lately. It has me wondering what the future will bring with her career plans, just like so much else.

Not yet, though. It's not my place to ask.

Not until we've figured out what we are—if we're meant to be anything at all.

Why ruin a good thing when it's barely begun?

For the first time since Utah, we have a date.

I race home early, meticulously cleaning up and agonizing over shirts in a way I haven't done since my teens.

You know it's catastrophic when a man puts this much energy into impressing a woman he's already fucked.

The plan is for dinner and a movie at my place—their first visit here— but it feels like more than that.

My son is coming home.

My son and his mother, walking into my house as a family. It's strange as hell.

Stranger still that I'm a complete basket case over it.

I wipe the sweat off my brow, opening the door as they arrive, stuffing my phone back in my pocket after my security app alerted me they were coming.

No, not just someone. Salem and Arlo.

"Arlo, no running!" Salem calls with a giggle.

I thought she'd be more tense here, walking into my lair, but she seems more relaxed than ever in a cream sweater and jeans.

I lead the way to my study and the enormous aquarium that takes up the entire wall.

The subtle lights above and below illuminate the waters even when it's dark, mimicking a natural glow that won't disturb the creatures inside.

Sometimes I sit and watch my little creation at night, when my head aches too much to work and I'm in a mood to ponder these alien lives separated by glass, yet so intertwined with mine.

"What? It's like the zoo!" Arlo runs right up to the glass and smushes his nose against it. "This. Is. Awesome."

He isn't wrong.

The aquarium has won me admiration and a mountain of shit from my family ever since I had it installed. Especially when I had the octopus flown in from Seattle.

"I can't believe you called it a ‘fish tank,'" Salem murmurs, sending me a smile when I glance at her. "Show Arlo the cuttlefish. He just read about them in his ocean book."

"Cuttlefish! Where?" Arlo's eyes bounce around excitedly.

"Up here, little man. Let me help you get a better look." I lift him up and settle him on my shoulders. "Can you see them now?"