Dani watched as Kasper stood and walked to the wet bar. A glass of wine would be nice. Being with the toddlers was more exhausting than a stressful day at the office. Kasper handled the kids like he had been a nanny for years.

"Are there any reality competitions where you have to take care of kids?"

"Yeah, this week. It's real and if I lose, my brother will hate me for life."

"I asked because you would ace it."

He handed her a glass of red. "Was that a compliment?"

She couldn't meet his gorgeous green eyes or he would see the pink on her cheeks. Why did she revert to a fangirl? Shutting her eyes, she remembered their kiss.

His laugh vibrated on her pubic bone. She hadn't been with a guy since Mac, but Kasper wasn't a candidate. She needed to tell her libido to cool it.

Clearing her throat, she sipped the wine. Blame the tannins for the cheeks. "You have a skill. I'll be the first to admit I lack those skills and don't care to master them." If only she didn't make them cry.

"What do you want to watch?"

"I like house hunting shows."

He nodded and scrolled. "You know they are fake too."

"I don't care. I know your shows were because they listed a title for a job you never did."

"Let me pull the knife out of my back. I'm working now. Except I got demoted to nanny."

A young couple was looking for their first home. She scoffed at the things they wanted with their limited budget. The house she grew up in didn't have a modern kitchen. The countertops dated back to the pea green appliances. They slowly replaced them as one after another broke. She remembered when the dishwasher broke. Her father told them they had a choice between a dishwasher or Christmas presents. Derek wanted presents, but he never had to do the dishes. Her mother left before they all agreed. Did a broken green dishwasher drive her away? Water under the bridge.

Dani watched the tour of a small house in the ideal location. She said, "Seeing how the other half lives."

He shrugged. "I refuse to feel guilty. You enjoy the spoils. I know my brother pays you well."

"Yes, but I don't have Kane dividends."

He looked at her again. "Did you grow up in the comfortable middle class or did you struggle like Ivy?"

"Did Ivy struggle?" Not like the Hughes family. "Look, they are deciding which house."

Kasper laughed. "Saved by the drama."

When the show ended with the happy couple enjoying their home, a new show started, but it was for a vacation home in Saint Thomas.

"I went there to Whitby's house."

"Not on the sailboat."

Kasper frowned. "We might have. I didn't leave the marinas half the time."

"What did you do?"

"I was their servant. The guy with a butler served the main course at dinner parties."

She shook her head. "Why? When you could have a comfortable office and..."

"Not blue water, endless sky, and crystal clear starry nights."

"You could take a vacation. I'd love to one day."

"I'll take, um, a vacation after you."

"Don't count on it."

He turned his body towards her, bringing him closer on the sofa they shared. "Why? Baxter took one. You can too."

The most obvious answer was that she didn't want to go alone. Lying on the beach with Kasper wasn't an option.

Her silence left an awkward pause. He reached out and put his hand on her arm. "Do you really only have career goals? Don't you get lonely?"

"Everyone does, but my work keeps me busy. Just because Kanes have perfect relationships, not everyone else does."

It was stupid to dwell on, but Gray hadn't called her, instead he married Doyle.

"We have the cross, but there are other happy marriages. Jimmy's cousin, the Whitbys."

"Since when have you cared about marriage?"

He laughed. "I went on two shows hoping to find a wife. I don't want to live alone and want a wife to spice up my life, even if my mother hates her."

"You should choose a woman your mother likes."

He shrugged. "Maybe I will. I'd be happy living in the family home. Someone needs to."

She smiled. "You care about your mother and wanting to live with her."

Kasper shrugged. "I'm used to her. Plus, it's easy living."

"Easy living alright," she scoffed.

"I lost the cooking show."

"You lost all but one show."

He hit her arm. "Show some compassion."

First, he touched her arm then he swatted it. She was about to say touching was off limits, but he trained his eyes on her lips tying up her tongue. Their laughing had stopped as she remembered their brief kiss. It was stupid of her, but she wondered what a longer one would feel like.

Look away. Look away! She froze. The sound of crying caused her to jump.

"Oh, shit!"

Kasper jumped up and ran up the stairs. Saved by a cry. His phone lit up. Baxter. She answered.

"You aren't his assistant."

"Someone is crying." The wailing got louder as Kasper appeared.

"Who?"

"I don't know." She looked up. "Which one?"

"Jonny. Is that Baxter?"

She nodded. "It's Jonny."

Ivy's voice came over the phone. "Is he sick?"

"What's wrong with him?"

Kasper shrugged. He had quieted down and was sucking his thumb on his uncle's shoulder.

Dani held out his phone. "Talk to her."

"I heard crying and bolted. So I grabbed him and rushed out of the room. I don't know what to look for."

Kasper answered a bunch of questions most were no. "I don't remember. All they do is shit."

"Sit."

Ivy yelled crystal clear. "Kasper Kane if he finally starts talking and his first word is shit. I'll castrate you."

Dani giggled. "Mummumma." He looked around and pouted.

"Great. He heard you. And for the record that wasn't a word, and he said up... You will hear him when he says a lot more. Do I put him to bed?" He listened. "Okay. I'll try."

He ended the call and looked at Dani. "She said to rock him and put him down. He might have had a bad dream. Maybe he misses them." He shrugged.

Uncertainty looked cute on him. She watched him disappear. As she waited for him to return, she wondered if he would have kissed her. Her belly flipped. Although it would be completely wrong, a part of her wanted to experience an actual kiss from him.

When he finally returned, he had his fingers crossed. "Let's hope he stays asleep."

"What happens when she comes home and the other one is cussing?"

"Cussing, Kentucky gal." He laughed. "You want to touch my balls while I still have them?"

She stood abruptly. "I'm going to bed."

She didn't wait for a response. If he was the old Kasper, the one who never worked, she would have lived out her fantasy. One fun time and a walk of shame and he would be out of her system. Maybe they should have tried it in Vegas. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Dani went to the guest suite in the basement. She had stayed there before when she and Baxter worked late. Kasper slept near the nursery. It was good they weren't in close proximity. She knew the difference between wanting and having. Giving in to temptation would create problems neither of them needed. The sex would be good, since both brothers were packing. Working as close to Baxter as she had, it was hard not to notice. With the younger brother, she looked. Both filled out their jeans. It was strange, but even before Ivy she was never attracted to her boss.

Sleep evaded her and knowing Kasper was upstairs didn't help. She woke from an erotic dream with a faceless man and vowed to have sex soon. It was still night, so she rolled over and went back to sleep.

Jarred awake by a noise, she sat up. Faint light streamed in. Only six am, but the noise came from the kitchen. Why were they up so early?

She didn't want Kasper to see her bedhead, so she showered and dressed in jeans. In the kitchen, he sat bleary-eyed with a cup of coffee. She turned away, because he looked hot in his pajamas and bare feet. The boys were also in jammies.

"You look like shh... You know."

"I feel like it. Someone was up three times last night. That was after I stayed up working."

She stared. "You working? Why?"

"Because I wanted to. I slept better on the island."

"Did they eat breakfast?"

He shook his head. "After my coffee. I need some energy because then they'll poop."

She laughed. "I'll get it ready. Why was he waking up?"

"I wish I knew. He seems fine. Maybe he misses..."

"Maybe."

When the boys were in their chairs eating, she poured a cup of coffee. "What were you working on?"

"An idea."

"Do you want to share?"

He shook his head. "Nope. It's not ready, and it's mine."

"You don't trust me."

He shook his head. "Not with business."

"We're on the same side."

He laughed. "Not as long as you want my title."

"I'm not sure where you heard it, but I can guess. Regardless, it was just sitting around. You certainly didn't want it."

"Now, I do."

She picked up her coffee. "I'm going to work." Then she walked up to Baxter's office. It was stupid to think about sex with a man she couldn't get along with, but her crush felt stronger than ever.

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