After sleeping off a migraine all afternoon, Dani's head spun, from Kasper saying things that couldn't be true. He hated her, yet he kissed her. Every kiss was better than the one before. If he was anyone else, she would have had a fling, but it would be impossible to recover from Kasper after lusting after him for years.

She had recovered from one relationship and refused to give her power to a man ever again. Dating the popular football player in high school made Dani feel like she was living in her own Disney show, like High School Musical without the theater production. She couldn't take part in activities because she had to work at the restaurant serving up catfish, hush puppies, fried okra, and chicken and dumplings. Beau's Uncle Leon owned the place.

Dani shut her eyes trying not to think of Beau. She wasn't the girl she had been, but he was the real reason she would never trust a man again.

Even though she had slept, she climbed in bed. With the TV on low, she watched 'The Proposal', for the twentieth time. If only she could be in charge like Sandra Bullock, but she was Ryan Reynolds, the assistant. She woke in the middle of the night with the screen flickering. As she turned it off, she heard a noise in the kitchen.

Was something wrong? Why was Kasper up at three am?

She put on her robe and went upstairs. Kasper stood by the sink.

"What...?"

He jumped. "Shit! You scared me."

He turned and took his time looking at her. She didn't see hate in his eyes. Her gaze moved to his shirtless chest. A clenching where she shouldn't feel anything announced the need for a private lecture. She needed to tell her sex deprived body to shut up.

"Why are you up?"

"Jamie was up."

"The other one?"

"Apparently, I gave him medicine, and came down for some water. Why are you up?"

"I woke up and heard a noise."

"You're brave. What if I was an intruder?"

"Don't scare me. I'll never fall back to sleep."

"We could fool around." He winked.

"I'm not having sex with you."

He shook his head. "No, sex. I don't have condoms."

She wanted to say she had it covered, but didn't want to give him a green light. "I'm going back to bed."

"Too bad. You're missing some awesome fun."

She laughed. "Cocky."

"Exactly."

"Not funny. You hate me."

He sighed. "I don't hate you. I'm tired of explaining it to you."

She turned on her heels. "Goodnight."

Morning started with crying above her. Six-fifteen on a Saturday. How did Baxter do it? Dani turned over and put her pillow over her head.

Loud knocking at her door woke her. She lifted the pillow off her head. Seven-fifty. Better.

"Go away!"

Her door opened, and Kasper stood with the boys in his amazing arms. "We came to wake you."

"Do I have to get up?"

"No, but my parents are coming to see the boys."

"Both? Here?"

"Yes. It works that way. I want a shower, but I need you."

"Me? Shower?"

"Sounds nice, but who will watch the boys?"

She grabbed a pillow and threw it but missed him completely. "Fine, but I need to shower too."

"So tempting. Go first be quick though."

Her mind raced. What should she wear for the Kanes? Kasper would wear jeans. She was helping with messy boys. They didn't expect her to wear dress slacks. In the end, she slipped on her jeans before Kasper knocked down her door.

Feeling out of her element, as she watched the boys, Dani hoped neither got hurt. One had bruises from hitting his head the other day. She jumped at the sound of the doorbell. With the boys safe in their pen, she went up to let the couple in.

"Dani, good morning." Amelia smiled at her.

"You're out bright and early."

Amelia waved her hand just before Philip slipped off her coat. "We're visiting all our grandchildren today. How is caring for them? It must be hard work."

"Amelia, she works for Baxter. She's used to hard work."

"This is very different." A cry. She cringed. "They're..." She pointed down the stairs and Philip rushed past taking the stairs like a young man. When Dani and Amelia caught up, he had one in his arms.

"Jamie, look Nini is here."

"Pop-yee, Pop-yee." He squeezed Philip's nose as the grandfather laughed.

Amelia bent down to pick up Jonny. "Kasper, what did you do to Jonathan? He has bruises."

"He fell. I didn't push him."

Amelia looked at Dani. "You've taken good care of them."

Kasper stepped forward. "I've tried."

His mother frowned. "I meant Dani."

Dani smiled. "Thank you, Mrs. Kane."

Philip put Jamie down. "He needs freshening up."

Kasper looked at Dani. "Since you've been taking such good care of them."

Panic pulsed through Dani. "That's why you should do this one."

He laughed loudly. "I was up with him in the middle of the night."

"Again?" Philip frowned.

"No, it was Jamie this time. I gave him the medicine."

Dani asked Amelia if she could get her a drink. "I can make tea." She knew the matriarch often drank tea.

"Thank you. You are so thoughtful. Kasper, be useful and take care of your nephew."

He sighed. "Come on Jamie. We know the truth."

Amelia turned her head. "What's he mumbling about? I raised him better."

Dani felt the guilt creep in like a fog. "Philip, coffee?"

"He's had enough."

The older man rolled his eyes. "Nothing, thank you. Since I can't have coffee, I don't like tea, and it's too early for scotch. Plus, I came to play with my grandson's not sit and talk."

"I'm socializing with Danielle. I don't see her enough. Next time the family is together, you'll join us. How have you and Kasper been getting along?"

Kissing. "Okay."

She shook her head. "If only you two... Maybe the cross could help. I like to see my son settled."

Dani shook her head. "I poorer than Ivy. I'm not, even if I was interested."

Amelia put her hand on Dani's. "You've proven you belong. I'm sorry Baxter overlooked you."

Dani's jaw dropped. "It was never like that. He's my boss, nothing more."

Philip sounded like Baxter. "Amelia, don't stir up trouble. Danielle is a professional."

Amelia looked at him. "You're right, not all assistants are as upstanding as Danielle."

Jamie came running through the kitchen with Kasper walking behind. He looked at the adults. "What's wrong?

Philip stepped back. "Nothing at all. Now Jamie is clean we'll see how long before it's Jonny's turn. Amelia, remember Kasper and Doyle? It was non-stop."

Dani laughed at the thought of Kasper sitting in shit. Her smile faded when Kasper walked over so no one could hear him. "Next one is yours."

After the grandparents left, Kasper took the boys outside. She watched them play in the sandbox. It didn't last long, because one of them threw sand. After her time staying with them, she had a fifty-fifty chance in who was who, but couldn't tell who was the instigator. Kasper put the cover on the sandbox and lured them away with a ball. They chased after it like they were dogs. Baxter would fire her if he read her thoughts, but they were like scrappy puppies.

Their last day went like clockwork. She disappeared after every meal, so she avoided their poop. After their bath, they zonked out, and it was time for her and Kasper to eat.

Once again, dinner arrived from the Kane kitchen. Kasper raised his waterglass. "To Jamison and Jonathan, both are alive and healthy."

"To you. Honestly, you impressed me."

He smiled. "To a new friendship."

She eyed him with a tilted head. "Friendship?"

"Yet to be defined, but I like the kind with kissing."

Heat shot up into her cheeks. "That's not professional."

He sighed. "Your relationship with Tate has never been professional. Like Ivy, you are Tate's friend."

"You don't even trust me."

He laughed. "How can I? You take credit for shit you don't do."

"It is not in my job description. You are their special uncle."

"Fine. Just don't tell Baxter you did more than you did. You supported me which I appreciate. My mother thinks you did it all."

"Your mother is old-fashioned. I doubt your father helped like he alluded to."

Kasper wanted to argue, but it wasn't worth it. Besides twins, they had Baxter and Tate. Even with a nanny, that was a lot of baths and stories and needs.

"Do you want to enjoy our last evening together?"

"Not the way you want to."

"You don't know what you're missing. We can fool around without..."

"No." She laughed. Fooling around was for kids. Her libido might want to but her brain knew better. "I don't do relationships and my flings are with strangers." Well, mostly. Kasper raised his eyebrows. Betrayal flowed through her like a putrid odor. "You know something. Tell me. All this talk about trust!"

"Fine. I ran into a guy at a bar who was cut up about getting dumped. He was on a bender and let it slip, it was you."

"Just any guy? Or a guy you know?"

He looked her in the eye. "I think you know the answer. My family employs him, but keep in mind he had way too much to drink."

She paced like a caged animal. "That explains a lot. My personal life is personal."

"That's why no one else knows. No one. Trust me. Now I know two guys who you thought worthy. Meanwhile, you reject me."

"I'm not a prize to be won."

"No, you are a sensual woman who I am attracted to. I have been for a while, ever since you kissed me."

"That wasn't a kiss." Although she remembered her lips tingling.

"It sure felt like one. I've liked the recent ones even better. Why can't we date? Even my mother approves."

"I don't know why, but you keep forgetting. I don't do relationships."

Mac had been friends with benefits, but Amelia Kane would expect her at family dinners and functions. When she dated Beau, she lost her identity, and she vowed never again.

Kasper didn't respond, so she said, "Good night. I'm tired." She should feel guilty for leaving him to clean up, but her escape took priority.

Late the following morning, Dani sat in the dining room, when the door burst open. She attempted to greet her boss, but he rushed past her like she wasn't there. Right behind him, Ivy ran down the stairs and Dani followed.

Tears erupted from both boys when they saw their parents. Baxter scooped both and Ivy embraced the three. Dani would have expected smiles, but it was a reunion of tears. Kasper stood off to the side smiling. After kisses, the boys squirmed to get free.

Ivy wiped her eyes as Baxter held her. "They look like they've grown."

Kasper stepped forward. "There is at least one new tooth. I didn't put my fingers in the lion's mouth to find out."

Baxter frowned. "How did Jonny get those bruises?"

"He fell twice. It was when he was teething. Bax, I did the best I could."

"I know. I owe you both. Danielle, you deserve a bonus."

Kasper smirked. "How was the trip?"

"Amazing, but I'm never leaving them for so long again." Ivy couldn't keep her eyes off the boys, who were busy chattering and bringing toys to their parents. Their mother knelt down. "Huggies." Both hugged her before going back to their game.

Danielle looked at Baxter. "If you don't mind, I'd like to go home."

"MacIntyre is waiting outside for you. Kasper?"

"I was too busy to pack. I can walk home when I'm ready."

Baxter called out to Dani. "Tell him to come back for Kasper."

She nodded and sighed. Home.

The end of the 💩 Thanks for voting ⭐️