Kasper refused to regret his night with Dani. He didn't even force the pretty drinks on her. The beauty was a challenge he needed to unravel. The dark shadows which crossed over her before she sucked down more alcohol contrasted the overconfident assistant.

When he whispered to the bartender, he planned to ask for extra vodka in his room service order, but at the last second, asked for less. He didn't want the alcohol to cause regrets, but somehow it failed.

Dani sat across the cabin, ignoring him on the short flight to Boston. Earlier as they toured two buildings, professional Danielle shined, but once alone she put her wall up. Looking at her legs, he remembered how they felt wrapped around him. Never a monk, Kasper enjoyed sex, but none of his previous encounters had felt like making love to Dani. Damn cross. How could it only work one way?

He stood and sauntered over to her. With her laptop out, she continued typing as he leaned over. His lips brushed her fragrant hair before he reached up and lifted her chin.

Through clenched teeth, she chastised, "I'm working."

"Sweetheart, give in. What we shared isn't something easily forgotten."

"Some of us aren't elephants."

He laughed. "You liked my trunk."

She groaned and pushed on his shoulder. "You're easily forgotten."

His heart soared as she lied. "The good news is you're my date for tomorrow night." He intended to hold her close when he danced with her.

She frowned, before her face blanked. She was easier to read when she lied. "I'm Baxter's guest."

"Sweetheart, we're not going backwards."

She pressed her temple. "Headache. I need quiet."

He stepped back even though she lied. It took Tate twelve years, so he had ten more before he gave up. "I need to finish my report."

When he sat down, he couldn't concentrate. The memory of her fingers on his cock made him hard. If it was a longer flight, he would seduce her into some mile-high action. Before he corralled his thoughts, it was time to prepare for landing.

At only three-thirty when the car entered Storrow Drive, Dani asked to be dropped off at the office. Kasper sluggishly followed her into the elevator. On the second floor, a man entered who he didn't know.

"Hi, Danielle. How's it going?"

"Great. How's things on the eighth floor?"

"Busy. It's been forever, we should grab a drink."

She smiled. "Text me."

As he stepped out on his floor, Kasper leaned in. "Ex?"

She pulled back her shoulders. "No. I don't date people I work with."

He frowned. "I thought you didn't date."

"I don't. I have drinks with friends. We started on the same day and bonded over a morning in HR."

"Bonded." The world had tinted green.

"Not like you think. If you weren't so blind you would have noticed the drool on his chin from looking at you."

"I was too busy drooling at you, sweetheart." Men had hit him on, but his preference was soundly female, specifically Dani.

Kasper hid in his office to work on his recommendations for each building. Dani was at her desk, when he walked down to see Brad in legal at four-thirty.

The jovial, older man asked about Tate and Mattie, before asking about the twins. "I heard you babysat."

Kasper wondered how trustworthy Eleanor was if she shared stories about him babysitting. When he cocked his eye, the attorney chuckled. "Tate filled me in when I dropped off the department's gift."

He felt guilty for his unkind thoughts, but sensed something odd about Tate's secretary, although she knew about teething.

Brad updated him on his contact with Huckabee. "He claims he can't afford the building. I told him we wouldn't renew his lease, because we plan to demolish it."

"You did not!"

"It's just the start of the negotiation. We'll find common ground."

"Keep me posted." He walked out of his office and up the stairs. Dani's desk was empty. Baxter had left too. Kasper took an Uber home to spend the evening alone.

The following evening, Kasper entered the crowded ballroom behind his parents. Amelia led the way straight to the donor's room. It was a far cry from the VIP lounge at the club. Purchasing a table granted their entrance to the smaller room. They wouldn't have to stand in line all night, because there was a bar in the corner.

Kasper looked around and stopped when he saw her. She pinned her shoulder length hair differently than her professional look. Her gown fell over every curve with sophistication. Kasper knew what every curve felt like. He averted his eyes before the thought made him hard and he turned into a pig like Bates.

Dani stood next to Baxter engrossed in conversation with Monty and a man he didn't know. Ivy stood nearby talking to another couple. He walked over to his sister-in-law and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.

She tucked her arm around his. "This is Kasper Kane. We were just discussing the joys of twin boys. Trey provides free legal service too."

The man, older than Ivy and his wife, reached out his hand. "Trey Hayes and my wife, Samantha."

"Labor law too?"

He smiled and shook his head. "Family law."

Kasper chuckled. "It's a good thing I don't have a family." He smiled and with a nod, he turned to Baxter's group.

His brother smiled. "Here he is. Kasper, we were telling Ted we might have some buildings for him."

The handsome man said, "I'm interested. Location is key."

Monty said, "I might be interested too. I've been dabbling in boutique hotels in certain markets."

Ted said, "My father said Calhoun Construction shifted to mixed use or housing units. Everyone needs a home, but not an office."

Ted Calhoun was nothing like Kasper had expected. He and the lawyer looked about the same age, which was still young. A beautiful, pregnant blonde approached. "Ted, Mia says enough business."

He smiled. "It seems my sister is telling me my wife misses me."

"I had to get up to powder my nose."

Tate, who joined the group said, "I remember that feeling every thirty minutes."

The woman smiled as she possessively touched her belly. "This is my second. Fifteen months apart, I'm not sure what we were thinking."

The group broke up and Kasper went to the bar. Jimmy stood nearby talking with his other friends. He pointed. "My team keeps asking about Tarzan."

He chuckled. "I'd like to change my name. Kasper David Kane has a nice ring to it."

Jimmy laughed as Kasper stepped up to the bar. He left with a glass of red wine in each hand. His eyes easily found Dani standing at a table talking to Ivy.

Ivy smiled, when he offered Dani a glass. "A true gentleman. You two should take all your angst and turn it into passion. You would be good for each other."

Dani's cheeks blushed as she shook her head. "I'm trying to teach him about work ethnic."

He chuckled. "You're just jealous because I was born at the top of the corporate ladder and you're still climbing it."

"With hard work and devotion."

Ivy put her hand up. "Stop. From my perspective there is plenty of work for both of you so Baxter can come home for dinner with his family every night."

Neither had anything to say. He smiled. "Truce, and to prove it, we can dance later."

Ivy laughed. "Good idea. Don't step on each other's toes."

The event didn't include a sitdown dinner, so most tables were empty as people mingled. Occasionally the bouncer at the door informed other guests that only important donors could enter the room. In order to dance they needed to join the crowd in the ballroom.

Doyle pulled him and Dani to the other room to dance to the fast beat dance hit. His twin looked amazing after having a baby and recovering from surgery. He tried to brush up against Dani, but Doyle kept him at her side. For years, they never needed a date to dance with.

The song ended, and a slow song started. Kasper looked at Dani. "I promised." She nodded as Doyle walked away. Kasper pulled her in not leaving room for light to get between them. He leaned down and brushed his lips on her ear. "I missed you."

She shivered. It felt good to know she felt something too. The night they spent together was perfect. There was no need to argue or compete. He let his mind think about other things to prevent his dick from springing to life. Instead of asking her to invite him over, he thought about Doyle's text to his father. Should he ask her to explain it?

After the song, he led her towards the private room. On the way, he turned when he heard her name. She turned rigid under his hand, so he instinctively led her briskly away. It wasn't a secret that she had casually dated, but her reaction told him she didn't want to talk to whoever had called her.

Once they crossed the entrance, he expected her to relax, but she didn't. Her face was unreadable as he led her to their table. A commotion at the door drew his attention. A handsome man wearing a suit attempted to pass through.

"I just want to see an old friend." The bouncer held his ground.

Kasper clasped her hand. "Who is he?"

"Nobody." She shivered.

Kasper saw Gray talking with his two sisters. He walked over to them. "Tate, go sit with Dani. Gray, I need your help."

His brother-in-law didn't question or hesitate as he followed him. At the door, he said, "Excuse me, but the lady isn't interested in reconnecting."

"She's mine and always will be."

Gray didn't miss a beat. "She has a family who says differently. We are just part of it, but there are powerful people who can ruin any career within a hundred miles of Boston, so mister..."

"It's Doctor."

Kasper smiled. "Even better. We know every hospital executive in the city."

Kasper watched as Gray stared him down. He wasn't the same man who melted over his son.

The man looked undeterred. "I'll find her. She belongs to me. Her actual family is on my side. I had her first and have waited patiently, but she'll come back to me."

What a fucker. Kasper wasn't smiling. "She's a person not a possession, and she worked hard for her independence."

All the blanks filled in like after finding the key word in a crossword puzzle. That asshole was the reason she worked so hard. He was also why she didn't want him.

"I have her address. I don't need your permission, buffoon."

Kasper's blood ran cold, as the man turned away.

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