As Kasper listened to Dani's story, anger filled him like a disease. Tamping down his emotions, his responsibility was to Dani. He understood her much better, but he felt the wall around her fortifying.

Long after her breathing evened out, he laid awake with his mind racing. Over and over she told him she didn't want a relationship. The pieces of the puzzle had started to fit together, but there was a patch still unsolved. She shared nothing about her family.

His family didn't know Doyle was with a psychopath band manager. Love only protected so far, but protection bred love. Doyle fell for Gray. Maybe if Dani stayed with him, she would fall too.

In the morning, she woke up surprised to see him. "You slept?"

She nodded. "I should go home."

"You should stay here where it's safe."

"He's probably working. If he knew where I lived he would have stopped by on his first visit to Boston."

"I doubt he wants tea."

"No, he wants to control me, but I've matured. Like you said, I'm stronger."

"But he's had years to be angry. He might use more than words." When Dani didn't respond, he kissed her forehead and climbed out of bed.

"There are clothes in the closet, Tate's too. Help yourself."

After stopping in the bathroom, he returned to his bedroom. First, he climbed in his bed and turned a few times. He never trusted the maids, who doubled as spies for his mother, but it wasn't his reputation he wanted to protect.

After he dressed, Kasper went to the dining room. As he approached, he stepped backwards. Baxter, Jimmy and Gray sat with coffee talking. "What's going on?"

"Gray's filling us in about last night."

"Dani won't like this."

Jimmy frowned. "She's family."

Baxter nodded. "I need to take care of my valuable assistant."

"Thanks, but I don't need to be taken care of."

All the eyes turned to look beyond Kasper, except him. He stepped forward to the coffee carafe and poured himself a cup. "Dani? I'm pouring."

"Okay. Thanks."

He fixed hers the way she liked it and put it down on the table. If he handed it to her, one or both might get burned. As he glanced at her, he took in Doyle's old jeans which hugged her curves, then he sat at the table to put some space between them.

She took a deep breath. "I appreciate your concern, but he's not dangerous. Plus, if he wanted to hurt me, he would have found me ten years ago."

"Found you? He didn't know where you were?" Jimmy wrinkled his forehead.

She nodded. "Plus he's been in Boston a while and he didn't reach out."

Kasper put his cup down with a thud. "You knew?"

She nodded as she looked from one to another. Gray broke the silence causing Dani to jerk. "His background check is clean. No arrests. He either skates a thin line or hasn't been involved with anyone else."

The men scoffed. Kasper might not want another woman, but it seemed impossible to go without companionship for his entire twenties, even for a med student. "He wasn't a monk locked away from all women."

Baxter shook his head. "I'm not comfortable with her living alone. You can stay in the guest suite at my house."

Dani's eyes shot to Kasper. He laughed. "She'd be miserable. Dirty diapers scare her."

The three fathers shook their heads. "I'm not inviting her to be the nanny."

Jimmy shook his head. "No, but Ivy would be unhappy if you work every evening. We all know you would try, right Dani?"

"Jimmy's right. I'm sorry, boss."

"She's safer here." Jimmy left no argument like he controlled his business dealings.

"I like being alone."

Baxter looked at her pleading. "It's a big house. Kasper won't bother you."

"Hey!" until the last comment he enjoyed Jimmy and Baxter's efforts. If she stayed without him convincing her, it would be a win for Kasper.

"I should meet with him and tell him I've moved on."

"Not without me!" Gray puffed out his chest.

The large man wore a dark shirt with a white streak. Baby spit up. Kasper chuckled. Jimmy didn't have any obvious signs, except dark circles under his eyes. Mattie Sinclair wasn't a very good sleeper.

Kasper looked at Dani. "Let's not decide yet. You're safe here. As for my brother's accusations, I promise not to annoy you."

Baxter rolled his eyes, but Kasper ignored him. There was a lot his older brother didn't know about his assistant.

"I. I want to go home."

"Not alone." Kasper spoke up. He didn't trust the jock-doctor. If he wanted Dani back, her refusal would make him angry. A smart man knew not to show his anger at a function with his boss and colleagues present. If he found her apartment, he wouldn't have an audience.

"Kasper's right. You two should stick together." Gray sighed. "I know we aren't friends, but no one wants you hurt."

Dani sighed. "We're good. Ancient history."

Kasper winced slightly. Jimmy leaned into him. "Wear the cross, then she'll gladly stay with you."

Kasper coughed to cover up Jimmy's suggestion, but didn't tell him he was wrong. Even with the broken cross, his love for the determined woman kept growing. The need to protect her consumed him.

After a lot of back and forth, Dani agreed to stay at the Kane House if she could get her belongings from her apartment.

Gray stood. "I'll take you now."

Dani pleading eyes landed on Kasper. He stood and patted Gray's back. "I have it covered. Go home to Beck and Doyle."

Jimmy stood. "Tarzan can handle him. He'll pound on his chest and scare him away."

Dani snickered, and Baxter stood up. "The boys are waiting for me to go to go to the park."

"Don't put them in sailor suits."

"Jimmy, that was you, not me. Let's walk out together. Give me a ride, so Kasper can have the car."

Their banter grew softer. When the front door shut, Dani looked up at Kasper. "Thank you."

He nodded. "It's odd. You feel uncomfortable with him, but not with me."

She shrugged. "I might when you find a wife."

Kasper shook his head. "I might not." His anti-marriage stance was to match her aversion. Her reason for hating relationships shined like a beacon. "I almost hope to run into him. I want a reason to punch him."

"Stop. You don't fight. Think of the baby birds."

His sisters must have told stories. "Are you ready to go?"

The only danger at her apartment was her laser glare when he told her to bring more clothes.

"I'm not living at your house forever."

He shook his head. "My goal is to change your mind."

She sucked in her breath. "Not happening."

He stepped forward, so he felt her breath at his open collar. With his hand, he gently lifted her chin, allowing their eyes to meet. "I never give up."

Her phone rang causing her to step back and turn to hide her red face. "No...You what?... Seriously, why don't you understand I don't like him anymore... He's not an old friend. Besides, I'm seeing someone."

As she continued explaining that it was a new thing, Kasper squashed the kindling of hope. It was the perfect thing to say to keep the pressure off.

After she hung up, she waited a dozen heartbeats before she turned back. A dark cloud hung over her and Kasper felt a desperate need to make her smile. "Sweetheart, you came up with the perfect plan."

"What plan?"

"If we're a couple, then he has to move on."

She shook her head. "You just want to sleep with me."

"You're right, I do. Last night was wonderful holding you in my arms. You fight it, but we complemented each other." Dani snorted, and he said, "I have better manners." She covered her mouth. "You keep me focused on work and I add fun to your overly serious life."

"I'm fun."

"As a root canal. All work and no play isn't living." She turned away as the reality of his words hit her like a two by four. He closed the distance and embraced her from behind. "How long have you been waiting for the shoe to drop?" She sobbed and shrugged. "You deserve more. Better." Me. He turned her body and held her tear-stained face so she had to look at him. "You are strong, but it's not him or no one. No one marries their first." Kasper rolled his eyes. "I'd be married to a co-ed I met when I was in high school."

"Seriously?"

"Oh yeah, I thought I was hot stuff until I realized I was just her little toy. Doyle warned me."

"Did she break your heart?"

He smirked. "My heart wasn't the organ involved." She smacked his shoulder.

Kasper captured her slack mouth by surprise. A flame of optimism sparked as she took part in the meeting of their lips, mouths, and tongues. They had physical attraction in spades, but did she love him? He couldn't risk his own heart, not yet.

Thanks for voting ⭐️