After Baxter left, Dani went to her room while Kasper went to the dining room for dinner.

In private, she called Darlene. "I was calling you all day. Are you married to Beau?"

"No, I never married Beau. I couldn't wait to get away from him."

"What? Why? He's perfect."

"Perfect was what he wanted you to see. He was controlling and verbally abusive. He never trusted me and wouldn't let me have friends. That's why I left."

"He's so cute."

"He was a monster. I knew it would get worse, if I didn't leave. I planned it for months."

"Does daddy know?"

"No. He was too busy taking care of us. I couldn't worry him."

"He thinks you left like momma."

"I didn't want to leave you and daddy and Derek. I'll call daddy and tell him."

"Is that guy from TV your boyfriend?"

"Yes. He treats me right. Can you text me Beau's number?"

"It's the same one he's always had."

She paused. "I've forgotten it."

"Yeah. Okay."

Dani sighed. It was overdue. "I'm hanging up to call daddy."

The phone rang, and he sounded out of breath when he answered. "Yer making a name for yerself. Darlene's been going on about it all day."

"Daddy, I never married Beau. I ran from him, not you. I ran because he hurt me."

"What!"

"Not physically, but with his words."

"You two were together all the time."

"Because he never trusted me. He controlled me."

"You never said. Why didn't you?"

"Because you were too busy making up for momma being gone. I didn't want to leave you, but home wasn't safe. That's why I never came back. Now Beau's causing trouble again, but I have friends."

"That man your sister called Tarzan?"

"Yes, and others. I need to stop hiding and tell Beau to leave me alone."

"I'll talk to his uncle. He can set him straight."

"Leon doesn't need to get involved."

"We'll see about that."

Leon used to ask if she was okay, but she lied. He might have suspected something was wrong.

A knock on her door jarred her out of the past. "Daddy, I have to go. I love you." She hung up before he replied.

Kasper was on the other side. "Are you alright?"

She opened the door to see his strained face. "I had to tell my sister and father I'm not married."

"I'll admit it shook me. At first I told myself it's a lie. Then I second guessed and wondered if your anti-marriage stance was because you already were."

She shook her head. "I can't imagine if he forced me to get married. He tried to get me pregnant."

"Jesus! Please can I hold you tonight."

She nodded. "I don't want to be alone."

"I had another idea of how to deal with him, but you won't go for it."

"What is it?"

"Marry me."

She hit him on the chest and laughed. "Stop joking."

"I got you to smile and laugh."

She sighed. "Let me look at your slides."

"You want to work?"

She nodded. "I like to occupy my mind."

He frowned. "That's why you are so driven."

"I want to succeed."

"Sweetheart, you have."

Dani fell asleep easily in the security of his arms. Even joking she couldn't believe Kasper suggested marriage. He was a Kane. His mother may like her, but not as a daughter-in-law. Never.

She woke to an empty bed. As she stepped out of the shower, Kasper knocked on the bathroom door. "We'll be late if I can't come in."

Obviously, they had seen each other naked, but sharing the bathroom was very domestic. She wrapped a towel around herself and opened the door. "It's all yours."

She needed to dress and then add some makeup and fix her hair. He ripped off his sweat soak shirt and her eyes lingered on his perfect pecs.

"You can stay." He winked.

"No. No. I'm surprised you don't have more tattoos."

He laughed. "Just the one, but I've been thinking of your name."

"No. You. Have. Not."

He shook his head and laughed. "I'll be quick since I don't shave."

Before she turned away, he dropped his shorts. She darted off. One touch of her hand and he would have been hard enough. Would she ever stop lusting for his body? Dani quelled the thought it was more than his body she longed for. Hate and love were two sides of the same coin.

She shivered. She had loved Beau as much as she hated him. Some moments he was sweet especially when they hung out with her siblings. An awesome afternoon could quickly turn into an intense evening at the simple suggestion they go anywhere other than a place to have sex. It wasn't even sex. That was what she did with Mac. It was Beau taking what he wanted and calling her names because she never climaxed. Frigid, cold. She could climax with the right lover. With Kasper, it was easy. Deep down she knew they had gone beyond just sex.

Kasper opened the door to her room which she hadn't locked. "What are you thinking about?"

A towel hung at his hips. He was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. She felt her cheeks heat up. "I was wondering if Beau ever learned how to pleasure a woman."

Kasper raised his eyebrows. "Never?"

She shook her head. "And it was my fault."

Kasper laughed. "Maybe I'll tell him when we meet."

"Please don't."

He laughed. "Finish getting ready, beautiful. We don't want to be late."

Kasper dressed in his suit faster than she dried and pinned her hair. He watched her put the last pins in.

"Everything you do is sexy."

"Stop. We are going to work."

"Just one kiss to remember all day."

She sighed as his lips caressed hers. He offered an array of kisses. The gentle meeting of their mouths wasn't passionate, but affected her deeply. His tender kisses felt like love. She had grown soft and delusional.

Straightening her back, she stepped away. He stood with his eyes closed for a second and she wanted to fling her lips back on his. "We'll be late."

He cleared his throat and shook his leg before following her through the house and out to the waiting car. Once she reached her desk, her equilibrium returned, at least until she remembered her to-do list.

Dani hoped to play phone tag with Beau. Rather than using her own phone, she dialed his number from her desk. He must know where she worked. Darlene probably fed him every tidbit she knew about Dani's life.

The sound of his voice set her heart racing and made her palms sweaty. "Is this my wife?"

"No. You must be mistaken. Listen Beau, your games aren't funny."

"Neither was your disappearing act. I was there when your sister cried."

"My sister and father know the truth now."

"The truth." He laughed.

"I called to see if you wanted to meet for lunch and talk. I owe you an explanation."

"You owe me more than an explanation."

Dani felt dizzy. His tone was the same. Maybe she had been wrong. No. She was a strong woman. "Let's discuss it over lunch. I'm sure you are very important and busy. I'll come to you."

"I save lives."

"I'm glad you achieved your goal." She had sympathy for the boy raised by his uncle after his mother died of cancer and his father overdosed. Better healthcare may have saved one or both, but not in rural Kentucky.

"Today. At half-past twelve."

"Fine. In the hospital cafeteria."

"In my office," he demanded.

"No. I'd prefer the cafeteria."

"Since when have you talked back?"

"Since I grew a spine. Twelve-thirty in the cafeteria."

After she hung up, she looked up to see Baxter and Kasper. Both were scowling. "This is a bad idea." Baxter spoke first.

Kasper nodded. He looked ashen, but quickly cleared his throat. "I'll call Gray and Jimmy."

Work couldn't keep her mind off the scheduled meeting. Baxter offered his sofa for her to lie down. He worried she would get a migraine. She practiced deep breathing to keep from hyperventilating.

Kasper called her into his office and shut the door. Before she could resist, he gave her another tender kiss. Her heart raced for a pleasant reason.

"Sweetheart, I won't leave your side. Gray will be there to support us."

"If I wasn't so scared, I'd laugh at the guy I'm currently sleeping with and the guy I used to be with going to see my first. I sound like a whore."

"Absolutely not, but if you want more reinforcements, I can call in MacIntyre."

She pounded on his chest. "I hate you."

He stared at her. "No, you don't, but take your emotions out on me."

She pouted. "I'll hurt my hands."

He laughed. "There's my girl. Here put this on. It'll help convince him."

Kasper held up a gorgeous sapphire and diamond ring. "I can't."

"Yes, you can. It was my grandmother's, but it is mine now. I want you to wear it to take back your life."

"Take back?"

He nodded. "You gave him control and never took it back even when you left. Today you will and I'll be by your side."

She looked at the ring. "Maybe just for the meeting."

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