When Kasper took out a pair of cufflinks, his eye landed on the ring box. After Philip gave Baxter, his mother's diamond ring, he had invited Kasper to his office. "My doctor says I'm healthy, but I want you to have this just in case. I don't trust your mother to give it to you unless she handpicks your intended. Remember the cross is a powerful thing."

Kasper understood its power. Every day his feelings for Dani grew exponentially. A frown crossed his face. Why hadn't the cross worked both ways? He picked up the ring. It may be the only time she would ever wear it and he pushed away his sadness. Kissing her, he tried to express the depths of his love for her.

Once they arrived at office that morning, he called Gray. "What did you find?"

"I checked with the county. There was no marriage. I love the south, they are so eager to help. The woman remembered the young couple."

"Seriously?" He didn't want to think of her as a couple.

"She went on about her mother being gone and him without parents. Then she talked about his uncle and how Dani worked at his restaurant. I asked if it was any good. And that was enough to learn all about it. The menu is even online these days."

Kasper laughed. None of it was funny. Dani had moved light years away from the small Kentucky town, only her sexy accent remained.

"So what does any of this mean?"

"Thanks to the google gods, I discovered the restaurant is in a strip mall and guess who owns it?"

"Are you shitting me?"

"Nope. Street View had a for lease sign with a big fat Kane Properties."

"What's the address?" Kasper typed. The property was fully occupied. "More leverage to squeeze the SOB's balls."

Kasper hung up when he heard Dani's voice on the phone. Baxter had moved to his office door and the two brothers stood ready to protect her as the asswipe jerked her around.

Sitting next to her in the backseat of Gray's car, he held her shaking hand. The ring looked like it belonged, but he kept that thought to himself.

Gray said, "I'm not a driver anymore."

"You're good at it." Kasper teased.

"Tell us about Leon?"

Dani stammered. "Leon was my boss."

Kasper smiled. "Do you know who owns the property his restaurant is in?"

"Of course, I do. Leon is innocent."

"He's leverage."

Dani frowned. "You sound like me. Please don't."

Gray laughed. "The great thing about leverage is it's usually enough to dangle it."

Gray pulled the car into the medical center's garage. "You aren't getting the full treatment. I need to go in with you."

When they reached the cafeteria, they were five minutes late. Dani pointed and Gray walked ahead and sat at the table next to him.

Kasper took Dani's hand. "You are brave."

As she walked him to the table, Beau stared at the couple. "Hello Beau. This is Kasper."

Kasper offered his hand, but the doctor didn't take it. The guy was good looking and fit dressed in scrubs with a lab coat over it. Kasper wanted him to have aged horribly, but the casting directors would put him on the island.

"Why did you bring him?"

"Because he and I are together." She put her left hand on the table.

Kasper watched his eyes zero in on the ring. Beau spat, "We're married."

Kasper chuckled. "Not according to the county. The license expired just after Dani arrived in Boston."

"Dan, remember what we had." He looked as if he might cry.

"My friends and loved ones call me Dani, but you can call me Danielle, like my boss."

Kasper laughed. "I know you two dated a lifetime ago. Both of you have moved on. You're a doctor and my Dani is amazing in business. No hard feelings, but she's chosen me." He pointed to the ring.

He hissed between his teeth. "You promised me." He turned to Kasper. "I fucked her first."

Kasper felt his jaw tick. "I know but I make her orgasm. You never did."

"Bitch." He moved across the table.

Kasper leaned forward. "Here's the deal. If you post about her, talk about her, call her, or approach her ever again, the lease on your uncle's restaurant will be terminated."

"You can't."

"She can. Here's another thing. This is my town, I know everyone with clout. You would be happier to move on when your fellowship ends. Go back to Kentucky."

"I. I. I."

"Kasper. Dani." Jimmy leaned in and kissed her cheek.

Kasper asked, "What brings you here?"

"I was meeting with the president about a significant donation. Is there a problem here?"

Kasper stared at Beau. "I hope not."

"Just say the word and I'll pull out."

Dani's voice was more steady than her hand. "Beau, do you understand? Leon could lose his livelihood and Jimmy will make sure the hospital administration knows. Just to be clear, when I was young and naïve I thought I loved you. You suffocated me and so I applied to universities in Boston to get away from you. I left my family because of you."

"Why?"

"Because you kept me in prison with your jealousy and control. The list is so long. I wanted an education, but you wanted me pregnant."

"What did you do?" He seethed.

"I went to the clinic on campus and got the pill. I don't want children."

He shook his head. Gray stood and walked over. "Are you clear about the consequences if you interact directly or indirectly with Ms. Hughes again?"

He looked up at Gray, and Kasper hoped he wet his pants. Kasper stood and Dani followed. He wrapped his arms around her, as she looked down on her ex. "I know I never gave you a chance to say goodbye. Have a good life."

Kasper guided her out. A tiny part of him felt sorry for Beau. Losing Dani had to hurt. His brave girl waited to crumble until she was in the back of Jimmy's car which had been waiting at the curb. He held her and when the car moved through Boston she wept.

"Where to, sir?"

Jimmy looked at Kasper. "Dani?"

She wiped her eyes on her hands. "Work. I need to keep busy."

"Kane Properties. Thank you, O'Hara."

Jimmy chuckled. "Gray scared him. We know he's a big pussycat."

Dani looked at Jimmy. "Do you think it worked?"

"I missed the conversation, but when I mentioned my connections he quivered."

"I threatened to ruin his uncle's business." Kasper squeezed her closer.

"Not Leon." Dani tried to move away, but Kasper held her.

Jimmy smiled. "We'll ruin his career first. I hope it doesn't come to that. Desperate men take desperate actions. Hopefully, he behaves like a smart boy."

"People still think you're dating a married woman."

"I'm not concerned. We'll stay out of the limelight for a while."

"Are you still dating then?" Jimmy asked.

"Yes."

"No."

Jimmy laughed. "Not on the same page. I think you make a nice couple. Why not put on the cross and kiss?"

"No. I don't want to be controlled by a man."

Jimmy laughed. "A good relationship is a partnership, a compromise, but a smart husband lets his wife call the shots."

Kasper never thought Jimmy would say those words, but they didn't sound awful if it meant sharing his life with Dani.

"It works for you, but I have carried a man on my back for years. If our meeting worked, I'll finally be free." She took off the ring and handed it to Kasper.

He took the piece of jewelry and tucked it safely in his breast pocket, the same place the broken cross had been when Dani kissed him.

In the pit of his stomach, he knew she wanted to end their fledgling relationship. As soon as the car reached their building, Dani darted inside and disappeared in the restroom off the lobby. Instead of waiting for her like a creep, he stepped over to the elevator.

Dani kept her head down the rest of the afternoon, so Kasper slipped into Baxter's office without her noticing him. "What is she working on?"

Baxter shrugged. "Nothing specific. Are the slides ready?"

Kasper nodded. "She should be in here. It was a joint effort."

Baxter stepped to his door. "Dani, would you come in?"

Kasper sat in the chair across from Baxter's desk forcing a formal meeting. Dani sat next to him with her laptop.

Baxter cleared his throat. "Was your meeting successful?"

"Hard to tell. Dani should continue to stay at the house."

"I agree, better to be safe than sorry."

"I want to go home." Dani complained.

Baxter said, "Let's see if he's a good listener first." Dani frowned, but didn't argue with her boss.

"I thought we are meeting about the board meeting." Kasper changed the painful subject.

"We are."

Baxter reviewed each slide and asked questions. Kasper explained the numbers while Dani sat disengaged. "You did an excellent job. We don't need to work this weekend, but I expect to see you both at the tree trimming."

It had become an annual event since Baxter and Ivy's first Christmas together. "I can't wait."

"I'm not sure." Dani looked at her hands.

"Please stay at the house through the weekend and come enjoy friends and family."

"Your family."

Baxter shook his head. "You are a part of the family and have been longer than Ivy."

"I'll see how I feel."

Kasper narrowed his gaze. "Do you have a migraine?"

She shook her head. Baxter smiled. "It's been a long day. You two should take off. I'm heading out since I didn't have time to play last night."

Kasper came close to inviting himself over, but he feared if he gave Dani an inch she would take a mile. He would play with the twins at the party. "Sounds good to me."

Baxter stood. "Come on. We'll share the car."

Kasper waited for the shoe to drop.

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