Kasper looked out his office window. Snowflakes were falling, but he didn't feel the excitement. He wasn't a kid hoping for a snow day. Even if the roads were unpassable, he could work from home. Lately, all he did was work. The first episode of his show was airing, and he didn't feel excited.

Since the board approved his idea, he had been busy working with Jimmy's team. It was his first day at his Kane office in weeks. Seeing Dani as he stepped off the elevator hadn't hurt less, although she looked surprised to see him. Out of sight out of mind may have worked for her but not for him.

Turning to Baxter's voice, he watched his brother watch him. "Is there a problem? Will you be ready for the launch?"

"That's our goal. What's happening with the list of buildings?"

"Ted took some. A few are on the market. It's a process. The nanny is watching the boys tonight. Ivy wants to watch you together like always."

"The babies?"

"Beck sleeps anywhere. We're meeting at Tate and Jimmy's."

He didn't ask about Dani, and he doubted she would come. Her avoidance skills had been very good since she returned to her apartment. At the Kane Property's holiday party, she was too busy 'working' to dance with him. Kasper looked for her, but Ivy told him she had already left. She moved out the next morning while Kasper was working out.

Message received loud and clear. Ms. Independent wanted nothing to do with him. As reality set in, his heart took a beating. Damn broken cross meant he was the only Kane not loved.

"Kasper, what's wrong with you?"

"Huh? Just preoccupied. I'm not sure I want to watch. Maybe it will be fun to see April."

"What was her problem?"

Kasper touched his head. "Thick. Very thick."

Baxter shook his head. "I'm glad you came home early. I'll see you later. Have some fun. You're turning into the old me."

"I'm not a prick."

"Right. You let spiders out."

"They are living creatures."

Teasing with his brother should have lifted his spirits. Frustrated and tired, he went home to change before he walked to Jimmy's house.

The house was quiet, not even Percy greeted him. After putting on jeans and a sweater, he went to the parlor for a drink. Philip stopped in the doorway. "You're home early."

"I needed a break. Where's mother?"

"At a dinner. I was on my way out."

"Oh. Okay."

Philip took two steps and turned back. "Kasper, you don't seem very happy. I thought you wanted this new project."

"I do. Work isn't the problem." It was saving him.

Philip went to the cart and poured some scotch. "I'm a good listener."

"Did the cross break for anyone else?"

"It's not broken. Your siblings are proof. Is this about your show on television tonight?"

"You know about that."

Philip chuckled. "I know about a lot of things."

"No. It's not that. Maybe it was the type of kiss."

"Type?"

"Not romantic. She kissed me like a friend, but on the lips. The broken part is that I'm in love and she doesn't even want to be friends."

Philip cleared his throat. "It has always been two-sided. Look at Jimmy."

"Well, I'm destined to have the only Kane cross heartache."

"Unfortunately, that's not true. Tate had one for years. Doyle did too when she came home after her attack."

"But the cross prevailed."

"Maybe it will for you too. The cross has broken plenty of hearts. In my day, pedigree and social standing determined appropriate spouses, not the cross."

"Meaning if you kissed someone like Ivy, you wouldn't have married her."

"Exactly."

"Good thing you kissed mother."

His face contorted. "I was in my thirties when I met your mother."

Kasper's jaw dropped. "Did you love someone else? How did you get over her?"

"Some things you never get over. I am telling you so you know it's possible to marry someone else and have a full life. Open yourself to someone who you can love enough."

"I want more than enough. Maybe I'll just focus on my career and being an uncle. Does mother know she isn't your one?"

"Your mother is happy, please don't mention it to her."

"I can't believe this." His father had told him before, but Kasper hadn't understood, not until he faced a life without his true love.

Philip looked at his watch. "I'm meeting a friend. Enjoy yourself tonight."

He watched as the older man walked away. The feeling that he didn't know his father overpowered Kasper. The memory of Doyle's text sat uneasy in his mind.

On the sidewalk, his boots left prints in the snow. The frosty air stung his nose, but the walk was brief. Charles greeted him with his stoic warmth. After he took off his boots, he followed the voices.

"The star is here," Gray teased.

Jimmy chuckled. "Drink?"

"Make it a double."

"Bad day?" Doyle stood and hugged him. He put his arm around her.

"I miss you now you're a mother."

She frowned. "It's your work schedule. You work more than Jimmy these days."

He shrugged. "I had an interesting talk with Dad. Did you know Mother isn't his true love?"

Doyle nodded. "He told me."

Tate stood behind him. "Me too. Baxter knows too."

"Why am I the last to know?"

Tate rubbed his shoulder. "Because you never wore the cross."

"Thankfully! He wanted to wear it with squeaky."

Feeling defensive, he said, "You were going to wear it for a rocker."

Tate said, "But she didn't. The best thing is none of us planned it. Baxter forgot he had it. I never planned to kiss Jimmy back then. And Doyle wore it when Gray saved her."

The conversation depressed him. Gray walked over and held out his son. "Say hi to Uncle Kasper."

Kasper took the big baby in his arms. Doyle asked, "How's your project going?"

"Good. Dad gave me Sue Ellen as my assistant."

"Is he finally retiring?"

"No, Eleanor from legal is going to work part time for him."

Doyle exclaimed, "Eleanor! Really?"

"It's no big deal. Legal will hire a new admin assistant. Apparently, Eleanor wants to semi-retire."

"That's convenient."

Tate said, "Baxter's here. Now Ivy is late too."

Ivy put her hands up. "Blame two little boys, not Baxter."

Kasper groaned. "It hasn't started yet. Where's the TV?"

"In the TV room." Jimmy's serious face made others laugh.

As they watched, they passed the two babies around. Doyle held Mattie while Ivy held Beck. Then Jimmy held his nephew, and he made a fuss about his size. When Gray held his son, Beck looked tiny in his powerful arms.

Kasper watched as April had a conversation with a handsome contestant. He rolled his eyes when he said he was an engineer. She bounced excitedly and asked if he liked working on a train.

Doyle exclaimed, "If you brought her home, I would have killed you!"

Kasper chuckled. "I told you." At a glimpse of him on the screen, he wondered if Dani was watching. He had his beard so long his clean-shaven face looked familiar, yet foreign.

The show ended with little fanfare. He enjoyed his family, but would rather not watch April. There were three more episodes before his exit.

Jimmy pulled him aside to talk about the app developer. The firm they went with had a great reputation. Harris Kaplan Applications came back with a competitive price and guaranteed turnaround. Tony acted as liaison, but Kasper had spoken to Kaplan and had full confidence.

"They're ready to show us markups. They want a Zoom meeting in the next few days."

"Zoom?"

"They are one of those companies with employees working from home."

Kasper chuckled. "How ironic." Part of him wouldn't mind not being tortured at the office every day. Again, he wondered if Dani watched the episode. Did she miss him at all?

When he and Jimmy finished Doyle had left. He never asked about her weird text message. It was a puzzle with missing pieces.

He walked home, and the warm house greeted him. His butler did the actual greeting. "You looked handsome on TV."

He chuckled and wondered if Percy watched from his room in the basement. "Who is still out?"

"Your mother is home and your father's car just arrived."

Kasper stood by as the door opened to let in cold air. Philip entered with a chuckle. "Smells like snow. How was your debut?"

"Fine. It was a mistake to sign on a second time."

Percy cleared his throat. "If you ask me, sir, you should be on Jeopardy. You are very smart."

"Thanks, but I'll stick to my business project." He chuckled as he went up the stairs. He could visualize Percy watching the famous game show.

Feeling restless, Kasper went to see Doyle on Saturday morning after another week of Dani being out of reach. Because of her past, he could never impinge on her privacy.

Doyle sighed when she looked at him. "Seriously, Kasp if you are that unhappy just quit. Bax expects you to."

He shook his head and looked around. "I don't want to quit. Where's Gray?"

"He's out of town for a few days."

"Story research?"

"Something like that, but we were talking about you."

"Where's Beck?"

"Napping. What's the deal with you and work? You've lost your goofy smile."

"Goofy?"

"Crooked. Women think it's hot. Because I've known you since conception, I think it's goofy. Maybe you need a fling. Too bad April is so dense."

"No thanks. I need a woman who challenges me. This whole dad thing threw me."

"If you ever fall in love, you'll understand. I could have been him, heartbroken without Gray, but he trusted the cross and supported me and Gray. He'll accept anyone you choose."

Kasper ignored her. He had his mother on his side, if only Dani were. "He's changed. Hanging out with the twins."

"He comes over to see Beck too."

Kasper felt his heart race. Because of his photographic memory, he could see the notification on their father's phone. "Doy, remember when I took care of the twins?"

"I thought Dani did."

He laughed, but didn't want to speak ill of Dani. It bothered him that she and Doyle were more acquaintances than friends. Dani had been one of Baxter's spies. Then there was Gray, although the trip to the hospital had been a turning point.

"I was hands-on, but something has bothered me."

"It's good you got along with Dani, especially when she needed your help. She's a loyal employee and friend to Tate."

She's so much more. He sighed. "We used to be on the same wavelength. I'm talking about dad, and him babysitting with Eleanor."

"Oh." She bit her lip, one of her habits when she felt pressure. "She's been good to Ivy."

He nodded. "Yeah, but you texted dad I was on my way, like a warning. You knew he would be there with the secretary."

"It was months ago. I don't remember like you. Remember my brain is like a sieve."

"It's not. You put yourself down to deflect. What am I missing?"

"Kasp, I was recovering from surgery and hadn't slept. Just drop it."

"What's it?"

She sighed. "Whatever you are trying to get at."

"He was out later than me last night."

Doyle shrugged. "So. He has changed since his health scare."

Kasper dropped it, but not for good. He liked puzzles.

Thanks for voting ⭐️