Dani needed some fresh air. The executive floor felt small with Kasper around every corner. Laughter flowed from the open door of his office. He and Sue Ellen were having fun. She was older than him, but the divorcee could be a cougar. He would move on, even when he looked at her with puppy dog eyes.

Dani had turned down the invitations to watch Kasper's show with the family and had cried when he kissed the dumb girl. His lips on hers were a mixture of precious and painful memories. Independence shouldn't mean alone, but Dani felt lonely.

The episode the night before Kasper had been sent home from the island. Dani remembered a lump in her throat when Kasper stepped onto the plane, tanned and relaxed. Everything changed after his return and not just his dedication to Kane Properties.

Sighing, she stood up from her desk. Baxter had been on the phone all afternoon. "Donna, I'm stepping out. If Mr. Kane needs something, please help or let him know I'll be back in fifteen minutes."

She grabbed her coat and walked to the elevator as laughter continued to spill out of Kasper's office.

Once she reached the sidewalk, she zipped her coat up to her chin to keep the cold out. Thankfully, the sidewalk was clear of snow and slush since her boots were more fashionable than practical. As she stepped into Starbucks, warm air enveloped her causing her cold cheeks to tingle.

Dani sipped her mocha latte, an indulgence, as she stepped into the cold again. Briskly she walked down the block and around the corner. Ahead of her stood Baxter's driver, Carlson, next to the sedan. He didn't have a meeting. Maybe Philip was in the building.

Just as she neared the building, Dani jumped back. Beau stood smiling on the sidewalk in front of her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Where's your rich boyfriend? Did he find out you're cold and dump you?"

"Good thing you're free to have a hot girl since I'm so cold."

"When will you accept fate? You are mine. I'm a doctor just like we planned. You can entertain my friends and raise our kids."

Her maniacal laugh startled herself. "I'm never having a child."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Carlson look her way. Calming herself with a deep breath, she reminded herself Beau wouldn't try anything on a city sidewalk, but there was no foot traffic.

"I spoke to Leon. Do you know I have the authority to not renew his lease?"

"He wants to retire."

"Bullshit. The restaurant is his life."

"Our kids will replace it. We can return to Kentucky to raise them with good southern values."

"I'd rather have a noose around my neck." He had his phone out. "The hospital needs you?"

He shook his head and reached for her. "Our car is here."

"Not mine." She tried to pull away from his grip as he pulled her toward the car. Through clenched teeth, she hissed, "You'll lose your position at the hospital."

"Bluffs. All of them."

The Uber driver looked over his shoulder. "You okay?"

"No! I'm not going with him."

Beau laughed. "She's just a tease."

Desperately, wishing for Tate's skills, she stamped on his foot at the same time she splashed her latte in his face. He let go, and she ran.

Panting, she hit a wall, a very familiar scented wall. "Get inside," he demanded, sounding like his brother.

She froze as he sprinted to Beau, but the creep's car drove away before Kasper reached it.

When he walked back towards her, the twisted torment on his face frightened her. His face softened when he reached her. Thrusting his hand out, he caressed her cheek. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. I handled him on my own."

"I saw. The coffee was a great move."

He took her elbow and guided her to the building. Neither spoke as they stepped onto the elevator. Once the car reached the twentieth floor, Kasper continued to prod her into his office. "Sue Ellen, cancel with Adam Kaplan. Tell him I had a family emergency."

Once inside his office, she spun around. "I'm not your family."

He scoffed. "My mother disagrees. What the hell did he want?"

"Me, babies, happily ever after in Kentucky."

Kasper frowned. "He should know you don't want any of that. I need to call Jimmy and Gray."

"I won't be anyone's prisoner again. I handled him."

Kasper's frown straightened out slightly. "This time. What if you didn't have coffee?"

"The Uber guy would have called the cops."

"You need a restraining order against him." He lifted his desk phone. "Get me Gray Hoffman."

Sue Ellen said, "Baxter is here."

"Send him in."

"No!" Baxter was her boss, he didn't need to be involved in her soap opera.

Baxter walked in to see her and Kasper facing off. She stood with her hands on her hips, while Kasper looked gorgeous with his legs spread in a dominating stance.

"What's going on? Donna said Kasper pushed you into his office."

"Nothing!"

Kasper didn't take his eyes off hers. "The jerk was on the sidewalk. He tried to pull her in a car."

"It's a good thing you were there to stop him." Baxter relaxed his shoulders.

"I wasn't. She'd make Tate proud."

Sue Ellen called through the door. "Your call in on the line." Dani would never have yelled.

Kasper put his phone on speaker. "Gray, the guy went after Dani on the street."

"Is she okay?"

"I'm fine." She huffed out a long breath. Her anger with Kasper kept her from falling apart.

Kasper said, "She needs a restraining order."

"I'll take her myself. Did you tell Jimmy?"

Dani spoke up. "He doesn't need to know."

The brothers countered simultaneously. "Yes, he does."

"Isn't the restraining order enough?"

"No. Jimmy and I should visit the hospital. It's up to you what you want to do about the uncle's lease."

Kasper looked at her. "He's a good guy?"

She nodded slowly. "The best."

"Maybe he deserves a visit from his property owner to talk some sense into him."

"Who?" Dani felt her armpits sweat. She'd be lucky if she didn't end up with a migraine.

"I'll go. Baxter has a family. You have a family too. Wouldn't you like to visit?"

"I, um, I don't know."

Gray said, "It's safe with him in Boston. We'll arrange a warning not a career-ending complaint. You see your family and talk to the uncle. With the restraining order, it should put an end to it."

"If it doesn't, then he's dumber than the girl Kasper tried to fall for." Baxter's attempt to inject humor fell flat.

After watching Kasper on TV, Dani knew he would find a woman worthy of him and settle down. She would see them together. Her belly dipped like riding downhill on a back road but not back up.

Kasper stood taller. "I'll stop by to meet Mr. Hughes."

"Don't you dare! I guess I'll have to go babysit you."

He smiled. "You know I'm the better babysitter."

Baxter smiled, but Dani wanted to hit cocky Kasper. He did a one-eighty from the sidewalk.

"I'll have Sue Ellen make a reservation."

Dani's back straightened. "I'm not staying over in a fleabag hotel. We go for the day."

He held up his hands. "Fine." He stepped outside. "Did you reschedule with Adam?"

"Tomorrow at ten. Tony confirmed," His assistant replied.

"I can go the day after."

"Good. Tomorrow we get the restraining order. While you're out of town, Jimmy and I will visit the douchebag's employer."

Dani had forgotten Gray was on speakerphone. "I can handle this without anyone's help."

Baxter barked, "No, you can't."

Her boss also insisted she ride home with them. When the car stopped at her building Kasper got out. "What are you doing?"

"Making sure it's safe." He frowned.

"My building is secure. Goodbye."

Once inside her apartment, she sunk into her couch. Closing her eyes, she shuttered. Kasper in Kentucky. She felt embarrassed by her small town roots. For years, she had made herself into a sophisticated professional. Kasper couldn't meet her unemployed father or see her house, but he would insist on it. Then Darlene would show up and ask for money. She cringed. Beau's confrontation shook her less than Kasper learning her secrets.

When she stepped onto the plane her heart stopped. He stuck out like a sore thumb in his suit, but so would she in hers. The difference was she was returning as somebody.

"Did the restraining order go okay?"

She nodded. "Let's skip this trip."

Kasper frowned. "You've been running for years. It's time to go home."

She shook her head. "Remember the tannery?"

"Disgusting. Hard to forget."

"You'll feel the same about our destination today."

"You forget I've traveled around the world. I wasn't sheltered. I made friends with people from diverse backgrounds."

It wasn't the same. Deep inside it would hurt if Kasper stopped liking her. A dichotomy. Dani wanted him to like her, but she couldn't be with him.

As if reading her mine, he said, "At least you can't ignore me today."

She signed. "Watch me."

When he laughed, she felt nauseous. Hopefully, she wouldn't vomit during takeoff.

So Beau came back. Thanks for pressing the ⭐️