A/N lots of thought were shared about Dani. Has anyone picked up on the meeting Kasper canceled and the company they are working with?

Kasper hoped going home would change Dani. Maybe seeing her family would give her a new perspective. She had been alone for so long, but she didn't need to be. Learning about the asswipe had given Kasper a better understanding of the woman he loved. Her casual dating made sense. Hopefully, getting Beau out of her life would help her want to lean on Kasper.

His heart sang as she stepped onto the plane, he honestly didn't know if she would show up. He sent Carlson to get her and took an Uber himself. Did she expect him in the car? He was the one playing games.

Kasper laughed when she challenged him. She could try to ignore him, but distance was key. He wouldn't give her the distance she required to resist his charm.

Once in the air, she took out her laptop. Kasper had work to do too. He needed to choose an ad campaign. Other than sponsorships, Kane had never had to advertise before. Every advertising agency from New York to Boston wanted to win the account. He and Sue Ellen couldn't stop laughing at the pitches.

"Will you help me pick an ad agency? There are some good options."

She looked at him blankly. Maybe she should try the island. Except her tell would give her away. Slowly nodding, she didn't say a word when he moved next to her.

Dani smelled so good he wanted to bury his face in her hair. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath. Focus. "I'll start with the serious ones."

She stayed silent as he showed her the storyboard concepts. Then he pulled up the more comical ones. The last was chaos in a home to highlight the need for office space.

She chuckled but didn't laugh like he had. "The twins could star in that one."

He laughed. "Sue Ellen said the same thing." Sighing, he said, "I like the fun ones, but I'm not sure."

When she bit her lip, he wanted to suck on it. It took all his concentration to stop staring. "What did Jimmy say?"

"I haven't shown him yet. I value your opinion."

She returned his gaze. "Why not both? Start serious and add some fun ones. It could be a series. I like those."

He smiled. "Not a bad idea. We make a good team." She almost smiled. "You can pretend you don't agree, but we're pretty great professionally and even better intimately, before you dumped me."

"Dumped. We didn't have anything to dump."

He hid his pain. "Sweetheart, I disagree."

She stood putting distance between them. "Why are we even making this trip?"

"I wanted to talk to your old boss."

"Right, you want to see my past. The girl who lived in that town no longer exists."

He smiled. "I agree. She's now a confident woman. A beautiful woman who is sexy as hell."

She turned her back, but not before he saw her blush.

"Let's stick to Kane business."

"Too late. This trip is personal. Helping you stay safe from your ex is personal. So many people care about you. It's okay to let us. It won't make you any less kick-ass in business. Is Tate weaker since she married Jimmy? No, they complement each other."

"I'm not marrying anyone."

"Believe me, I know. You gave my ring back."

She frowned. "Stop joking about that."

"Sweetheart, I have never joked about it." He cleared his throat, before he pledged his love to her. She couldn't run far, but it would spook her.

The plane landed at a small regional airfield. Kasper arranged for a rental car, but not a driver. He didn't want to draw too much attention. Looking around as they drove into town they should have worn jeans and work boots. There was no way they wouldn't stick out.

Dani looked around but her expression was unreadable. "Has a lot changed?"

"Actually, no. It looks worse than I remember."

He followed the GPS to the strip mall. It could use some sprucing up. The lot in front of the supermarket had the most cars. At least, they leased all the spaces. Dani pointed to the restaurant.

"I'm hungry. Should we eat?"

He parked the car. When he stood, he shrugged out of his suit coat and took off his tie. He wore a dark gray shirt and black pants. She watched him, but didn't dress down herself.

The bell rang over the door, and the scent of bacon greeted Kasper. When Dani looked around, it was the first time she looked nostalgic. A tall man with gray hair approached and froze.

"Oh Lord, can it be? Darlin' you look like your momma."

"Hello, Leon."

"Danielle Hughes, my best waitress. No one worked harder than you."

Kasper watched the pink creep into her cheeks, as she pulled back her shoulders. "Can we have a table?"

When the man turned toward him, Kasper stepped forward and extended his hand. "Sit with us a moment."

Danielle glared at Kasper. "Leon is always very busy."

"I'll bring out your food and visit then."

They slid into a booth and Kasper felt the chill from across the table. "I plan to give him the respect he deserves. If he sides with his nephew, he won't deserve any."

Dani looked around and shivered when her eyes reached the back booth. Kasper put his hand on hers, but she pulled hers away like he was fire. "I shouldn't have come."

"What did he do back there?"

She sighed. "He watched me my entire shift. If I was nice to male customers, he would get angry, but..."

"You worked for tips."

Her shoulders slumped as a young girl approached the table.

"Coffee, please." Kasper looked at Dani who held up two fingers. He watched the girl wearing jeans and an apron walk away. "Did you tell your family you're in town?"

"No. I can go by the house while you explore downtown."

"From the looks of it, It would only take ten minutes. Unlike my brother, I've been to a supermarket."

Dani cracked a small smile. "You'll... I'll feel awkward."

"Sweetheart, you already dumped me, so why do you care if your family doesn't make a good impression? You don't need to impress me."

"Coffee. Ya'll ready to order."

Kasper ordered breakfast while Danielle shook her head. "Did you eat already?"

"I had yogurt. I'm fine."

"Are there any foods you miss?"

She frowned. "Not really. It's all unhealthy."

Kasper didn't challenge her. Since Beau appeared in Boston, he understood how she had written off her roots and embraced Boston. Even her accent had faded so she fit in. Amelia forced her children to speak like news anchors without a dialect. They didn't sound like pseudo-Brit Bostonians, nor did they drop their Rs for an Ah. Chowder was not chow-dah in the Kane home, unless MacIntyre came inside. Jimmy's butler sounded very Bostonian.

Neither spoke as they waited for their food. Finally, he broke the silence. "Fifty for your thoughts."

She smirked. "With inflation it's fifty cents now?"

"I meant fifty dollars, your thoughts are more valuable."

"Why's that?"

"Because I care. This used to be your home. For a long time, you couldn't return if you wanted to."

She cleared her throat. "I would have occasionally. A vacation every year or maybe a long weekend."

He smiled. "Too bad you dumped me. We could visit by flying in and out the same day."

"My sister thinks I'm rich. For the record, I couldn't dump you because we were pretending to date."

"It felt real to me, especially..."

"I never should have slept with you."

"I disagree, but I meant when we went on our dinner date. My food is coming."

Dani looked at his plate. She might be across from him, but her mind was elsewhere."

Kasper took a bite. "This is good."

After Kasper ate most of his breakfast, Leon appeared, and Dani snapped back to the present.

"Sit." Kasper motioned, which forced Dani to move in. The restaurant owner was lanky and not as old as Kasper expected, no more than fifty.

"Danielle called and threatened me. Is that why y'all are here?"

Dani looked at her old boss. "There is no place for compassion in business."

Kasper shook his head. "Some argue it doesn't help the bottom line, but I came to tell you a story." He sipped his coffee. "On a sidewalk in Boston, your nephew tried to force Danielle into a car. She got away which was good, but I witnessed the struggle. When I told your nephew to leave Dani alone and mentioned we can not renew your lease, he did not care. He claimed you want to retire. Seeing you today, you look like a man in his prime."

"Not quite. Beau loves her. He wouldn't hurt her."

"But he did for years and she had to leave her family and live in another city. Unfortunately for him, she is a strong woman with powerful allies. Yesterday she filed a restraining order against him. If he violates it, he'll face the consequences. Today, our friends are briefing the hospital administrator."

Leon ran his hand through his hair. "He worked hard to become a doctor."

"I hope he's smart enough to read the warnings. He'll keep his career, as long as he never contacts Dani again."

Dani added, "He should return to Kentucky. I'm sure the area needs doctors with his training."

Leon frowned. "It's two years."

Kasper waved his hand. "It's a big city as long as he stays away from Dani. Any influence you have would be helpful. You're lucky I have a bigger heart than Ms. Hughes. She enjoys firing people. I like your restaurant, but tell him you could lose it."

"I'll try."

"Keep in mind if he harms her I won't be kind. I'll raze the entire mall."

Dani sat up. "Kasper, the whole town would suffer."

"Not as much as me if he took you."

Leon looked from Kasper to Dani as the two continued to stare. Eventually, Kasper cleared his throat and looked down at his plate.

"I'm glad she has you to look out for her."

"She takes care of herself, but many of us care. This was delicious, but we need to move on." He reached for his wallet.

"It's on me, Mr. Kane. Danielle take care."

The man walked away and Kasper threw a twenty-dollar bill on the table.

Once outside, Dani stood with her hands on her hips. "You are nuts!"

"Only about you, sweetheart." He smiled his signature smile.

She huffed and turned to the car.

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