Kasper ran his fingers through his hair. Somehow after the amazing sex, he was back to square one. The brazen act had been incredible. Unfortunately, the minute he pulled out, she started. Mistake. Never again.

He had argued, and she declared, "We want different things."

Kasper threw up his hands. "I just want to be with you. The rest doesn't matter."

She put up her ice wall and Kasper felt like he kicked himself in the groin. One more memory to hold on to or wish he could forget depending on his mood.

If only she saw them as a team, but her hard earned independence controlled her. Ironically, she still wasn't free.

Two weeks later still back at square one, he stepped out of his office and looked at Dani's desk. Her monitor was flashing her screensaver, but she wasn't sitting there. Baxter's door was closed, so he wondered what the two of them were holed up working on.

Sighing, he walked across the floor to his father's office. Even living in the same house, they hardly saw each other. His father's door was also closed. His new assistant wasn't at her desk either. He wrinkled his brow. Was that laughing? Nothing felt right anymore, so he and his dismay packed up early and left the office.

His most depressing option was to go home. With Baxter still working, he decided to let the twins cheer him up.

Ivy's smile quickly turned to a frown when she ushered him in. "What's wrong?"

"Everything. Nothing. I don't know."

The boys were at his feet begging him to play. He smiled at them. "I came to play." He picked them both up. "Oof. You've grown."

It had only been a week or two since he last saw them, but he expected them to be as light as they had been when he watched them. Only the pleasant memories stayed with him. The day at the park with Dani. Bathtime with Dani. Meals shared with her.

"Why are you frowning? You'll scare them."

He shrugged. "Did you know you loved Baxter right away?"

Ivy laughed. "Not the question I expected. Yes, and no. I had a strong desire for him, but didn't define it as love. I tried to forget him for a long time."

"Why?"

She chuckled. "He's Baxter Kane, and I was a poor girl. It was intimidating. Why the questions?"

Kasper ignored her question as he sat on the floor banging on a toy drum while the boys sang and danced. Ivy laughed as she moved around the kitchen.

"Uncle Kasper, come sit with me."

She had poured two glasses of wine and laid out a tray of cheese and crackers. The boys didn't protest when he stood. They were busy entertaining each other. He and Doyle never needed playmates. Maybe he was out of sorts because she had moved on leaving him behind. Perhaps if he hadn't had the cross in his pocket that day.

"How's your business venture?"

"It's good. The app is in the testing phase. We have the branding done and the commercials are in production. Metro Boston is our first test market, but we're setting up properties in other markets."

"You will do better in the suburbs than the cities. People don't like to commute."

"You're right. I need to target more locations. Why didn't I think of that?"

"Because you live in the city and use a driver."

He cleared his throat. "The boys are having fun."

She smiled. "I didn't pour adult beverages to talk about my sons. I'm worried about you."

"Me?"

"You haven't been yourself since you quit on the show, although you were smart since April was no prize."

The family had stopped their watch parties since he wasn't in the episodes. He still had to go to LA for the airing of the last show. He wished Dani would be by his side.

"You are frowning. Trust me. I can keep secrets."

"From my brother?"

She smiled and nodded. "Yes, even from Baxter."

"You changed him."

"Maybe his priorities." She waved her hand. "I want to talk about you. What are your priorities?" He shrugged. "Kids? Marriage?"

"Not necessarily." He wanted Dani or no one. He couldn't imagine marrying a woman he would never love.

She bit her upper lip and looked at him. "Something's going on with you. You have been happy, but then you act miserable, like today."

"I'm not miserable."

"You were happier when that guy was after Dani. Are you trying to be a superhero like Gray?"

"I, um, we all want her to be safe."

"Is she?"

He shrugged. "Jimmy and Gray think so. The jerk has stayed away."

Ivy looked at her watch. "Your dad might stop by to see the boys."

"When I left he was in his office. I swear I heard him laughing."

"He laughs."

"I know, but not at work." Kasper was working on permanent forehead lines.

Ivy brushed him off so quickly she looked suspicious. Once again, the unanswered questions came back to him.

"I'll make a deal. You answer all of my questions and then I'll tell you the truth about me."

"What questions?"

How to start? "Dad surprised me when he babysat with your friend, Eleanor. His new assistant."

"She was his assistant before. A long time ago."

His eyes narrowed. "Before my mother?"

She shrugged. It was the questions no one would answer that bothered him.

He tried again. "I saw a text from Doyle that night to my father. Why would Doyle want him to know I was on my way back?"

"So he would know Mac was available."

Kasper's memory was his greatest asset. He shook his head slowly. "Gray drove me. Does he visit often with his former, now new assistant."

Ivy stood and looked at the boys playing. "Clean up the blocks."

The boys did as asked and their mother's avoidance impressed him. "The deal was you answer my questions." He liked puzzles and her nonanswers were pieces of the complex challenge. "Is she coming with him tonight?"

"Your mother has an engagement tonight."

"So my dad is free to spend time with his grandsons, but is Eleanor coming too?"

Ivy's face was flushed. "One at a time over there."

"You aren't holding up your end. So I guess you don't care about me." Her jaw dropped, but he waved her off. "I'll ask one more question. My father was young when he kissed his true love. A woman not suited to be a Kane. He was also young when he had your friend as his assistant. It makes sense that they fell in love with the help of the cross. My question is has he always been seeing her on the side or just recently?"

"No."

He laughed. "It was not a yes or no question. How long has my father been seeing your friend? I know you, Baxter, and Doyle know. Does Tate?"

"No."

"So Tate doesn't know. Why doesn't it bother you and Baxter?" As he said it, he knew he wouldn't turn down any chance to be with Dani.

"The cross is powerful. It could have been us if Baxter didn't stand up to your mother."

"And my father supported Gray, because he understood. Well, the good and bad news is that it doesn't matter anymore. Jamie and Jonny are free of the cross."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because it's broken."

She laughed. "How can it have broken?"

"It doesn't work both ways."

She sat down across from him. "What? How do you know?" He shrugged. "I answered your questions."

He laughed, causing the boys to run to them. Ivy gave them each a cracker. "You didn't answer any of them. I figured it out."

"If not me, who are you going to share with? When did you wear the cross?"

"Both times I went I tried to win a bride."

"You love squeaky! How could you?"

"No. I didn't fall for either. That's when I thought it really broke. Then I realized someone kissed me when it was in my pocket before I went to meet Mariah." Squeaky.

"Someone?"

"It wasn't a romantic kiss."

"But that was before the twins."

He nodded. "You were pregnant. The feelings didn't hit me like a two by four, but I know I am in love."

Ivy's eyes opened wide. "Is it a woman?"

He glared. "Yes. It's a woman."

"How can she not love you?"

"I know. Women around the world want this." He frowned as sadness descended on him. "But she doesn't want me."

"Do I know her?"

"It doesn't matter. That's the reason I feel, whatever I feel."

"You feel sad and lost. I felt all those things after Aspen. Does she know you love her?"

"No! That would be as embarrassing as standing on Beacon Street naked."

Ivy laughed. "Only the arrest would be embarrassing. I'm sure the ladies would love it. I'm imagining the traffic jam."

"You aren't helping."

"I want to help. Tell me who it is. Do I know her?"

He stood. "I came to play."

She laughed. "I think you should tell her. Maybe she's afraid like I was. Your family is intimidating to an outsider."

Ironically, she wasn't an outsider. Her fear had more to do with losing her independence. He would never control her, but she was too stubborn to see it.

The doorbell rang, and Ivy froze like a deer in the headlights. He shrugged. "I'll answer it. We'll pretend you didn't tell me."

"I didn't. She has a key."

Kasper turned towards footsteps on the stairs. His father had his hand on another woman's waist. He stopped short and put his hand behind his back. "Kasper. This is a surprise."

He shrugged. "I stopped by to see you, but you were laughing in your office. So I came to play with the twins." The boys ran to greet the two guests and drowned out his pointed explanation.

Eleanor picked up Jonny. "Do you have a kiss for Ellie?" The boy gave her a hug. She smiled. "Kasper, it's always nice to see you. How's Sue Ellen working out?"

"Fine. Good. I didn't know you visited so often with my father."

Philip cleared his throat. "Kasper, let's go get a drink."

Kasper felt like a boy being sent to his room as he followed his father to the wet bar in the dining room. Philip poured and handed him a glass. The older man watched as he took a sip. "There are a lot of things that my children have never been privy to."

"Like you cheating on our mother. How long has it been going on?"

"I fell in love with Ellie long before I met your mother. I was a weaker man than your brother. We each married, but after some time we saw each other occasionally. The love of the cross is hard to ignore."

"Don't I know it, but you are hurting my mother."

"After my heart attack, I faced my mortality and let's just say your mother turns a blind eye to keep me as her husband."

"She lets you carry on without caring."

He looked down. "She cares. Sometimes more than others. Appearances are everything, so I have promised my discretion."

"Does she know about your new assistant?"

"She does. In exchange, I spend more evenings at home."

"But not tonight."

"She's out this evening. It's imperative she doesn't know we visit the twins together for Ivy's sake."

"Doyle knows. I never understood why she warned you I was on my way back."

Philip nodded. "I feared you suspected that night."

"It's unsettling. Do you even love mother?"

"Yes. She's my wife, but once the cross worked its magic all other love is second place. I wanted my children to find happiness with their true love. Only you are left."

"Well, don't hold your breath. She doesn't want me." He drowned his glass. "Tell Ivy I had to go."

"Son." The emotion in his voice caused Kasper to turn back. "I know this is hard, but your mother never wanted you children to know."

"Does everyone know but me?"

"Tate doesn't know about Eleanor. Please don't."

It would be so easy to hurt him, but he could never hurt Tate. She was close to Eleanor. "Did you know Mother told me the cross was fake?"

He shook his head. "It doesn't surprise me."

"It might not be fake, but it's broken. Lock it up, so I'm the last broken heart."

Philip sighed. "Maybe you should wear it and try kissing her again."

Kasper shrugged. "I really have to go."

Kasper stepped outside and the cold air hit his cheeks. He could easily walk to Sinclairs, but he walked home. Reaching into his pocket, he touched his phone. He was an Uber away from Dani, but she wouldn't comfort him the way he needed, because she didn't love him. One person did. He pulled out his phone.

"Hey Doy, can we talk?"

I think this is rock bottom. So now he knows. Why Philip and Ellie? It made Philip accept each couple. I know many struggled with the morality of this part of the story.

This scene with Ivy is important. She was knows how intimidating the Kane name is. She gave good advice. It reminds me of Katie and Trey's lunch.

Thanks for voting ⭐️