Dani dressed in slacks and a sweater to work on Saturday. She chose washable garments because of the twins. They were adorable, and the resemblance to Baxter's baby pictures were uncanny with their golden blond hair and hazel eyes.

She arrived promptly at ten, and Ivy opened the door. "Hi, Dani. Go up to the office. I'll let them know you're here."

A loud pitched screech and laughter drew her attention to the stairs. Ivy frowned. "He always winds them up. Come, say hello."

She followed Ivy to the kitchen level. In the corner was a padded, gated play area. In the middle, the two boys were on top of Kasper. Their uncle was tickling them while they attempted to 'fix' him with plastic toy tools.

Baxter stood outside of the play area laughing. "Jamie, screw his head. Jonny, get his nose."

"Stop. You're hurting Uncle Kasper. He needs to work with Daddy. Pick up the tools."

Dani expected them to ignore Ivy's words, but they each stood and threw the tools in a bin while laughing. When Kasper stood up he stretched. Dani couldn't look away as his shirt lifted showing a swarth of abs which included a bit of hip bone as his shorts rode low.

Ivy said, "Kasper, cover the six-pack before I drool."

Baxter glared. "You wouldn't."

Ivy laughed. "No, I'm not one of his trillion fans. I'm his sister. I love his personality, not his sexy abs."

As Kasper adjusted his shorts and tee, Dani couldn't look away. She was one of a billion female fans (males too). She quickly turned when she felt his eyes watching her as she ogled him.

The man irritated her, but not enough to keep her from lusting after him. Her career had taken her to a world unlike the one she grew up in. Kasper achieved his position by his birth. It just wasn't fair for the playboy to stroll in and step over her, no matter how hot his body was.

"Come on. Let's get some work done." Baxter kissed the boy he was holding and put him back in the pen.

Ivy said, "We won't bother you. I'll even make you lunch."

Baxter kissed her check. "Thanks, sweetheart."

Dani still wasn't used to her boss's affection towards Ivy. Baxter was gruffy with high expectations, not mushy. Expectation was just another word for high standards which was Dani's professional motto.

Kasper settled into the plush chair in Baxter's bright office. She sat across from her boss with her laptop resting on the edge of the polished maple desk. At the Kane House, Baxter's desk was made of dark mahogany. The two offices were completely opposite, and Baxter had once complained his former office was not dark enough. Bright and airy was another way he had changed one-hundred-eighty degrees.

Kasper looked around. "It's light and refreshing in here."

Dani said, "I miss the subdued dark decor."

Baxter laughed. "I wanted to be like my father, but now I'm my own man. Kasp, you can take my office, unless you want your own place."

"I'm not in a hurry. Maybe I'll bring my bride to live there."

"I thought you lost on the island." Baxter eyed his brother suspiciously.

"I did. I mean when I find the right girl." He looked at Dani and she quickly averted her eyes.

Why did she feel sour when he mentioned a wife? She was supposed to be competing with him.

Baxter laughed. "She better meet Amelia's standards or your wife will be miserable."

"Your mother loves me." Dani wanted to suck her words up like a vacuum.

Baxter laughed. "She does, but Kasper doesn't."

Kasper frowned. "Why does she like you and not Ivy? Didn't you grow up similarly?"

Dani rolled her eyes. "You don't even deny not liking me." Similar to Ivy? Poorer, more dysfunctional. "Your mother knows I'm committed to the family and Kane Properties."

Kasper laughed. "Ivy was committed enough to grow two males inside of her and birth them."

Baxter looked dreamy. "She's amazing."

"And Dani for the record, I have no issue with you except you have an issue with me. I'm sorry my father gave me the title you want."

Baxter looked sharply at Kasper. "Why do you accuse Danielle of wanting your job?"

"Because she has ambitions beyond being your assistant."

Baxter looked from one to the other and signed. "Danielle, we'll talk privately. We need to get to work."

Her stomach turned as the prodigal brother created issues for her. Surprisingly, Kasper contributed more than Dani expected. He was a whiz with financial reports. It was amazing how he could cut through the numbers and see trends it took Baxter hours of studying to see. She tried not to be impressed, but it was hard to ignore.

Dani felt like the girl with the crayons as they tasked her with making attractive slides. Kasper watched her add color borders and highlight important data.

"You are good at that. It looks extremely professional."

A part of her savored the compliment, although she preferred to be valued for strategic decision making.

Baxter stood. "I'll be back. Don't fight kids."

Kasper laughed. "I'll be nice."

Dani ignored him. She didn't want to think about the last time they were nice to each other. She kissed him. The problem was she wouldn't mind kissing him again.

Baxter returned with a twin in his arms. The pouting boy had tears in his thick lashes.

"What's wrong, Jamie?" Kasper asked.

"How can you tell the difference?" Dani stared at him.

Kasper shrugged. "Jamie's wearing a blue shirt."

Baxter shook his head. "They're easy to tell apart. Their personalities are unique. He wanted the toy Jonny had. Lunch is ready, so we came to get you."

Down one flight to the dining room, Ivy had set the table for lunch with gleaming plates and stemware. Growing up, lunch involved a thin sandwich on a paper napkin. Plates were for dinner and were often paper.

Ivy walked up from the kitchen with a platter of sandwiches. "Panini. There's chicken pesto and chicken bacon ranch. You two get started, we'll be back after we put the boys down for their nap.

She walked up the stairs, and Kasper turned to Dani. "I wonder how long it will take." He walked to the wet bar area. "Do you want a drink?"

"We're working?"

He held up a bottle of Perrier. "Something soft. There's Coke and Diet too."

"The sparkling water is fine. Thank you."

Voices floated down. There was laughter and small giggles. Dani could almost make out Baxter's rhythmic voice. Once again, she never imagined her boss reading story books.

She and Kasper sat without looking at each other. "Should we eat?" His voice forced her to look at him.

He really was beautiful. "Did you climb a tree this time?"

He laughed. "No. I didn't show off."

"Why not?"

"Because it backfired the first time."

"You must be glad. I mean her voice."

Kasper smirked. "I'll admit. The casting was disappointing. Both women were visually attractive, but I couldn't fall in love with either."

"I thought you wanted to win."

He laughed. "I wouldn't win without love."

"Did you love Jupiter?"

He laughed. "Juniper and you are too intelligent to make that mistake."

She shrugged. "You didn't answer my question."

"I have always had a soft spot for the gas giant, Jupiter, but not like Pluto. They took its planet status away and called it a dwarf. I've always loved the underdog."

Dani didn't want to laugh, but she couldn't keep it in. "Did you come up with that on the fly?"

He shrugged. "You've seen me on TV. I like to entertain."

"I'm not your audience."

"Except you always watch me."

"With your family. We like to make fun of you." Deflection worked both ways.

Kasper laughed as she looked away.

"What's going on? I leave you two and you're laughing together." Baxter had a big smile on his face. "I'm glad because I need you both when I go on vacation."

Dani's eyes opened wide. "You never take vacation!"

"I know. That's why I'm taking one."

"You had a honeymoon." Kasper teased.

"Three years ago." Ivy laughed.

Kasper looked from Ivy to Baxter. "Where are you going? Disney World?"

"No, the boys are too young. Ivy and I are going on a Trista Trip."

"A what?" Kasper frowned.

"A trip to Japan which includes cooking lessons like the ones Trista Montgomery had."

Danielle looked at Baxter like he had two heads. "That's really a thing?"

"It's new according to Josh Roche, Trista sold the rights to use her name, but she requires the experiences to meet certain criteria."

"So you won't be meeting her?" The mystery woman intrigued Dani.

"No. Obviously not."

Kasper looked at Ivy. "What about the boys?"

"They'll be fine with Dolores." Their nanny. "She's amazing. We planned it so we'll leave after baby girl Sinclair is born and be back before Doyle's c-section." Baxter winked. "Baby boy Kane-Hoffman."

Kasper laughed. "I love Doy, but the poor kid."

"It's not uncommon." Dani wasn't attached to her last name, but she understood why Doyle was. Hoffman was not Sinclair.

Baxter set the tone after lunch and they worked together focused on business. When they finished, Kasper went to find his nephews and Baxter shut the door to his office.

"Danielle, I don't know if Kasper is teasing you or if you are unhappy, but I value you more than any other employee. I trust you completely and need you to watch my brother. Don't let him mess up and let me know if he does. I will give you projects with more responsibility, but you are to work together. Meanwhile, I still need you. You're my right hand in the office."

He was a lefty, his one flaw, so his right hand needed her. The prospect of working with Kasper left her uneasy. Before she could question, he handed her a scrap of paper.

"You deserve a raise." He wrote a title next to the liberal increase. Assistant to COO. It was semantics, since before she was his executive assistant.

She looked at him. "Assistant, so I really assist you?"

"Yes. And I need your help with Kasper." He lowered his voice. "If he gets bored, you'll be able to step in without having to get up to speed."

Dani nodded. Could she entice him to go off on another adventure? Maybe. She smiled. "Thank you. I won't let you down." But maybe your brother will.

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