Doyle wanted to run through the house singing. She was in love. The way she felt for Gray was nothing like how she had felt about Mick.

On Sunday afternoon, she and Tate went shopping. Browsing through racks in Neiman Marcus at Copley Place, they talked about Tate's engagement.

"Was it a surprise?"

"I suspected. I think he wanted to make my birthday happy again."

"I say he succeeded."

She beamed. "He did. Doy, I was so wrong about him for so long."

"You're happy now. That's all that matters. How was Baxter's dinner party?"

"Fun. I like Sofia a lot."

"Me too." Doyle could acknowledge knowing her. "I took some beautiful pictures for her."

"Smug. Just kidding. She told us. So we met Gray."

Doyle's belly tightened. "And? He's nice, right?"

"Yes. He has a very different relationship with them than we have with Macintyre."

"They're friends. Driving is just one of his jobs." She almost said he was writing a book, but it was a secret.

"We thanked him. He's big. The jerk picked the wrong alley to attack you."

"That's true. Gray may be big, but he's a nice guy. He went to Old Navy to buy me clothes."

"That is sweet. Oh, I like this." Tate held up a dress she could wear to work.

"Does Mother want you to wear your wedding dress?"

Tate smiled. "Can't. Jimmy saw it. She wants you to wear it."

"Can't you're taller than me." Plus, if I marry Gray, we might need to elope. "I might elope."

"No, you won't. Don't you want Daddy to walk with you down the aisle?"

"You know he took me sailing a lot this summer."

Tate nodded. "Did he give you Sambuca?"

"Yeah. I think his cross-love drinks Sambuca."

Tate pulled her over to a rack where no one else was around. "You know about that?"

"We all know it's not mom. He still sees her."

Tate shook her head. "I didn't think you knew anything about it. Does Kasper?"

"I don't know. None of us talk about it. Do you know who she is?"

"No. Only that she was at Baxter's wedding."

"I didn't know that." Doyle knew who she was, but hadn't seen her at the wedding. There were too many people.

Tate's eyes darted around. "Yeah, Jimmy overheard her and Dad talking. He didn't see her."

"So Jimmy knows too." Tate blushed.

"It's okay." She had told Gray. "He loves mother too, doesn't he?"

"I think so. Just not the same. Like I loved Duncan." Doyle made a face. "I did and would have if he hadn't cheated. Now I'm glad that he did."

"How do you know when you love someone? I mean true love."

Tate sighed. "It's more than just the physical, but the connection in bed is better. It doesn't feel like just sex."

"I get it and Jimmy's amazing." Doyle made a face, as Tate blushed, but Doyle understood exactly what she described.

"With Jimmy, our friendship is strong and not because we've known each other for years. We just get each other. I want to be with him all the time and when I'm not I think about him."

"How do you get any work done?"

Tate laughed. "Not all the time. Whenever my mind is idle. When I'm at work, I'm busy. I can feel the love in my heart. It's amazing. You'll find it I promise you. Don't settle for anything less."

"What if I'm like Baxter and Mother doesn't approve of the guy I love?" Tate looked at her sideways. "Hypothetically."

Tate laughed. "Get the cross and Dad will support you."

Doyle couldn't trap Gray with the cross. She loved him too much. She wanted a man to love her first on his own, then she would seal up the happy ever after with the cross.

Doyle laughed. "If the cross made Jimmy propose, then it really is magic."

Tate looked at her and smiled. "He's really wonderful. He wanted me to tell you again that he loved your cake."

Doyle laughed. "The man is like a child with cake."

Tate laughed and lowered her voice. "Not so much a child. We had some, um, fun with cake."

Both Doyle's eyes and mouth opened wide. Would Gray be into fun? "Seriously, he is so different from his reputation. I figured he was one of those men who orders you around."

Tate bit her lip. "No, not Jimmy, but I think Bax has some of that in him. Ivy loves it."

Doyle wondered if she would like it. "Ivy loves everything about Baxter. When I took the photographs at the Whitby's, I kept thinking they were the same just a few years ahead of Bax and Ivy. I can see him with a baby."

"If you ask me, they shouldn't wait a few years. First Ivy hates her job, and a grandchild will turn the table on Mother. She'll have to mellow."

"Here's hoping." If Doyle got her way, she would give Amelia a new person to focus on.

As they continued to look through the racks, Doyle picked a few items. Tate hadn't even commented that they were all more sophisticated than she typically wore. Some of it was because of Gray, but also because her lifestyle had changed. She didn't party all night at flashy night clubs anymore.

When they sat down for lunch at their favorite hole in the wall Chinese place, Tate started pelting her with questions. "Have you truly recovered?"

"It's mostly a blur. As long as I don't think of my face." But Gray said I was beautiful.

"Have you heard from the police?"

"All communication is through the lawyer dad hired. The trial is in January."

"I know. Baxter wants us all to go."

Doyle imagined them talking behind her back. She couldn't imagine when they had since she was always at home.

"I'm afraid the media circus will start up again. The lawyer said that Mick admitted to pushing me. It's a misdemeanor, and he has to do community service."

"I know. There was a press release from the band, but it didn't mention you."

"Growing up, I wanted to have a normal family, but there are some advantages to having money and power."

Tate touched her arm. "Hun, I'm just glad Gray was there. I suppose he'll testify too."

She shrugged. They hadn't spoken about it. Maybe she'd ask him later, when she called.

"He's good looking for such a big guy."

"He's not that big. Kasper is pretty built."

"He is physically big. He was probably one of those ten-pound babies. His poor mother. Monty said he's a chick magnet." Doyle frowned. "Sorry, I mean he attracts women. Don't be mad at Monty, chick was my word not his."

"Whatever." She knew about his noncommittal past.

Tate continued. "I can guess why. I mean all of him must be big."

"Tate. You are acting like a man. Only seeing him for one feature. It's like reverse misogyny."

"Is that a thing?"

Doyle pouted. "It is now. How would you like it if I commented on the size of Jimmy's dick? I bet it's small."

"You would lose your bet, and the difference is Jimmy's my fiancé. Gray is..."

"The guy who saved my life. We hung out for a day, you know."

"Fine. I get it."

"There's more to him than just driving Monty around. The two of them have traveled around the world together."

"Okay. I get it."

Doyle could easily tell her she loved him or had slept with him, but Tate would turn it around. She would probably blame him for taking advantage of her. It was best kept as her secret, even when she saw a text from him.

"How are all your friends?" Tate met the group she partied with.

Doyle shrugged. "I've been lying low. I promised Gray I would stop getting high and I plan to keep that promise."

"Seriously? Why him?"

"Because he's a recovering alcoholic and if he can stay sober with his past, then I can too."

"His past?"

"He was in Afghanistan as a Marine."

"Right, he mentioned it. I understand why he stepped in to save you."

"Good. I'm glad."

"So you really aren't doing drugs? What about Kasper?"

"He only ever smoked weed which is legal."

"Now, not for most of the years you two were getting high."

"Fine. I told him I was done, and he said the producers frown on drug use, anyway."

"Does Baxter know?"

"Why would he it's my private business?"

"Why? Because he has been worrying about you for years. We, Baxter and I, love you two."

"I know." She did. "We love you guys, even the stick up Baxter's ass. Although Ivy's doing a good job at pulling it out."

Tate laughed but quickly frowned. "Why did you start?"

Doyle shook her head. "It's not something I can share with you."

Living through and surviving her own trauma had helped her put Tate's behind her. Even the jealousy she had went away. She was too young to realize their father was taking care of Tate in her time of crisis. She shut her eyes and blinked back tears. He had taken care of her the same way. Even though their sunset sails had stopped, he still gave her his comforting hugs.

"Doyle, what's wrong?"

She shook her head. "I was just thinking about Daddy's hugs."

"Yeah. He's amazing. I still get them too." Tate smiled. "I wonder if the boys have ever gotten them."

Both shook their heads probably not.

When Tate picked up her phone, her thumbs started tapping. "Just texting Jimmy."

Doyle looked at Gray's message and smiled. He sent one word. Hey. It proved he was thinking of her.

She replied, hey yourself. Out with my sister. I'll text later.

He didn't respond, but she hadn't right away either.

Tate looked up from her phone. "Where to next? I don't want to stay out too long."

"Dad would want to buy us shoes too before we head home."

Doyle might have been jealous that Tate was going home to Jimmy, but she had Gray's phone number.

Two hours later, she flopped on her bed and sent a message that she was home. Her phone buzzed.

"Hey, how was your day?"

She felt her pulse race at the sound of his voice. "Good. We went shopping. I got a killer pair of shoes." I would love to wear them for you.

"Killer shoes. I might need to save you."

"You can save me anytime." A little mouth to mouth.

"What are we doing?"

She felt pressure in her head. "Talking."

"But we can't. This can't be anything."

"Do you want it to be something?" She turned it back on him.

"It doesn't matter. Monty told me not to mess with you. Your family is too important."

"My family wants me to be happy. You make me happy."

"You make me happy too.

She smiled. "Let's focus on that and leave my family out of it. Okay."

"Yeah. Okay, for a little while."

When they ended the call, Doyle hoped it would have lasted longer. She would call him again and hopefully, he would answer.

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