When Tate and Jimmy joined them for dinner, the prime topic was the wedding. Kasper said, "I don't remember the non-stop wedding talk last time."

Tate said, "Because mother didn't plan Baxter's wedding."

"I meant your last wedding."

"Kasper," Amelia scolded.

Jimmy said, "I went to that wedding, it wasn't very exciting."

"Haha." Tate bumped Jimmy's shoulder.

"Children. Focus."

"Mother, we're just having fun. My wedding will be beautiful. You'll be proud."

Kasper said, "I'm looking forward to the bachelor party. Is it in Vegas again?"

Jimmy shrugged. "Talk to your brother."

Doyle smiled. "Ivy and I are working on some ideas." They were thinking of a spa weekend. "I have an out-of-town job next week, but I won't let you down."

"Where's your job?" Philip asked.

"Los Angeles."

"I think it's good you're working again." Tate smiled at her.

Everyone concurred, and Amelia changed the subject back to the wedding. It was easy to fly under the radar in the Kane family.

Later in her room, Kasper said, "If you want company. I'll fly to LA with you."

"I need to go on my own. I've put what happened behind me." Except the broken heart.

"You started a movement."

Doyle nodded. She didn't want to tell Kasper she was taking photographs for an article on backstage fans. A few bands were performing in the same week. She would have full backstage access, but without the tour buses. Instead, she had her own hotel room.

"I'm sure Mick and the boys are still getting all the sex they want."

"They aren't still on tour are they?"

Doyle looked at her brother. "I don't know and don't care." She stopped following Unhinged Rage and refused to listen to their music.

Doyle had reserved the Kane jet to fly across the country. As she waited in the executive terminal, a car pulled up. She chuckled when Jimmy climbed out with a man her age. The younger man looked like a Jimmy impersonator with his well cut suit and gelled hair.

"Hello. Do you two worry about ruining the headrests with your hair products?" Even Kasper didn't like the slicked back look.

Jimmy laughed. "It's not greasy. Wanna touch it?"

"Um, no." If it wasn't greasy then it was hard. Nope, not saying that out loud. "I bet Tate likes to touch it."

Jimmy cleared his throat. "This is Tony. Doyle Kane."

The man nodded in recognition. It could have been because he knew Tate had a sister or because of her notoriety. She would have been lying if she said she wasn't nervous about hanging with bands.

Shaking it off, she smiled, "You put up with him?" The younger man started boasting about working for Jimmy. She cut him off. "He and Tate must have a lot in common." They both liked to kiss his ass.

Jimmy was too busy looking at his phone. He looked up with a frown. "Air traffic is backed up. We're delayed."

"At least, I don't start my gig for two days. I needed to get away from all the wedding talk."

"Can I come with you? When I realized I wanted marriage, I didn't fully comprehend an Amelia Kane wedding."

"She's driving Tate nuts too."

Jimmy nodded. "And my mother, and she isn't in Boston."

"Where are you going?"

"Just to Philly for a meeting which we hopefully won't be late for. What's this job in LA?

"It's a follow up to my interview. The article is on fans so I need to get photos."

"Fans? As in rock band fans and concerts?" Jimmy's voice hardened.

"Yes. It's perfectly safe. I'm not stupid." Safe physically, not emotionally.

"Doyle, no one is going to be happy when they hear about this. Bax sure as hell won't be."

"Then don't tell him. It's my business, literally, and I'm ready to get back to work." He shook his head. "Jimmy, we are almost family. You need to trust me."

"It's not you I don't trust. You've been my little sister for years. I take care of my own."

"Fine. If anything happens, you can use your voodoo magic to ruin the culprit."

"That's after the fact."

Doyle shrugged. "You'll have to take that chance. Trust me, Jimmy."

He didn't respond. Instead, he kept his eyes glued to his phone. "The air traffic is caught up. We're in the queue."

Doyle watched the door to her plane open. "Bye Jimmy. Trust me."

He waved, and she hoped he wouldn't show up in LA.

It took Gray days to look at Doyle's interview. Anger pulsed through him for the way the asshole treated her. He didn't mean the SOB who beat her. The other one who got off even though he pushed her. Gray had felt the cut on the back of her head. He remembered all her injuries, his little broken bird.

He imagined running into that rocker and scaring him. Sighing, he stepped out of the shower and dried off. With a towel around his waist, he lathered his face with shaving cream. When he looked at his reflection, the butterfly and ladybug greeted him. For years, he mourned the loss of Beth. A futile war had taken her from this earth far too young. His love for her had a warm place of its own in his heart, but it wasn't alone. Doyle still walked this earth. She danced at fancy parties and laughed, but she also looked in his direction. It was a reminder he would never have fit into her world.

Monty had a full day at the Whitby offices, and Gray planned to work on his book from the extra office Monty had provided for him. Dressed in a suit, his friend appeared in his apartment.

Monty looked at his watch. "Are you ready? I have a meeting."

"Yes, boss."

"Let's go. So tonight, do you want to eat out?"

"Just us?"

As a restaurant critic, Monty visited each restaurant more than once. "I'll take Sofia this weekend."

Later in the afternoon, Gray was on the phone with Gage, the junior editor that Oliver had provided for him. The work he did with his agent had only been the beginning. Once again Monty stepped in and pointed to his watch.

He glanced at the clock. Gray held up a finger. "Gage, let's break until tomorrow." He put his phone down and looked up. "The day flew by."

Monty nodded sympathetically. "Editing can suck years off your life." Gray chuckled. "Are you hungry?"

"Always."

The restaurant was on a side street near the theater district. Gray had to pull into a parking garage. The small restaurant had a romantic atmosphere with low lighting and votive candles.

Gray whispered, "Are we business associates or lovers?"

Monty glared at him. "Business."

They were seated right away and took their time with the select menu.

"What's the cuisine?"

"Generic Mediterranean. Italian and Greek mostly. Hm, their own hummus."

"There's a good seafood selection." Gray liked poultry and seafood more than red meats.

Monty ordered a glass of house red after taking his time to look at the wine list. "And hummus and calamari to start." Gray nodded. Monty looked around. "I'll have the lamb with Sofia. We should get the seafood stew and what else?"

"Pasta and shrimp. It's a garlic and herb sauce."

Monty nodded. "Sounds good."

The wine arrived at the same time as the bread basket. Gray picked up a piece. "Focaccia?"

Monty nodded. "It looks like it. Good?"

Gray nodded. "Delicious."

As the hummus and calamari arrived, Gray turned to a voice saying hello. He almost choked on his bread. Sinclair stood next to their table with his arm around Doyle's sister.

"Dinner for two?"

Monty shrugged. "Sofia is at her sister's."

"Enjoy."

Monty waved, but he was busy tasting the hummus. As the meal progressed, everything was excellent except for the pasta dish.

It was too greasy. Gray bit into a shrimp just as Sinclair appeared at their table. "I only have a minute. Can I borrow your, um, I mean Gray for a few days?"

"Borrow?"

"For a trip to LA. Someone who means a lot to me needs protection."

Gray knew who it had to be. Did she need him? He felt like his heart was bleeding. The need to protect her outweighed everything else.

Sinclair smiled. "Text his number. I'll send the details."

Gray watched as Tate walked out of the restroom. Whatever was going on, he didn't want his fiancée to know."

Monty studied his face. "What do you think that was about?"

Gray shrugged and tried to look calm, but if K was in trouble, he would drop everything to help her.

Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️