Tate agreed to dinner with Tom on Wednesday night after the showdown with Junior. For once there was public fallout. If Tate hadn't seen it herself, Faith's irate phone call would have given it away.

"Why are you trying to ruin me, Tate Kane? Just because you couldn't get a husband, it doesn't mean you should defame mine. If you knew the complete story, you would be on Jarrod's side."

"He groped a woman and held her against her will."

"He would never touch another woman. Certainly not one who embezzled from the company."

"He didn't mention embezzlement while he violated her or to the police. He called me the c-word before I touched him. Faith, I don't care. I hope you and your little family have a happy life."

"You know, Tate, I don't know why I tried to be friends with you after Sheridan. Maybe I just felt sorry for you."

Her words were like a kick in the gut, and Tate missed the block. Luckily, she had one counter strike in her before she buckled. "Maybe you liked the Kane name, but you don't need it now you're a Bates."

She hung up and collapsed onto her sofa. In all the years Faith clung to her like a groupie, she never brought up that night. Tate couldn't remember if Faith had been at the party. So much of the night had faded, but the parts she didn't want to remember remained clear, including the doomed kiss.

She met Tom at a restaurant near both their offices. A few years before, it was almost impossible to get a reservation after a review praising the chef. Tom was waiting for her in a handsome charcoal suit. She had grown accustomed to his casual look, but he wore a suit well. As his lips brushed her cheek, she noticed how nice his aftershave was. Thankfully, it was not the same as Jimmy or her brothers wore.

He beamed. "I'm glad you finally agreed."

"Me too." She meant it.

Once at their table and their drinks arrived, a cosmo for her and a gin and tonic for him, she told him about Faith's call. Obviously, not the private part. She paraphrased. "It's safe to say our friendship is over."

"Are you sorry?" Compassion glowed in his brown eyes.

"No, she's been using me for years. Embezzlement!" Tate laughed.

"Those withdrawals aren't an accounting error and Romy only received one check."

"Can we talk about something else? How's Rose?"

His smile warmed her heart. "She's good." He told her about a picture she drew at school. "I didn't tell her I was seeing you."

"Why not?"

"I was afraid she would be jealous. Plus, she would tell her mother."

"Is that a problem?"

He shook his head. "I won't have to tell either of them when you decide you don't like me enough."

"Who says I will?"

He shrugged. "I'm competing with a magical cross." Tate rolled her eyes. "Tell me do you know who you kissed?"

"Technically, he kissed me."

"Does he know it's him?"

As of Saturday night. "Yes."

"And is he single?"

"It doesn't matter. It's silly folklore. I was almost married. I wasn't the one who backed out."

"Do me a favor? Just be honest with me."

Tate nodded. "I was humiliated once. How's this, I look forward to getting to know you better?"

He nodded. "I'll take it."

"But what about Romy?"

"She's a great girl. What about her?"

"Do you like her?"

"Not nearly as much as I like you."

She nodded. "Have you thought anymore about Jimmy's offer?"

He bit his upper lip as he nodded like a child in trouble. "I want it. I shouldn't admit it, but that scene was exciting."

Tate laughed. "Nothing like a little adrenaline rush. I was feeling irate, because I had been there before."

"In the ladies' room? It was my first visit."

Tate laughed. "I definitely can't say that. I dropped him because he groped me. He's a pig."

"Jimmy is unconventional. Working for him wouldn't be dull. He's a bit like Robinhood."

Tate laughed. "You know he's wealthy and gets wealthier with every deal."

"He might not be on this one. His goal is to stop Junior."

"I hope he does. He's after my ex too."

"Why?"

"Because Jimmy Sinclair likes to play the hero. He protects family, and to him, the Kanes are family."

"So your brother is still on TV."

Tate giggled. "Do you watch?"

"Not every week. I checked his progress, but only since we met."

"My ex lost already which made me happy."

"I'm not anything like him. I can swim, but I can't paddleboard or dive into deep water or..."

"I get it. I'm nothing like my brother. Even his twin isn't like him."

"I didn't realize they were twins."

As their meals were served, Tate entertained him with stories about growing up with the twins.

After the server cleared their plates, he asked, "What are they doing now?"

"Doyle is a freelance photographer. She loves working with rock bands. Kasper loves adventure and reality TV. You would never know he graduated the top of his class at Wharton. He's the smartest one of the four of us."

As they left the restaurant, Tom put his hand on her back. It felt nice. If she fell for Duncan, she could be attracted to Tom. Unfortunately, Duncan came before she experienced sex with Jimmy. Maybe that was a bigger mistake than their first kiss.

"You have that look again?"

She shivered. The air was frigid as they stood waiting for the Uber. "I was thinking about a kiss." She leaned in and put her lips on his.

Tom recovered from his surprise quickly. His soft lips caressed hers with a skill she appreciated. His phone buzzed. They broke apart laughing. "The car's approaching."

Once inside the warm car, Tom took her hand as they rode towards her apartment. "Do you want to come up?"

He smiled. "A nightcap?"

She nodded. "Unless you have work to do."

"None that can't wait."

She smiled, as they slid out of the car. Once in her apartment, he looked around. "I'd be afraid to bring Rose here. She might leave fingerprints."

"I didn't think of children when I had it decorated. Does your place look like the typical bachelor pad?"

He laughed. "If you mean toys on the floor and Little Mermaid on the big screen TV, then yes."

"It must have been quite a shock to you when you found out. I mean you're a great dad, but I doubt you planned it."

Tom laughed. "Nope. Definitely not, but it happens."

Tate shook her head. "Not to a Kane. We took a blood oath that we would never have sex without protection."

"You did not."

"Close enough."

He studied her. "Are you telling me you've never gone au natural?"

She paused. "I was engaged. So I, um, have. Do you want some of Jimmy's scotch?"

"You have it for him?" He looked at her with narrow eyes.

She laughed. "No. He gives it to everyone he knows for Christmas. Oops. Act surprised."

"Everyone?"

"There are rumors his mother, aunt and niece might not get a bottle, but that's a rumor. I'd only put money on his niece. He knows I don't drink it and it doesn't stop him."

"There's not much left."

She held the bottle up. "Blame it on my brothers. It's nice to serve guests."

"Thanks." He pulled her to him and held her.

Tate had been missing affection, so she clung to him. His hard body felt grounded. She had seen how gentle he was with Rose. It was easy to feel an attraction. When he released her, she searched for something to say. "How did you meet Rose's mother?"

"The typical way."

"What's that? I'm guessing it's not a formal event."

"No." He laughed. "I had just started working a million hours a week. On Fridays, me and every suit in the city hit the bars. I would spend a fortune on drinks and only half were for me."

"Does it work? Buying girls a drink?"

He shrugged. "Most would talk to me. Then it was up to me to convince them to give me a chance."

"A chance at what? The walk of shame or something more."

"Some guys were after the hookup. I preferred something that lasted longer, usually a few weeks before she got tired of me or wanted more than I was interested in or had time to give."

"So how long did you see Rose's mother?"

"We hung out for about four weeks, but she wanted me to meet friends, so I was pulling back. Then bam! She came over with the news and we talked it out. I promised to support her, but we didn't stay together-together. I checked in with her."

"But you said you were together for a while."

"We made plans to live together when the baby came. To either make a go at it or at co-parenting. I found my place, and she moved in."

"How did it go?"

"A newborn is hell for two kids who didn't know what they were doing. My respect for her grew, but not love. I think all my love went to the little bundle who cried and pooped."

Tate laughed. "Did she feel the same?"

"She's the one who moved out, but she might have felt more than me. We get along now, and she met a guy she loves, so she's good."

"Wow. I thought being dumped on my wedding day made a good novel."

"I don't really want to think of my past relationship." He put his hand on her cheek and kissed her. When his tongue probed, she parted her lips for it. He tasted like Jimmy's scotch. Although in her memory, Jimmy tasted like cake.

Her head and mouth took part in the kiss, but her body didn't. Her knees didn't feel weak. She wasn't glad when Tom pulled back, but her lips didn't miss him. Was this her destiny? With the right touches her body would respond. At least she hoped it would.

"I'd love to continue, but we both have to work in the morning."

She nodded. "I understand."

"I'll call you, although this is where it gets tricky, because of Rose."

She nodded. "I understand." A slow-moving relationship was fine with her.

After he left, Tate stood with her finger on her swollen lips. They were pleasant kisses, but the kiss she remembered was the one that she had dreamed about but never should have happened.

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