Chapter Photo credits:

@ArenaCreative Depositphotos.com

Jimmy Sinclair asked himself why he flew to Vail for Tate's wedding. It wasn't to save Doyle from her bad choices, Baxter could have been the bad guy. It definitely wasn't to watch Tate vow to love some loser for the rest of her life. Still, he dressed in a designer suit and stood next to his best friend waiting for the ceremony to begin.

When Doyle appeared to say the wedding was off, Baxter swore, but Jimmy breathed his first breath since he entered the decorated ballroom.

Everyone sprung into action and he helped escort guests out of the ballroom while trying to hear news about Tate. He hated for her to be hurt, but Jimmy had researched him enough to know the guy wasn't worthy of Tate Kane's love.

Everyone left, including Baxter for a weekend in Aspen. Jimmy didn't feel in a hurry to go back to Boston. He could go check on Shaun in Seattle, but he hated her husband worse than the guy Tate almost married. Instead, he would stay to ski.

As he passed through, a sign for the wedding stood in the lobby. He pointed to it and commanded a bellhop to remove it. He walked towards the ballroom looking for other signs.

As he turned the corner, he froze. Even with the hat on, he recognized the graceful walk. She was not pleased to see him. Why would she have been when she had avoided him for over ten years?

Cake, champagne and prime rib dinners were what she negotiated from her canceled wedding. Philip Kane didn't seem upset about paying for a wedding which didn't happen. Only Doyle had red eyes, the rest were only concerned for Tate.

If cake were a weapon, he might be concerned, but the only harm she could do to herself was a sugar high and a bellyache. The champagne was a different story.

As they rode the elevator, he searched for something to say. Maybe it was as simple as, I'm sorry I kissed you on your sixteenth birthday. The problem was he was never sorry for the kiss. He regretted so much about that night, but never the kiss.

When he entered her suite, which was a lot nicer than his room, he looked around. A pile of white filled the corner. Amelia would have a fit. It looked like a tantrum had taken place. He preferred her anger over her tears. A long time ago, he had witnessed both. The tears scared him, so he retreated and let her family take care of her.

Jimmy had to let go of the past. He spent years putting distance between him and it. Both he and Tate kept a safe distance. His friendship with Baxter worked because his friend rarely pushed him to talk to his sister.

She stood with her hand on her hips. "Why did you come to my wedding?"

"You invited me. It was expected."

She scoffed. "And you always do what's expected."

"No, I do the unexpected most of the time, but I love my mother."

"The only person you'll ever love besides yourself."

"Wrong. The list is longer." His parents, his aunt, uncle, and cousin. Even little Tansy, his cousin's daughter. Then there was Baxter, his best friend. Men didn't use words like love or sign their names with hearts as the dot in the i, but he had feelings. "I'm not as coldhearted as Forbes made me sound."

She smiled. Baxter was touchy because they only remembered him for a Business Week article. "You act like a pompous ass."

He smirked. "Glad I'm achieving my goal. So champagne. What do you want to toast?"

"That I dodged a big bullet."

"Good answer. I can drink to that. You don't have to tell me the reason for his stupidity, but whatever it is he was an idiot."

"I know. He passed me up." She pointed to herself.

He reached over and pulled the hat off. "I can't look at you with it on. It's unflattering."

Unfortunately, the hat hid what was left of a hair stylist's hard work for the bride. When Tate saw her reflection, she stepped back like it was a wild animal. Then she rapidly pulled pins out of her hair. "Ugh! Damn thing." Some were lodged in the mess.

"Let me." She moved away, but deflated with a long sigh and let him touch her hair. The strands of silk were hard from the spray. When his fingers brushed her scalp, she shut her eyes. Did she remember?

Every time he remembered that night, he heard loud music, saw flashing lights, and heard the scream, he would take to his grave. In one instant, the beautiful moment had been erased. It set off a chain of events which he had to live with forever.

As he pulled her hair with another pin, she winced. A stray tear fell. Was it for the loser or did she remember too?

He cleared his throat thick with emotion. "Sorry, I hurt you. Can we? Can we eat cake and forget about everything for once?"

She looked at his face and sighed. He was glad she looked away. If he blinked, a tear would fall. Jimmy Sinclair never let anyone see him weak.

She opened the large white cardboard box. "Six different flavors."

"Six? Six is a lot of variety. I'm glad you didn't get married because I would have made a scene eating six pieces of cake. Now it is our dirty secret."

"Dirty?" She ran her finger through some frosting and reached up and smeared it on his cheek.

He stared at her. "I meant naughty, but two can play this game." He took a wad of icing and wiped it on her smooth cheeks.

She took a handful and ate it off her fingers letting crumbs fall down the front of her. Some fell inside her shirt into her cleavage. Jimmy stiffened as he thought about going after it.

"Champagne. We need to wash all this cake down." He picked up the bottle and popped the cork with ease. He looked around. "Glasses?"

She laughed. "I guess not."

He took a swig and handed it over. She did the same and grabbed more cake to eat.

"You're making a mess. Let me."

With his hands, he broke off a piece and held it up to her mouth so she could take a bite." His eyes followed the crumbs that fell into the v-neck opening of her shirt.

She grabbed the bottle and washed down the cake. He ate the cake left in his fingers before taking the bottle. "What flavor was that?"

"Lemon-raspberry. I think."

"You think? Taste." He swiped some filling across her lips and on to her cheeks.

She slowly licked her lips with her tantalizing tongue. He shifted his legs and took off his suit coat before they ruined it with cake or champagne or both.

When he turned back, she had chocolate cake in her hand. "Here, try this." She smooched it into his mouth and across his cheek. Bits of cake fell onto his crisp white shirt.

"Mmm. I like that one."

"Which is it?"

He smiled causing more cake to fall. "Taste it."

Without warning, she licked his cheek. He grabbed her wrist to keep her in front of his face. "Is this how we are playing this? It's just you and me. No one will bother us. I can make you forget."

"Forget what?" Her voice shook.

"Forget about what's his name."

Tate laughed and picked up the bottle. After she drank, Jimmy took it. The black glass bottle felt lighter, as he took another slug.

Tate used her fingers to eat more cake. "This is the chocolate hazelnut filling. Try it?"

"Be nice."

"Unlike you, I'm always nice." Her words felt like a punch.

He grimaced and covered his heart. "I'm nice. I'm trying to cheer you up."

"I'm not your newest project. You don't need to save me."

"I'm not sure what you heard about me, but I'm too busy to be a superhero."

Tate laughed. "Superhero." She bent at her waist laughing.

Feeling angry, he sneered, "You should know, I'm no hero."

Tate stepped away and picked up the bottle. She drank longer as the guilt creeped down Jimmy's spine. Move on, don't mention it again. He smeared some pink cake on his face. "Buttercream isn't the best moisturizer."

She looked at him and giggled. "If it turns out it is, you can sell it and make millions."

Smirking, he said, "Because I'm broke. This one is delicious."

"That's the champagne."

"Champagne. We need more champagne."

"There's a bottle in the mini fridge." She frowned.

He stepped towards her. Imagining the bride and groom toasting their marriage. "Do you want to try the pretty pink cake?"

She leaned in and took some from his face. It felt like a kiss. He put his hand on her hip and drew her in. When he gazed just inches from her face into her green irises, she held eye contact without moving away. Jimmy let his lips descend on hers. For a long moment, she didn't pull back, but she didn't take part. The taste of cake on her lips was well worth the awkwardness that would come next.

Just as he was about to save his own humiliation, her lips moved and her tongue licked his lips. He ravished her sweet mouth. With his hand laced through her stiff hair at the back of her head. He grew harder. Need and years of pent up want took over his senses. His other hand cupped her bottom over the thin lycra and pulled her into him.

Dragging his lips off hers, he whispered. "Let me help you get revenge on the bastard." He moved his lips down towards her beautiful cleavage. "I want to eat the cake down here."

She chuckled as she pushed him. Lifting his head, she looked confused. "Why?"

"Because I have needs and you have needs. We're two adults. Tomorrow we can retreat to our corners."

Tate stepped back and didn't hide it as she gazed at his strained crotch. Jimmy's heart pounded waiting for her decision.

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