Tate sat at her desk debating if she should stay to work or go home. The night before she left on time to go to the dojo. She never thought she would miss the TV nights. Kasper won the trip around the world and broke umpteen million more hearts in the process. He even appeared on a sexiest man list. Tate would take Chris Pine. At least in his cute, well-groomed days. She shut her eyes and acknowledged to herself Chris could definitely play Jimmy if there were a movie about his life. She hoped her brother didn't decide to act. His surging modeling career was enough. Hopefully, she would never see him in underwear on a billboard.

Tom was cute, but he would never make one of those lists. He also didn't make a good boyfriend, if that was what he was. Tate couldn't complain because he hadn't found the switch in her body that caused her to heat up. Jimmy didn't help, because he kept Tom busy, and she wondered if it was on purpose.

She and Tom had a dinner date once a week, and his phone continued to ring. It was like Sinclair had a camera in her apartment. Every time things heated up, Tom's phone rang.

The last time hadn't gone well. Tate had insisted he shouldn't answer. "You don't understand. We're in the middle of something big."

Even though Tate had been involved in the scene with Junior, Tom refused to share details with her. As a lawyer, she understood, but as a girlfriend it was frustrating.

"Jimmy is just being a prick. He shouldn't call you at all hours."

"The man isn't a prick. He's a genius."

Tate rolled her eyes. No question where Tom's loyalty fell. One night at dinner, he had questioned her. The conversation started out innocent. Tom had said, "Is it true your brother's girlfriend dated Jimmy first."

Tate laughed. "I totally forgot about that. It was a ruse to make Baxter jealous. Jimmy sticks his nose in places he shouldn't."

"The first night at the Bates party. Jimmy definitely made me feel jealous."

"Why?" Tate knew. She danced with him and then they left together. She couldn't tell Tom they ended up fighting.

"Truthfully, the way he looks at you makes me wonder."

"Don't bother. Jimmy thinks he needs to protect me, and everyone in my family. As you saw, I can defend myself."

He laughed. "I wouldn't want to wrestle with you."

Another woman would have said something provocative about pinning him down.

Oddly, Tate felt jealous about Romy. Tom spent a lot of time with her. She told herself the clock was running out on their relationship, especially after their last awkward conversation. Tom asked about the upcoming wedding.

"Don't worry, I'll be too busy as maid of honor. I don't need a plus one."

"I just assumed."

She smiled. "But it's not fair to Rose."

They never dated on the weekend because of Rose. They still had lunch on Saturdays but Tom didn't want to confuse his daughter. Tate didn't argue because she wouldn't be a part of Tom's life forever. After three months, they hadn't found time to have sex said which something about both of them. If she wanted to, they would have. He certainly could have tried to seduce her.

"Who is the best man?"

She rolled her eyes. "Jimmy, why?"

He shrugged. "I should stay home with Rosie."

"You're a wonderful father."

He smiled, but they both knew the writing was on the wall. Tate's father was wrong. She wanted true love or nothing. She could be a favorite aunt.

Knowing Tom was at Jimmy's office, she settled into a contract. Baxter had been pushing for her to complete the residential rental agreement. It had been a series of meetings and back and forths, but one more read through might finally do it. At least she would make her brother happy.

She jumped when her phone rang. "How's Junior?"

"He's had better days. His father too."

"What happened?"

"I exposed them with statements from multiple victims."

"How did the board react?"

"Appalled. Angry. Your mother may hate me."

"Why?"

"I think your father's blood pressure rose."

"Isn't old man Pownall on the board?"

"The titan proved his nickname."

"I'm surprised he didn't stroke out. He's ancient."

"No, he was impressively calm."

Antsy, she stood and paced. "So give me the details."

"Senior told Junior to shut up and later kicked him out of the room."

"I wish I were a fly on the wall."

"I showed the video of you taking the scum down."

"He deserved it, but it's not exactly an image I want to be known for."

"A kick-ass woman. Why not?"

"I don't know. What else happened?"

"This is top secret. I'm only telling my team on a need to know. The board confirmed we hold the majority of shares. They removed Bates and asked me to find a buyer."

"They lost their family business. The bank is older than Kane Properties. If they didn't deserve it, I'd feel worse."

"You must have a soft heart to put up with me."

"Believe me, it's not a choice." She bit her lip.

He laughed. "I heard you've been cursed. I'm surprised you aren't celebrating with Tom. The team went for drinks after I texted the meeting was a success."

"You texted the team but called me?"

"I enjoy hearing your voice more than theirs. You don't care Tom's having drinks with Romy."

"Should I care?"

Would it be another humiliation for her? The best way to avoid it was to break up with Tom first.

"Care to celebrate with me?"

She smiled. With cake, no doubt. "Not. A. Good. Idea. You'll want to talk about the past. It's not a road I want to go down."

"Someday we'll take that drive together."

"Seriously, that's just wrong. Especially from you. Congrats on ruining another company." She hung up.

Drive together. A drive to hell, because that was exactly what happened the last time Jimmy drove a car.

Tate texted Tom. I heard you killed it with the Bates.

No response. It was just as well. She was in bed when her phone rang.

"Hey. Jimmy told you."

She could lie and say it was her father. "Yeah. He knew I had been invested since the guy attempted to assault me."

Tom winced. "I wish..."

Voices in the background stopped him. A male said, "Our ride's here."

A female said, "Tom, put down your phone. The car's waiting."

"Um, I have to."

"Hey Tom, wait a second."

"What?"

If she was another girl, she would say come over. "I don't think we're working. We make better friends than anything else. Go with Romy, you know she likes you."

"Seriously, Tate, just like that."

"It's been four months, and we never got it together."

"That's your fault because I can't compete with your cross thing. Hell, why didn't I see it? It was him wasn't it? No wonder he kept me too busy to date. Good luck with the playboy."

"It's not like that..." But he had already hung up.

Tears streamed down her face. They weren't for Tom. Let him and Romy celebrate. Tate would never have luck with the playboy. One night ruined her life. One greedy kiss.

As if things couldn't get much worse that week, two nights later, her phone rang while she sat home binging Outlanders for the second time.

If she let Duncan go to voicemail, he would keep calling. "What do you want?"

"Nice greeting. I thought you would want to know I've filed for divorce. I was wrong, I love you not her."

"Too bad because I don't love you." I never did.

"What we had was special. Don't you remember?"

"I remember feeling duped and embarrassed. Don't make your divorce about me. We are over, finish."

"You'll be sorry. My company will be a success one day. Jimmy says all businesses are slow to start up."

"I wouldn't listen to Jimmy."

"Why? You never liked him, but I do. He's giving me more capital so I can hire another programmer."

"What percentage of the business have you given to him?"

"Not that much. Really." His voice dropped off.

"Just be careful. He wants profits."

"I'm touched you're worried. I bet you care more than you're letting on."

"How's your father's business going?"

"The new stores aren't doing well. Who would have guessed the Dawson name doesn't carry the same clout in the east."

Me. Jimmy, no doubt. "Is he going to close the stores?"

"I don't know what he's doing."

"My advice is to stop taking Jimmy's money. He wants returns and when he doesn't get them he gets impatient."

"Don't worry. He likes us."

No, he doesn't. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

She hung up. Talking to a brick wall was frustrating.

Her phone rang again. When she saw his name, she let him go to voicemail. Weak she listened to find out what he wanted this time.

Tate, we need to talk. There are some things we need to talk about for the wedding. Plus, I need your opinion. Stripper or no stripper for the bachelor party?

Tate laughed despite herself. There was no way Sinclair would hire a stripper for Baxter. If Kasper got married, definitely.

She waited until morning and texted him. No stripper.

He replied almost right away. I decided on Vegas.

She should have known. She had been leaning towards a weekend in Vegas for Ivy who let it slip she had never been. Tate loved the trifecta: sun, spa, shows. Doyle would add slots.

She called him. "No way, we are going to Vegas."

"I doubt our paths will cross. We'll stay in a different hotel."

"Good try, but we both know the lovebirds will find each other."

"Who cares? Baxter will never let off steam." Jimmy laughed. "His idea of a wild time is blackjack."

Tate laughed. Jimmy was on the money. "We're going to the spa."

"See we won't go near a spa. It'll be fine."

Not for Tate, she would look for Jimmy around every corner or in every crowd. "Why did you want to talk, if you were going to do your own thing, anyway?"

"How are you?"

"Fine. Why?"

"I heard about you and Tom."

"I should have known. It's no secret we made better friends, like us."

"We're open to interpretation."

She scoffed. "We each have our own interpretation. Goodbye, Jimmy. Go steal someone's business."

He laughed. "I'm heading to Vail next week. Any message?"

"No. I spoke to Dunc earlier."

"Be careful, Tate."

"That's what I told him about you."

Tate hung up and gulped in air before she passed out. Nothing can happen in Vegas.

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