Jimmy sat in his office looking at Tony's proposal for Dawson. He tapped his fingers to a tune playing in his head. It was odd because he never listened to music. Georgie often had the ballgame on in the car at night, but he always turned it down. O'Hara probably didn't know how to turn on the radio. Meanwhile, Jimmy couldn't name a number one pop hit from the past ten years. He used to listen to all kinds of music. Was Coldplay still popular? He remembered listening to Viva la Vida on the way to Marblehead. Both girls were singing. He could see a young Tate smiling in the rearview mirror. She had every reason to be happy. It was her birthday, and she had everything a girl could want. Sometimes he was the third wheel, but more often the girls would treat him like he was the luckiest guy alive.

Regardless of the smiling beauty in the backseat, Sheridan was his girlfriend. She had been giving Jimmy hints she wanted to get more physical. The problem was he had been listening to lectures at home about respect. His parents were on one end of the spectrum and Sheridan was on the other. His head sided with his parents since she was still young. Sixteen was okay for kissing. Meanwhile, his dick was on Sheridan's side and at eighteen it had the loudest voice.

He shut his eyes and saw Tate's face as she came against the door. She was still as beautiful, but not innocent like she had been in the rearview mirror. Her face fell when Sheridan announced she didn't want to be a virgin anymore. The comment started their first fight of the evening, but not the day. Once they arrived at the mansion on the edge of the rocky cliff, he pulled her aside and let her know he wasn't having sex with her. He felt pride knowing his mother would be proud of him. It was important to young Jimmy to respect his mother. He was her only child, and she carried her loss with her. Jimmy hated being an only child, only surviving child.

He smiled despite the past infiltrating his mind. Would his mother be disappointed if she knew what he was doing at Tate's apartment? Smiling, he wondered again what the song was.

Romy poked her head in. "What are you smiling about?"

Nothing he could share. "Cutting the head off the virtual reality is reason enough to smile."

"If you say so. I ran the numbers on Tony's proposal. It will take years before you're out of the red."

"I'm looking at it now. Maybe Dawson's expansion idea wasn't wrong. His locations were the issue."

"It'll cost more."

He nodded. "I'll talk to the market research team. You know I'm cutting out early."

"You mentioned it five times."

He cocked his brow.

Romy shrugged. "Not to me, but I've overheard you."

He smiled. It was hard not to since he would see Tate.

"I never pegged you for a guy who likes weddings."

"I like cake and the groom is my best friend."

"Baxter Kane. I liked his sister, but I'm sure she doesn't feel the same."

"Why? Tate likes everyone, including me sometimes." Pinned against a door or on a couch.

"She dated Tom."

"I think they would both agree they make better friends, otherwise I wouldn't have hired Tom. The Kanes are my family."

"Is the groom working today?"

Jimmy laughed. "He is. He'll be late for the rehearsal, but it's expected."

Jimmy left the office with instruction for his staff to only call if it was an emergency. O'Hara drove him home, so he could change into a fresh suit.

He followed voices into the parlor. "Here he is. Jimmy, meet Mr. and Mrs. Krasinski. Did I mention they are our house guests?"

He smiled and put out his hand. "About ten times, mom. Welcome, I just told one of my staff the Kanes are family. That includes Ivy."

Jimmy smiled at the letter carrier and his wife. His knowledge of them had come from their daughter. The father had warm, twinkling brown eyes and was trim as if he walked his route. He had a pleasant appearance, even with his hair thinning some on top. Mrs. Krasinski was a mature version of Ivy and not at all the way her daughter described her. With Ivy's beauty, he should have expected a handsome couple, but he had imagined older, weary looking people.

"I told them we love Ivy." Elena Sinclair smiled at her son. "You look different."

He stopped himself from blushing. There was no way his mother could tell he had sex for the first time in two years. "You must have forgotten what I look like because you've been away so long." He kissed her cheek. "I have to change. I can't let Baxter arrive before me."

Elena laughed. "He might be early for his own wedding. We'll see you at dinner."

"Where's dad?"

"Visiting Sarah." He nodded. His parents made a special trip home to attend Baxter's wedding.

It was tradition for the groom's parents to host the rehearsal dinner. Baxter had Dani looking into venues when word reached Amelia Kane. She summoned her eldest son, and as Baxter told the story, she insisted on holding the dinner at the Kane house.

"Ivy is still nervous about her future mother-in-law."

Jimmy had almost left the room and turned to Mrs. Krasinski. "They won't be close, but Amelia has accepted her."

Philip put up with his wife shunning Ivy longer than he should have. Jimmy mentioned to Baxter he had expected more from his father. Baxter had said something about it being complicated. He couldn't imagine Philip's reasons. Jimmy didn't believe husbands should control their wives, but they should talk sense into them when they act ridiculous.

He smiled as he took the stairs two at a time. The tune played in his head. Seeing Tate was reason enough to smile, but he had to remind himself she might fortify her wall after his most recent visit.

When he rushed to her apartment, he expected to spar with her. She used strikes and kicks in karate, but they sparred with words. Arguing with her made him hard, but he should have been used to it. When he touched her hands, he took a chance with his lips. She could have slapped him, instead she kissed him with the passion he imagined in his fantasies. Once he had her against the door, he was determined to go as far as she would let him.

The more he touched without her saying no, the more brazen he became. When she wrapped her legs around him, he thought he would miss his mark or drop her. Instead, he watched her come and followed with an intensity he thought he embellished in his memories. Sex with Tate was amazing, and it left him wondering when it would happen again. Two years was too long to wait.

Jimmy looked in the mirror as he wiped the toothpaste off his lips and ran a hand down the side of his face. Had his chin been rough on her soft, creamy skin? Without hesitation, he pulled out his shaving cream and razor. As he dragged the razor across his rough skin, he remembered why he hated shaving at night. A nick on his chin sprouted blood, and he cursed himself. He wanted a smooth face for a kiss that might never happen.

When he returned dressed in a fresh suit and with a cut that had stopped bleeding, it was quiet in the parlor.

"The Krasinskis are waiting in the car." Charles took a moment to study him.

Wanting more, he added, "I had trouble with the razor. Remember when it happened every day?"

"Like yesterday, sir."

Jimmy smiled. He might never see a twinkle or a smile, but they shared a memory. His father had left the house early in the morning, so he hadn't seen the results of Jimmy's beginner shaving. Charles arrived in his room one morning with a freshly pressed shirt for his school uniform. Jimmy had shaving cream on his face.

He held out his hand. "Allow me, sir."

The boy of seventeen allowed his butler to shave him and explain the finer points of a good shave starting with a warm soft face.

Jimmy nodded. "I should have asked for a warm towel, but I'm short on time." He looked at his watch as he shrugged into the coat Charles held out for him. "I might already be late."

Jimmy never thought about the butler standing in for his father. As a boy, he remembered being fascinated watching his father shave. If I have a son, I want to show him. Jimmy froze. Even his breathing stopped. Never had he thought of having a child. He was past thirty, but no, it had to have been the influence of the wedding. What else could it have been?

Next week is wedding week ⭐️