While a crowd gathered around Baxter and Ivy as they had one last dance, Jimmy stood back with a scotch and thought about the marriages he knew. The two most important ones were strong. In the gathering, his father rested his hand on his mother's hip as she stood in front of him. Did the itch to touch ever subside? He didn't know why he held his aunt and uncle's marriages above his parents. After thirty-five years, they were still in love and affectionate.

The Kanes' marriage was very different. The husband and wife stood side-by-side, but only Amelia touched as she held his shoulder while leaning her arm against his back. He didn't repel her, but Jimmy was aware of his secret. His heart was elsewhere in the crowd with a woman named Ellie. Did any of his other children know? Amelia must because she made it her business to know. He saw her in a new light, and felt sorry for her. Jimmy wouldn't feel sorry for the man Tate married. It was pathetic for Amelia to cling so hard, like her control of her family's reputation. Perhaps she resented Ivy for the love story Amelia wished she had. He empathized knowing she loved Philip.

Love. One day he woke up and understood what the word meant. It took him years perhaps because he resisted it, but it no longer felt ambiguous. It felt scary as hell, and he was not ready to admit it to anyone. He blinked back emotion knowing the person he wanted to talk to. Why wasn't it his own father? Maybe because they intermingled their relationship with business or because Joseph viewed Jimmy as independent. They left him in charge of the house for years while his mother enjoyed the warmer climate.

Why was it he could see clearly through a business venture from the very beginning? He knew the steps to take and the weakness to manipulate. His own weakness and manipulation came from the rapidly beating organ in his chest. His desire to be alone with Tate left him desperate to ensure it happened. The pounding highlighted his fear that he could botch the deal, even though he wasn't sure what his endgame was. Unsure might not be accurate. Afraid to admit it was the correct term.

The crowd dispersed as Jimmy tilted back his glass for the last drop. A box sat at the table. The server came through with his extra cake. Kasper teased him mercilessly. If only he knew Jimmy's plans, but even the snake didn't think he would successfully circle his prey. Eating was definitely part of the fantasy.

"What's that smirk for?" Baxter approached him with his hand out.

Jimmy leaned in. "Everyone knows what you're rushing off to do."

Baxter rolled his eyes. "I'm not rushing off. I'm saying goodbye to my best man."

Jimmy took his hand, and they added back pats. When he turned to Ivy, he winked. "Last chance. You can get it annulled."

She giggled and swatted at him. "Sorry Jimmy."

"I know." He kissed her cheek. "Have fun, princess."

They moved on to their parents. Jimmy turned away not wanting to see Amelia take her pain out on Ivy.

"What are you smiling for?" Tate stood before him, beautiful as always.

His heart took off on a happy beat. "I'm surprising myself by how enlightened I've become."

"What are you seeing the light about?"

"Lots of things. You. I might share some with you later."

Doyle appeared next to her sister. "What's later? Kasper and I are going to keep dancing. Either of you wanna join us?"

"Nope. Not my scene."

"Scene? Jimmy, did you try to sound cool?"

"I don't have to try."

Tate rolled her eyes while Doyle laughed. "Tate, you wanna?"

"No, thank you. It's not my thing either."

Kasper put his arm around his sister. "You two in?"

"No, they are lame."

"Your loss. Let's go. The car's on its way."

The two younger Kanes left with energy Jimmy didn't remember having at their age, but he had the burden of responsibility. He watched as his parents left with the Krasinskis. "I don't have a car."

Tate laughed. "I doubt I do either."

"I'll get an Uber like the young ones."

She laughed. "They need to grow up."

"Not tonight. Kasper will get bored with TV and Doyle didn't do drugs in Vegas or this weekend."

"Yet." Tate frowned. He picked up his cake box. "Seriously?"

"I thought you knew me."

"I really don't." Tate frowned.

Jimmy shook his head. "I disagree."

"Do you want to argue about it?"

He leaned in. "Arguing with you makes me hard." He laughed as her eyes skimmed down his body. Luckily, he wasn't but intended to be soon.

They didn't wait long for a car. Jimmy relaxed once inside. "It was a nice wedding."

"It was beautiful."

Jimmy leaned in. "You are beautiful."

She pushed on his shoulder. "You said talk. I'm willing to talk."

"I want to eat cake too."

She rolled her eyes, and they both sat silently on the ride to Tate's apartment. Once inside, she went to the kitchen and poured two glasses of water. "I'm done drinking."

The water felt refreshing. Jimmy hadn't drunk a lot but champagne always left him thirsty. "The curse was out in full swing tonight."

"What? Why do you say that? Did you talk to my uncle?"

Jimmy shook his head. "Your uncle?"

"Stephen. Apparently, he borrowed the cross. My father didn't always wear it when he was younger like I thought."

"What happened?"

"It's a small world, but he met Ivy's mother. Don't tell anyone. I promised him."

"That's what you two were talking about."

"Yes. The cross has ruined too many marriages."

"Too many. Not Baxter's."

"No." She paced. "They are the exception. No one else married the one the cross chose. That's two ruined marriages for every kiss, except for you, because you'll never get married."

"The jury is still out on that." Her chin dropped, but he kept going. "You said no one else. What about your parents?"

She frowned. "My father told me. Well, not exactly he implied, it wasn't my mother."

"How do you feel about that?"

"I don't know. I understand."

"Maybe. So maybe that's why she doesn't like Ivy."

"Why?"

"Because your mother never got her true love. Imagine your husband loving someone else."

"Apparently my almost-husband did."

Jimmy pulled her to a stop. "Tate, listen to yourself. You didn't love him either."

She nodded slowly, but looked sad. "This changes nothing with us."

He shook his head. "I disagree. We might have more obstacles, but the cross wants us together."

"Together? What does it mean?"

"Anything you want it to, but we're not ready to decide."

"You mean you would..."

He shook his head. "Not ready." Instead of allowing her to protest, he kissed her. Never had kisses meant more than a physical connection. Kissing was always an invitation to something physical, foreplay. Selfishly, he met his needs, but with Tate, each kiss joined them closer. Yes, he wants to have sex too. Maybe he needed a different word for the act he wanted to share.

Tate pulled back. "You confuse me."

Jimmy nodded. "I confuse myself, but I know I want you. I have since Vail. When I said no one else, I meant it."

He didn't let her protest, instead he reached around her and dragged down her zipper.

"All day I've been wondering what you have on underneath."

She held her dress preventing it from falling, but it didn't deter him. Jimmy turned her around and kissed her delicate neck and down her back. No clothing stopped him.

"Tell me you aren't wearing anything." He reached his hand in and felt the thin straps of a thong.

Abandoning her, he took off his jacket and pulled off his tie. Tate watched. "Jimmy."

He looked at her face. It was more unreadable than his in the boardroom. "Tate. I know you want to. You..." Love me. He pushed away his thought with a wicked smile. "You can't resist this body." He pointed to his crotch. As she looked at him, his erection grew. He winked. "Like a snake."

She laughed. He hoped her dress would fall. When it didn't, he picked her up over his shoulder and walked into her bedroom. When he dropped her on her bed, she couldn't hide her smile.

Stretching out beside her, he said, "Don't fight it, baby." His hand reached for hers and he pulled her dress enough to expose her pert breasts. He used his mouth to stimulate each until they stood erect. He was erect too. Kneeling he pulled off her dress exposing her long, beautiful body. "God. You are so beautiful." A thickness in his throat made his voice husky.

Shedding his shirt quickly, he wanted to be skin to skin. With his pants still on, he fell to his side and pulled her against him.

"Jimmy, please."

"What, darling?"

"Touch me."

He laughed. "Touch me." He flopped to his back with her half over him. Her long fingers unhooked his trousers. She reached inside and his penis popped up to meet her hand. "Woman. You are amazing."

His hand slipped under her thong. He teased her with her natural lubricant to glide his finger. When he couldn't take her touching him anymore, he stood abruptly and kicked off his pants. Returning to her, he knelt by her legs. "How do you want me?"

She laughed. "Slow like you mean it."

He could tell her he did, but not until he had a clear vision. The only thing he saw was the two of them expressing with their bodies the words they couldn't say.

She called out his name. It didn't get old. He held her so she wouldn't jump up. "Are you tired?"

"Maybe. It's been a busy day."

He put his nose to her hair. "Jesus, it's like cement."

She laughed. "Lot's of hairspray. Beauty doesn't come easily."

"For you it does. You look beautiful with your hair down and no makeup."

"When have you seen me with no makeup?"

"On the boat. If you wore any I couldn't tell."

"Just lip balm. You noticed?"

"I notice everything. I can't stay long, but I want to share the cake."

She giggled. "Afraid your mother will catch you sneaking in."

"No, but would you like me to tell her I was with you?"

"No." Tate sat up. "No one can know. If it got back to my mother, she'd make it out to be something it isn't."

He nodded, although he wasn't sure what it wasn't. "I'm going to my aunts tomorrow. My parents leave on Monday." He traced circles on his smooth back. "Someday I want to bring you."

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