Tate was glad to go to work on Monday morning. She spent the day on Sunday bored and feeling stupid wishing Jimmy would call. He only made booty calls which if the past was a predictor, she would give him.

Jimmy had changed but she couldn't pinpoint how. After they sat and ate cake together, he kissed her deeply and left, then she slept until noon. When she woke Baxter would have been almost to Aspen. Her brother was married and his best friend was acting like a dolphin not a shark.

Eleanor greeted her. "The wedding was amazing. I'm so happy for Ivy and Baxter."

"Did you enjoy yourself?"

"I did. I sat with Ivy's parents. You looked like you were having fun."

Tate smiled and nodded and slipped away. The parents' tables were on either side of the wedding party's table, but Tate had paid little attention. Her uncle sat with her parents and his old flame was one table way. Why hadn't she noticed who sat with Ivy's parents? Jimmy. He distracted her the entire evening.

As she waited for her laptop to load, she closed her eyes. His hand on her thigh and later under her thong. His warm breath near her ear and later as he hovered over her. Words about marriage and the cross. She felt like she was spinning on a swing with the chains spun together. With a dizzy head, she jerked round and round while the chains came undone by spinning the other way. If she didn't hold on tight, she would fall.

Burying herself in work helped reduce the dizzy effect Jimmy left behind. After five, a visit from her father didn't surprise her, but an unanswered text did.

She was staring at her phone trying to talk herself out of replying yes to Jimmy's dinner invitation when she heard voices in reception. Her father always took the time to talk to longtime employees. Hastily, she typed yes, 6. No going back. Clearly some of her body parts didn't want to. She expected him to reply that he would still be working. Instead, he sent a thumb up emoji. She would have bet money Jimmy Sinclair wasn't an emoji guy.

Still staring at her phone, she jumped when her father appeared. "Problem?"

"Nope. No problem. How was your day back at the helm?"

"Fine. Nice to be useful. The wedding turned out okay."

She nodded. "I'm sure Baxter appreciates your help, especially your speech."

"She's a nice girl, and she loves him."

"Apparently, that doesn't get a girl a ring."

"What do you mean? I thought you were over Dawson."

"Believe me, I am. I talked with Uncle Stephen and Ivy's mother."

His jaw dropped. "You did?"

She nodded. "Your brother knew I would understand. I walked in on them talking upstairs."

He shifted his feet. "Talking?"

Her eyes widened. "Yes! They were on opposite sides of the room. Not facing each other."

"I'm responsible. I didn't understand love."

"You mean Baxter and Ivy could have been cousins."

He shook his head. "It doesn't work that way. One thing changes everything. If I had married someone else, I wouldn't have the four of you and that I can't imagine."

"Yeah. I'm glad too."

"Tate, all this business with my brother has me thinking. Maybe you should try to find him. You know with Facetime and all those other ways people find people."

Tate laughed. "Dad, you mean Facebook."

"Whatever. I never had the need for those things. Maybe he loves you too."

She shrugged. A month ago she would have replied vehemently. Not a chance. After the things he said, she wasn't sure of anything. "Dad, won't mother be looking for you?"

"I told her not to expect me early this week and not to hound me. My doctor says I'm fit. She makes me eat healthy enough. She has even conspired with Sue Ellen to make sure my lunches are healthy. I feel like a rabbit."

Tate laughed at his dry sense of humor. "I was just heading out."

"Good for you. Don't be like me."

She smiled and kissed his cheek. They walked towards the elevator and she pushed the down button. As she stepped onto the elevator, Eleanor was still working. Both Eleanor and her father waved to her as the door slid closed.

As she stepped out into the brisk air, it was light out. In the winter, working until dark depressed her. The thought of going out on bitter nights made her want to curl up at home. The light sky and the late winter temperatures gave her a lift in her step. A car sat on the curb with Jimmy's favorite driver, standing at the door.

"Good evening, Miss." He opened the door.

Inside Jimmy was tapping on his phone, but stopped. "Hello. I'm finishing one thing. Congratulate Georgie. Today he officially works for me."

"Are you sure you made a good choice, Georgie?"

The older man chuckled. "I believe I have, Miss."

She laughed. "Well then, congratulations."

Jimmy put his phone in his pocket. "Seems I need to go to Vail again."

"Why?" She eyed him.

"Just hand holding. Trust me."

"When are you going?"

He smiled. "Not sure. Soon."

The car pulled up in front of the Sinclair house. "I thought we were going out."

"I thought you wanted to stay out of the public eye. Besides, I'm really a homebody."

"I don't know you." She chuckled.

He gazed into her eyes. "But you will."

She laughed. "Is there something in the water? You're acting funny." She climbed out of the car.

Jimmy followed her without responding. The door opened and Charles stood to greet them. As he took their coats, he said, "The kitchen is ready whenever you would like to be served."

Jimmy turned to Tate. "Are you hungry or would you like a drink first?"

"I don't drink every night and not this early in the week."

"Let's go to the dining room."

"Very well, Sir."

Tate looked around. "I hadn't been here in years and now twice."

"I hope you'll visit often."

She ignored him and the turbulence inside. He held her chair and then sat next to her at the head of the table.

He smiled. "Much nicer than sitting alone."

"My parents sit at the two ends even if it's two of them."

He shook his head. "My parents sit like this."

She paused as the food arrived. Charles held a plate of pink sockeye salmon. Tate took a piece before he turned to Jimmy. The butler followed with an asparagus risotto.

"This looks delicious. I can't cook like my brother, so I heat frozen meals. Some come from the Walnut Street kitchen."

"I have a cook to keep busy. I like to eat healthy so she doesn't make heavy sauces. Lots of fish and chicken."

"You keep surprising me. Yet you love cake."

"It's a relatively new infatuation, within the past two years."

She poked his arm. "Stop teasing."

"I rarely eat dessert at home."

Tate wanted to move the discussion away from cake. Half the time she didn't know if he was referring to the baked item or using it as a codeword for sex. "Um, how was your family visit?"

"It was nice. I rode. Which was fun."

"I thought you said something about not enough horses."

He flashed his perfect teeth. "You listened. Shaun rode my aunt's old horse and Josh rode Star, so I could ride Shadow. Tansy is doing great on her pony. I visited with Shaun while Josh and Tansy swam."

"Jimmy Sinclair doesn't swim."

"Only in warm tropical places. I swam the last time I visited my parents."

"When was that?" She never remembered him taking a vacation.

"Before Vail. I went down to relax. I've been busy since. We should go."

She laughed. "And have your mother catch you sneaking around at night."

He smiled brightly again. "I figured we would stay in the same room."

Tate giggled nervously. "You're acting like we're a couple."

"We were on Saturday night." Jimmy winked at her.

"I think you're confusing friends with benefits and dating. You don't take friends to see your parents."

"Dating, going out. We're not in our teens and twenties. Do you say boyfriend at thirty?"

Tate shrugged. "Are you saying you want to be my boyfriend?"

"I want to take it slow, but I don't want to be with anyone but you."

Tate put her hands over her ears. "Stop. You're confusing me."

"Tate. Look at me." She turned her head and took her hands down. He put his big hand over her smooth one. "I don't have to take you upstairs. I want to, but I'll be happy kissing you tonight. Tomorrow night, I have a meeting, but the next night if you're free we can have dinner again."

"What do you want from me?" She looked down at their joined hands.

"Darling, that's exactly what I'm trying to find out."

"What are you working on besides Dawson Sports?"

He smiled. "The Bates sale is finally done. The profit from it for that will make up for what the Dawsons cost me. I've made some profitable investments, but don't worry I don't have any new hostile takeovers in the works."

"That's good. Not feeling the need to seek revenge."

He chuckled. "Not this week? What are you working on?"

"We're selling a few properties."

"Are you buying any?"

"No. The focus is on multi-use. If it's successful, we'll do more."

"I'm sure Baxter has it under control. Did Kasper show up today?"

Tate shook her head. "I didn't see him if he did. I saw my father. He. Never mind." Her guard was down. She couldn't tell Jimmy he told her to go find him.

When they finished eating, Jimmy ushered her into the parlor. He pulled her to him. "Unless you want to go upstairs."

"Your staff."

"Charles is a vault."

"You said."

"You're right I did. I didn't ask if you wanted to."

Tate laughed. The truth was she had been thinking about him all day. She looked into his eyes. "I want you to kiss me."

He smiled. "Baby, I thought you would never ask."

Their lips met in a searing kiss. As their hands moved, she knew she would go upstairs.

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