Jimmy wished Tate had attended Shaun's wedding with him. The ceremony was more intimate than Baxter's; instead of three hundred guests there were less than fifty. Both the bride and groom insisted on family and friends only. Tansy danced around in her flower girl dress because Dex was her new daddy.

When Sarah suggested she give Josh one of Grant's watches, he approved wholeheartedly. The same thought kept running through his mind like a banner advertisement on a loop. Grant would be happy to give his daughter away to Josh. Instead Shaun walked down the aisle as her own independent woman. Once again Jimmy was at a wedding ceremony taking notes. A pro of a small wedding, it was far less dramatic, but the con was a smaller cake.

Luckily, he finagled leftover cake and went to Tate's on the way home. She inspected his body for hives, using her lips and her eyes. Holding her close, he contemplated if his heart would always feel so full. Unable to hold back, he whispered. "I love you."

She sat up and looked at his lazy smile. "I'm hearing things."

Chuckling he shook his head. "You heard right. I think I always have, maybe even before the notorious cross."

A tear dropped on her cheek. "I have since that time you held me on the boat. Do you remember?"

"Every second. Something told me not to abandon you in Vail. When I saw you with the cake, I wanted you. It seemed so wrong, but I did."

"I'm not sure what I expected from you, but it was the best sex of my life."

He kissed her bare shoulder. "I aim to please."

She snickered. "You aim."

"Seriously, say the word and I'm willing to go public together. Tell Baxter and everyone else."

Tate stiffened. "I love you, but..."

His heart dropped. "You don't trust me."

"You are a bachelor. The snake."

He pulled her closer. "Baby, do you know why I'm a wolf?"

"Because you care about your family."

He kissed her behind her ear. "I do but more importantly wolves mate for life. I watched Shaun and Josh become a family today, and I want to create a family with you."

Tate gasped. "You do?"

Jimmy kissed her neck. "Neither of us is ready, but I'm not breaking out or sweating at the thought of it and I think about it a lot."

"You do."

"Too much. Even at work."

Tate laughed. "Tom told me you were too happy."

"They tease me all the time. I remind them I have no qualms about ruining anyone who crosses me."

"You don't!"

He nodded. "They laugh."

"You should be a stranger to me, but you aren't."

His face grew serious. "I, um, have something to tell you."

She pulled back. "You do?"

"I should have told you right away and the more time passed the weirder it became, especially since we got serious."

"You're the serious one. I'm scared."

"Don't be. I told you I went back to your room, but you were gone. When I saw your dress in the corner, I knew it had to be valuable, so I took it."

"You did?"

"I knew how hard you took your break up. It just never seemed like the right time."

Tate shook her head. "I was embarrassed, but mostly I was sad because I knew I could never have you the way I wanted. You have my dress."

"Would you wear it again?"

"I don't think so." She winked. "You've seen it. My mother was angry. She accused the hotel of stealing it. I didn't care about it, although I was being a brat when I left it."

"You had a right to be."

Tate shook her head. "I didn't want to bring it with me. I wanted to soak up the sun and forget Duncan, and I would have brought you over the dress."

"You would not have." He caressed her cheek. She needed to open up about their past, but he wouldn't push his luck.

"I thought of you. Okay."

Jimmy kissed her sensually. "More than okay, but I need to go home or my mother will ask questions. They leave in the morning. They'll be home this summer and I'll want to tell her." He stood to dress.

The status quo continued as Spring slowly arrived. By the end of April, the grass was green, and the temperatures were milder. Tate and Jimmy had been spending most nights together for six weeks.

Baxter texted him about getting together and complained they never saw him. Jimmy used work as an excuse. He had a few new projects. Because they involved local companies, he didn't have to travel.

Unexpectedly the Vice President of Acquisitions from Whitby Enterprise called him. "Dawson Sports impressed Mr. Whitby and he authorized me to make an offer."

He sat back. "I'm listening." On the exterior he looked calm, but his pulse sped up. Negotiating was a high that no drug could match. Only sex with Tate beat it. Fuck! I've got it bad.

The figure was too low. Dickie wouldn't walk away with enough. "I'm on the fence about selling. I have solid market research to support my expansion plan."

"Maybe you could share it with us."

"Give me a serious offer and we'll start due diligence."

"What number do you like?"

Jimmy took the money he invested in Dawson and Duncan's disaster and added twenty percent for Dickie; it was unrealistic. They started low, so he would go high.

"We can discuss it internally."

"Take your time. I'll make an exception and stay in the retail business for a while and keep turning a profit."

"You'll hear from us."

The call ended, and he frowned. Even if they met in the middle, it might not be enough. He placed a call to Dickie to find out his bottom line. They had options.

Jimmy watched Tate leave his bed on Saturday morning. Tamping down the selfishness, he called to her. "Keep your hands off me, there will be cameras tonight."

He heard her chuckle. "You better watch your hands."

Jimmy adjusted his schedule to stay in bed and workout while she went to karate. Her independence was what he loved about her. The snake had been content on his own, but the wolf wasn't. She would spend most of the day getting ready for the gala they were attending.

Tate had agreed to accompany him which meant they had to act like siblings, because they would know people at the Whitby Foundation's gala. Hopefully, his donation would get Monty to notice him.

Sweaty, he headed to the shower before he met Baxter for a late lunch. MacIntyre picked him up, and he joined Baxter in the backseat.

"Hey stranger."

"It's a two-way street, married man. Where's your wife?"

"She went to see her mother and Freya. What's new with you?"

Jimmy shrugged. "I have an event tonight. Tate agreed to keep me company."

"Really. Since when have you two gotten along?"

"We get along if we ignore the past."

"Was that your issue in Vegas?"

No, pent up sexual frustration. "No, we both had our own agendas. We worked it out."

"You run out of women in Boston?"

"I wouldn't mind going with Ivy but she'd turn me down."

"Damn right, she would."

Jimmy laughed at Baxter's possessiveness even though he understood completely. He might be fine if Tate went out with Kasper.

As soon as they settled in their seats and began looking at the menu, Jimmy said, "So is it everything you imagined?"

Baxter's eyes sparkled as he looked up. "If you mean marriage, then yes. It's better than living together."

"Not bored yet?"

Baxter threw his head back. "Ivy could never bore me. Is that your problem with marriage?"

Jimmy shrugged. "Who says I have a problem with marriage?" He had for years.

"Fine, with commitment. You need it first unless you plan to marry a woman you meet in Vegas."

"No. I'm not that stupid."

"What's your thing tonight? I didn't turn down an invitation."

"It's for the Whitby Foundation. I'm sure they would have accepted your money."

"That's not your usual circle."

"No, but I met Whitby through Josh. I might have something to sell and he might buy it, emphasis on the might."

"What is it?"

Jimmy shook his head. "Confidential. The owner doesn't want it out." He owned the majority share. With the stores closed the bleeding had stopped. Sales at the original stores continued to outpace the prior year. "Um, how's your new project going?"

"Great. We filled the first buildings which is a change from the sixty percent occupancy we've averaged. We've moved ahead with others. Even my father admits it's a good plan."

"So your life is going well. What's next, a kid?"

Baxter blushed. "Not yet. Ivy doesn't love her job."

"She's good at it."

"I know. She loves the free services she provides."

"She has a big heart. It's not like you need her salary. Why doesn't she work for free? Hell, she could establish her own charity."

Baxter smiled. "She could. I would never ask her, but my guess is she'll quit when she has a baby."

Jimmy bit his upper lip. "My mother was always at home for me. I had a nanny for her committee meetings and evenings out."

Baxter laughed. "My mother never would have survived without nannies especially after the twins were born."

Jimmy laughed. "They still need a nanny." Internally, he wondered if Tate would always work full time. He liked that they both worked for their families. "What's Kasper up to?"

"Who knows? Last I heard Doyle was on tour with a heavy metal band. I hope the tour doesn't go through Vegas or she'll end up married to some guy with long hair and tattoos who snorts and bangs on the drums all day."

"Except for the drums, you just described your sister!"

Baxter frowned. "I worry about her. Kasper is planning to go on one of those dating shows."

"What is that?"

"The premise is a bunch of single guys living together and competing to be favored by one woman. I think they switch it up so there is one guy choosing from a group of half-naked women." Baxter laughed. "You should do it too. Maybe you could find a wife."

"I'll pass. Thank you very much."

A few hours later, Jimmy smiled in the mirror. His tie was straight, and he hadn't nicked his face. His heart sped up thinking about Tate dressed up. Seeing her after being apart during the day always excited him.

Charles appeared. "The car is waiting."

"Thank you."

The older man almost smiled. "Enjoy your evening with Miss. Tate."

He nodded, but his heart sang. "I always do."

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