Tate stood in front of the mirror admiring her gown. She had worn it before, but it was a recent style. The open back would tempt Jimmy all night. Her tummy fluttered at the prospect of acting like friends. One of them would fail and her money was on Jimmy. He was so soft inside. She felt privileged to know him better than anyone. Frowning, possessiveness was not flattering.

She waited for the buzzer. Typically, Jimmy stayed in the car, but she heard a knock on the door and then his voice. He had a key to her apartment. She didn't need one to his house, because Charles let her in. It was the same at her family home.

"Hello. I need to ogle in private first."

She laughed as she caught her breath. It was still surreal that he was hers. She wanted to scream it to the world, but also keep it to herself.

"You look gorgeous." His lips grazed behind her ear.

Her hand rested on his chest. "You look incredible yourself."

Jimmy's dark and stormy eyes gazed down at her. "Let's not stay long. I just want to see Whitby."

"Is he as handsome in person?"

Jimmy pouted. "Don't start. He's married."

Tate laughed as her heart filled up. She loved the man in front of her. "Come on, jealous boy."

He mumbled his defense, but she didn't care. They would cause a stir. Tate had let it drop to her mother that she was doing Jimmy a favor. Amelia's gears were probably churning. Tate almost felt guilty for keeping the truth a secret, but she still had doubts. A part of her didn't trust Jimmy had changed. Also, he wanted to dredge up the past.

"Don't frown. It'll be fine. Later, I'll see how easily this dress comes off. Tell me you're not wearing anything underneath."

"Just a tiny thong."

"Aw, fuck. I'm hard already."

She laughed, but secretly understood because she was always wet near him.

The venue looked like every other. Tate scanned the room and saw some familiar faces. Her teeth gritted. "Leonard, ten o'clock."

"He won't come near you. Do you want to come to the bar with me?"

She smiled. "I'll say hello to Mrs. Walsh. She likes to talk about Rose."

She walked towards the older woman who indeed asked about her granddaughter's karate skills. Tate had a story ready about Rose and another girl sparring. They ended up hugging and giggling. "She's enjoying it, but she's not a warrior."

"And you are, dear?" Mrs. Walsh didn't look convinced.

Tate chuckled and shrugged. She had been successful in tournaments. There was one coming up, she considered taking part in.

Jimmy arrived with a glass of wine for her and a scotch for him. "Here you are. Hello Mrs. Walsh, Tate was kind enough to save me from coming alone."

"Tom loves his job. I think my husband has gotten over his dream of Olson on the letterhead."

Jimmy smiled. "He's invaluable to me, both he and Romy."

"She is lovely. Sorry it wasn't you." Mrs. Walsh looked at Tate.

"We make better friends. Like me and Jimmy." She punched his arm, and he frowned at her.

The older woman laughed. "Just like siblings. Lovely seeing you." She moved on.

Jimmy lowered his voice. "Josh's best friend is here. His wife and Shaun are close."

"Okay, big brother."

Oliver Sumner reached out his empty hand. "You should have brought your date to the wedding."

Jimmy laughed. "I would have had to bribe her. She's doing me a favor as a friend. Tate Kane, Oliver and Emma Sumner."

"Kane?" Emma asked.

"Yes, everyone knows the name. I work for the family business as a lawyer."

Oliver laughed. "My brother and friend went the same route. Jimmy, she and Josh could bond over legal clauses."

Jimmy laughed. "And put Shaun and I to sleep."

Jimmy wasn't fooling anyone. Tate knew he understood contracts. Emma said, "I have a client in a new Kane apartment. They are gorgeous."

"Client?" Tate asked.

"Interior design."

Tate smiled. "I envy artistic people. My sister is a photographer."

"And your brother is on TV." Emma smiled as Tate rolled her eyes.

"This is where the fun is."

Tate turned to look at a handsome man with a beautiful woman on his arm. She had dark exotic eyes and thick dark hair.

"Oliver, thanks for coming. Emma, are you keeping him in line?" She giggled, but he had already turned to Jimmy. "Jimmy Sinclair, meet my wife Sofia. This man is proving to be a tough negotiator."

Jimmy laughed. "I could say the same. Pleasure. This is my friend, Tate Kane."

"Nice to meet you. Kane. Impressive."

She smiled. "I would say Whitby is equally so."

"A consequence of birth, I'm afraid. I'd rather be traveling the world."

"You sound like my younger brother."

Sofia smiled. "Ooh! I love him. Is he here?"

Tate smiled. "No. He's probably waxing his chest or something."

"He's very handsome."

Monty looked at his wife. "Who is my competition and how do you know him?"

"Kasper is Tarzan on the TV. He climbs trees for coconuts and he won traveling the world on The Great Race."

Monty laughed. "Your shows are all fake. I've actually traveled around the world. I need a new adventure."

Oliver nodded. "It's been awhile."

Sofia looked at Jimmy. "Are you a risk taker too?"

"Only in business."

Monty chuckled. "My mother won't be happy if I talk business on her foundation's biggest night, but we should talk privately."

Jimmy nodded. "Yes, privately."

Tate looked at him, but he didn't meet her eye.

Whitby continued, "I heard about Bates Financial. Did you orchestrate it?"

"I had some help."

"Well done. Good riddance."

Tate said, "Leonard is still hunting for innocent victims."

Monty scowled. "Some aren't innocent."

Oliver smiled at another man, who shook hands with him and Monty. "Ted, do you know James Sinclair?"

"Only by reputation. Ted Calhoun."

Tate smiled. "Calhoun, you must know my brother, Baxter Kane."

He shook his head. "Not me, but my father. I have my own company, Homestead Builders."

Emma laughed. "This is who's who in Boston."

The men laughed. "We'll have to see if Whitby does business with Sinclair. My visit to see your business was impressive. I even skied."

Tate felt her heart stop. She murmured, "Excuse me." Anger swelled around her as she walked towards the door. Damn, she knew she couldn't trust him. Wolf my ass! Once a snake, always a snake. She walked straight out to the sidewalk. There were cars lined up everywhere, but She saw Georgie talking to another driver.

"Excuse me, could you take me home?"

He smiled, but quickly frowned. "Of course, Miss. Tate."

She closed her eyes when she saw Jimmy sprinting down the sidewalk. "I don't suppose you would leave without him."

"No, miss."

"Then I'll get out. She opened the door on the driver's side while Jimmy slid in.

He grabbed her arm. "Don't you dare!" His stricken face sobered her with memories of another argument in another car. "Tate, you need to listen to me."

"No. I really don't. Please let go of me. I want to be alone. I'm calling an Uber."

"No. I will or have Georgie come back for me." He hung his head. "Georgie, get her home safely. Tate, we will talk about this."

She felt her heart crumble as the car pulled away. Jimmy looked like a sad boy. She quickly reminded herself he was a snake. Once again, she was a fool. She believed him and had thought about the future. The jerk made a promise he wouldn't sell Dawson Sports. He wanted revenge on Duncan, who would take revenge on Jimmy. He deserved it. Maybe Whitby was powerful enough.

It was still early when Tate arrived back at her apartment. What a waste, she spent half the day getting ready, because she wanted to look good on his arm. So stupid.

Her hand shook as she picked up her phone. Although she deleted his picture, his number was still in her contacts. After she pressed send, she listened to the phone ring.

"Tate. Hey."

"I just found out some disturbing news. I thought you should know."

"What? Are you okay?"

No, my heart broke. "It's not about me. That prick, Sinclair, is trying to sell Dawson Sports."

"What the fuck? Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Absolutely."

"I have to go. I have to call my dad."

The line was quiet, as she held her phone and stared off into space. Why did she keep choosing the wrong men? She was cursed.

As she slipped out of her dress a lone tear fell. She threw the garment in the corner of her room. It took her two tries to find a tee shirt that was hers. Slowly, she had acquired the jackass's shirts. Curling up in her bed, she let the tears flow. "Liar! Jerk!" Anger erupted out of every pore. "Stupid! Gullible!"

In the dark room, she mourned the loss which lay heavy on her heart. Her eyes slipped closed, but the pain opened them again.

She heard her door open. "Get out!" She yelled. Her neighbors were probably listening. She didn't care if Amelia was angry if she tarnished the Kane name. Let them post online the fight she was ready to have.

"Okay. Dickie. I'm sorry. Will do." He let out a sigh. "Tate, you need to listen to me."

"Why? So you can make me promises that are all a bunch of bullshit? I can kick your ass out of here."

"Believe me, I know. Give me five minutes, then I'll leave."

"Fine. I don't want blood on my white furniture."

"It was never my idea to sell Dawson. I might not, but Dickie asked me to see what I could get for it. He wants out. If Whitby doesn't offer enough, I'll buy him out. I picked Whitby because he'll keep most of the staff. Hell, I don't need Ivy angry at me too. Now I have Dickie mad because I promised to keep it confidential. He never told his wife or his son." He caught his breath after his long-winded speech.

"I don't believe you."

He held out his phone. "Call Dickie. Like I said he's pissed, but he's being reasonable. He'll back me up."

"You want me to call my ex-almost-father-in-law so he can say you aren't lying. Why didn't you tell me from the beginning? You don't trust me."

"Sweetheart. I trust you more than you trust me. It is a confidential business deal. No one knew except me, Dickie and whoever Whitby told on his staff. You must have confidential deals in your business."

"So. I thought we had something. You said you loved me."

"I do. Letting you drive away felt like my heart ripped in two. It felt worse than when I lost my uncle."

Tate turned to look at him. Jimmy Sinclair stood in her bedroom with tears in his eyes. Her heart ached for him, but she had hurt too. "We're cursed. Doomed. It was a mistake."

"No, we aren't cursed. We've had more trials than most, but we aren't cursed."

It would be so easy to believe him but the pain from the past hit her like a two-by-four. The floodgates opened, and she cried like she hadn't cried since she was sixteen.

Do you know the people they met? If you like the cross you'll love the fountain, found only in The Wish Series.

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