Every morning, Jimmy woke with a heavy weight on his chest. With each new dawn, he had to face another day without his uncle. Grant died unexpectedly of a heart attack leaving the family numb. Jimmy loved his mother and father, but Uncle Grant and Jimmy had a special relationship. It was a mentorship and friendship rolled in together.

He would be selfish to think the loss affected him more than Aunt Sarah or his cousin, Shaun. Jimmy couldn't imagine losing either of his parents. He lost his brother and his uncle and that was enough.

When his uncle passed, he desperately wanted the comfort his family and Baxter couldn't provide. His friend understood up to a point. Philip Kane had a heart attack, but surgery restored his health. The Kanes were the lucky ones. He had no resentment. Many times, he considered calling Tate, but stopped himself each time. She was still getting over being jilted.

It was obvious she wasn't herself. She often disappeared at social events. At her mother's garden party, she went to bed early. Another time, the party returned to the Kanes' for Baxter's sundaes and Tate disappeared. The last thing she needed was to support him. He should have supported her instead of giving her a tutorial on sexual positions. He was such an idiot.

Jimmy didn't support Tate, but he could support Shaun. Uncle Grant was just lowered into the ground when her asshole husband went back to Seattle to take up with her close friend. Tate definitely bit the bullet. Shaun married her guy and had a baby. As Tansy's father, she would be tied to the jerk forever.

Aunt Sarah surprised Jimmy, when she requested he escort Shaun to a charity event. He eagerly agreed, because they had somehow roped him into participating in the charity auction.

On the night of the event, his eyes kept wandering across the ballroom to Tate. As always, she looked beautiful. When Jimmy stood on the stage feeling foolish as the auctioneer sold him off, the spotlights prevented him from seeing any faces. As a bidding war started, he felt sweat on his back. Hopefully, Mrs. Winthrop wouldn't back down. He had arranged for her to buy him in exchange for some investment advice for her husband. It was a win/win.

When the bidding stopped, he returned to his table. The nervous guy who he met backstage had the spotlight on him. Shaun's paddle went up, and he looked at his cousin with raised eyebrows.

She whispered. "I owe him for tutoring me in biology."

He laughed, because she hated science. "The poor man."

Shaun glared, and didn't look happy when she won the bid. Jimmy was proud of her. After a two second conversation, he knew the guy was better than her cheating husband.

He turned to Mr. Winthrop. "What happened? I couldn't see. I'm still seeing spots."

"Gwen won the bid, but she had competition."

"Who?" He looked around.

"Over that way." The older gentleman pointed to Doyle Kane.

He walked over and sat down next to Tate. Her fragrance brought him back to Colorado. When the cake appeared, his teasing caused her to blush. He had only finished half his cake when he saw the guy approach Shaun. His need to protect overpowered his desire to be near Tate.

He strolled back to his table. "Are you okay?"

She nodded. "Just explaining to Joshua I'm giving him a pass."

Jimmy turned to the man. "You don't mind, do you?"

"I won't force the issue."

Shaun mumbled, "Thanks." She turned to Jimmy. "When's your date?"

"Monday evening. You should have gone out with him."

"He has a girlfriend." Jimmy nodded. Unfortunately, he wouldn't bring joy to make up for her awful marriage.

Had he brought Tate joy? As he watched her leave, he was certain he hadn't. Like a proper date, he took Shaun for a spin on the dance floor. It was nice to be with a woman who wanted nothing from him, very much like dating Ivy or his night with Tate. Maybe not quite.

When the song ended, he steered her off the dance floor to Baxter and Ivy who had been dancing like the poster children for true love.

Ivy greeted Shaun. "It's nice to see you."

"Who bid for me? You?"

"Not me. The girls." He chuckled.

Girls. Was Tate included? He shrugged, pretending not to care. "Your table cleared out."

"My mother thinks my father needs his rest and Tate wasn't herself. This weekend marks a year since Vail."

Fuck. A selfish man would dwell on it being a year since he came to anything other than his palm as he conjured up memories of green eyes and curves. Just eating cake made him twitch or was it sitting next to her?

"Is she still taking it hard?"

"He called her."

Both men looked at Ivy ready to pounce on her words. "He what?" Baxter commanded before Jimmy's tongue unstunned itself.

She laughed at Baxter's bark. "Apparently, he wanted to know how she's doing. You must have heard the rumor that there is trouble in paradise."

Jimmy shook his head. Baxter replied he didn't have time to follow the social media of losers. Jimmy laughed at the pompous snob. He didn't either, but paid people who could. His brain formed a plan.

Ivy asked Shaun about her daughter and Jimmy smiled as she told a story about Tansy learning to ride. "I'll buy her a pony if you stay."

"You already spoil her." He was guilty.

Baxter laughed. "I've known you all my life and didn't know you like kids."

"Almost all your life. Who doesn't like kids? They're little humans and more fun than big ones."

Ivy laughed. "You might not want to leave Jimmy in charge. He might introduce your little human to scotch."

He pouted. "I know better. We might eat too much cake."

"Did you eat two pieces?" Ivy teased.

He shook his head. "I didn't finish the one at your table. I had to rescue Shaun from her old biology tutor."

She hit his arm. "You did not. He was perfectly agreeable and polite."

Ivy laughed. "Sounds boring."

Baxter glared. "You are spending too much time with Doyle."

Doyle did lines while Ivy towed the line. "You're an unlikely pair. I like Doyle, which proves I like children." Jimmy winked.

"She acts like a spoiled child," Baxter added.

"Ignore them." Ivy pulled Shaun aside. Jimmy frowned as Ivy stuck out her left hand.

Jimmy whispered to Baxter. "I've been working on my Bates project, but I might add Vail to my list."

Baxter frowned. "I've never been one to interfere in another man's business. If any Dawson Sports were in my buildings, I would raise the price per square foot the first chance I had, but I wouldn't tell my sister."

Jimmy nodded, agreeing, but not explicitly. It sounded like they were making a shady deal and worried about a wiretap.

The need for revenge had lodged itself like a burr under his skin the past summer. Jarrod Junior, a sexual pervert, had dared to touch Tate. It was a sight to see Tate take him down, but Jimmy needed him to pay. Talks were underway to provide some equity to Bates Financial. It seems Mr. Bates liked to leverage. Jimmy had been negotiating an equity share, his goal was to expose Bates and save the company in the fray. If his plan worked, there would be no Bates within Bates Financial. Then he could sell it to a larger private entity for a healthy profit. If he played his cards right, he would come out the hero. Maybe Dawson Sports had a weakness he could exploit.

Baxter moved back to Ivy's side as Jimmy spied Shaun stifling a yawn. "It's a long ride back to Dover. We should go."

Once in the car, Shaun argued, "Jimmy, there is no reason for you to ride out and then back to Boston. Unless, you plan to stay over."

He shook his head. "Georgie. Chestnut Street first please. I trust you to get Ms. McManus home safely."

"Yes, Mr. Sinclair. It would be my pleasure."

The man earned a generous tip. O'Hara, his chauffeur didn't work on weekends. Jimmy paid so much to the car service for Georgie, he should hire him with a full-time salary.

Charles greeted him at the door and took his coat. "Did Miss. Shaun enjoy her evening?"

Jimmy chuckled. "I think so. She was very philanthropic."

Not even a smirk, but Charles didn't know about the biology tutor.

"Can I pour you a drink, sir?"

"Just water." It was Jimmy's duty to make the older man feel useful. "Charles, you are sexist." Doyle Kane would laugh.

"Excuse me, sir?"

"You call me Mr. Sinclair, but my cousin is Miss. Shaun."

"You outgrew Master Jimmy years ago."

"And Aunt Sarah hasn't outgrown Miss Sarah."

"I'd hurt her if I called her Mrs. McManus just to please you."

Jimmy laughed. "Tell me you're chuckling deep inside."

"Sir?"

"Dear Charles, I was pulling your leg. I know I'm still Master Jimmy in your heart, but if it leaked it would ruin my reputation."

"I'll get your water, sir."

"Thank you, Charles."

Some people returned home to a loved one or family, Jimmy had the company of a proper butler who never broke character.

After a shower, he lay in bed wondering what Tate would say if he called her. He brushed his teeth, but when he shut his eyes, he tasted cake.

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