Baxter never took conference calls in Tate's office. In fact, he had to ask Danielle exactly where it was. It was a good thing he trusted her one-hundred percent, because she could read his mind. She never asked him about Ivy, but she knew they were both in Aspen together. It wasn't a stretch to figure out it was Ivy who put the notes in the margins on the contract.

Perhaps his impulsive decision was because the deal they finally ironed out was the end result of that initial contract. Tate was fighting for points Ivy made, and he wanted to watch her as it came to fruition. The pridefulness in him wanted to show off to her.

As she sat across the room, she looked exactly how he had imagined, in a proper suit with her hair pinned up. The narrow, short skirt showed plenty of legs. Baxter didn't have to wonder what was underneath. Every inch of her was tattooed on his brain. His only musing involved her choice of underthings.

Somehow Tate missed her blush when he commented on her banana. Another woman would accuse him of inappropriate behavior. Instead, Ivy fired back a retort which sent a hum through his cock, which also remembered the feel of being inside her.

He never should have agreed to hire Ivy. He even suffered Danielle's sideways glance when she reported Tate had requested free parking and the top of the intern pay scale, the same as Tate had received. His assistant's look had nothing to do with Tate's request, but everything to do with his response. "Give my sister what she wants."

Sweat formed under his arms, as he feared Ivy would witness the deal stall. He had been courting the owners of the skyscraper in Phoenix. They didn't want to sell to Kane on principle because they already owned buildings in the area. Fortunately for Kane, the other potential suitor didn't have the same capital. Walking away was a tactic in negotiations 101, but he actually had a meeting across town.

The offices were empty when he ventured back to the fourteenth floor. Was his mind playing tricks on him or was her scent lingering on his skin. He turned around to leave when a body walked into him. The reaction in his body told him the identity without looking down. He put his arms around her and pulled her close. Her body molded to him as his erection grew with want.

In an instant, their mouths met. It was nothing like the tender goodbye in Tate's apartment. The meeting of their mouths was ripe with longing. Baxter didn't care who he was and where they were. He needed to be inside her. He lifted her on the desk in reception and pushed up her skirt revealing a peek of pink cotton. Why did he find them so damn sexy?

It didn't take long for him to remove the barriers between them and for him to slide into her slick passage ready just for him. Just as he demanded her to say his name, he heard it. "Baxter." The voice came from behind him and it was Danielle's.

Baxter woke abruptly with a sweat-damped shirt and a full boner in his boxers. "Fuck." It felt so real. Awake Baxter would never have sex at work. Never had he thought about it until he saw Ivy eat the banana. There were plenty of long legs and short skirts walking around starting with Danielle, but he never thought of her sexually. He had to stay away from the fourteenth floor and to find himself a date.

Tate and Baxter had another function to attend. The Kanes had always been philanthropic, but Tate had a point about their younger siblings skipping most invitations. Kasper was on a secret South Pacific Island filming his return to the popular reality TV show. There was a rumor that Doyle was hanging with a rock band. Which was perfect since her favorite things were sex, drugs and rock 'n roll.

Pleased that the knot on his tie looked perfect, he turned from the mirror. After a knock on his door, he pulled his shoulders back. "Yes."

"Sir, the car is ready."

"Thank you, Percy. Have my parents left?"

He nodded. "You know Mrs. Kane never arrives late."

Unlike him. "Do I pass?"

"Allow me." Percy pulled a lint brush from his pocket.

Baxter stood still while the older man brushed his tuxedo jacket. "Just like when I was a boy."

"Not quite, sir. You were shorter than me, and couldn't stand still." Baxter laughed and the old butler's eye twinkled. He had an affection for the four children he watched grow up. "It would be an honor to serve your children one day."

"Not any day soon."

"You are in possession of the cross are you not?"

"Doyle gave it to me." She had handed it to him when she told him the wedding was off.

"Are you wearing it?"

"It's not my style."

"Nonsense. You can wear it like your father did for years. He would have had it on the night he met your mother."

The butler opened Baxter's cufflink box and took out the pendant and chain. Wear it under your shirt. He put it on Baxter without loosening his tie. The metal felt cold against his chest. Baxter didn't wear jewelry beyond cufflinks. Some men pulled off pinky rings, but it wasn't his understated style - designer tuxedo understated.

"I believe Miss. Tate is waiting for you in the car."

"She'll never forgive me."

The June evening air was warm. Charity events took a holiday in the summer when people left town for their homes on Nantucket, Newport or various other places by the ocean. The Kanes' escape out of town was on their sail boat or to the mountains in Colorado. Baxter wasn't in a hurry to go back to Aspen.

Their evening was a summer party hosted by The Bates. They were from a prominent Boston family and the children attended the same private schools as the Kanes. Amelia grew close with Lori Bates because they were both active with fundraising and events at the school. One of the Bates boys was a year older than Tate and worked for Bates Financial, a private bank. The younger brother was studying the effects of global temperature changes in the Amazon rainforest basin.

It was one of many garden parties of the summer season. Amelia hosted a renown one later in the summer. The car drove them around the corner and three blocks. They could have walked.

"Who will be there?" Tate asked.

"The usual, I suppose. The scotch is always good."

Hopefully, he and Jimmy could find a quiet spot and sip aged scotch all evening. Their hostess greeted them with kisses on both cheeks as if she were European and not the daughter of a professor. The story was Jarrod Bates fell in love with her at first sight while walking across Harvard Yard.

"Go. Enjoy yourself." She let go of Tate after an extra hug. "Jarrod Junior would love to see you."

As they walked away, she whispered, "Jarrod Junior would love to push my dress up."

"Stay away. How many illegitimate children does he have?"

"Two or is it three."

Baxter shook his head. "Condoms are cheaper than child support."

Tate giggled but stopped as Jimmy approached. "I'll find Faith."

"Keep her away from me," Baxter warned.

"Me too," Jimmy added, but Tate had already disappeared into the garden.

After a trip to the bar for a glass for Baxter and a refill for Jimmy, the two men found seats in the shadows by the back fence. It was a small backyard like most on Beacon Hill, except the Kane's which was unique with enough space to play soccer or wiffle ball. If Baxter ever hit a baseball, he would hit a window of an adjacent home.

"What's new?" Baxter asked.

"Nothing exciting. I've been traveling to Seattle to check on things for my uncle."

Baxter nodded. "Would you ever marry beneath you like your cousin or..."

"Or Mr. Bates." Jimmy chuckled. "Missus grabbed my ass."

"I guess we know where Junior gets it from." Baxter looked for Tate and was glad to see her friends had surrounded her.

"To answer your question, I'm not sure I'll ever get married. It would take someone special."

"Could she be poor?" Baxter asked.

"No, she wouldn't be." Jimmy's reply was a matter of fact.

"Are you seeing anyone?"

Jimmy shook his head. "Not in this state."

Baxter laughed. Jimmy traveled around the country making deals and left a wake of broken hearts. "You sure you don't have little Jimmys running around."

"Don't joke about that."

Their conversation flowed to companies Jimmy was investing in and buildings on Baxter's radar.

"We need refills." Baxter held up his glass.

Jimmy stood. "Safety in numbers."

Baxter laughed and drew attention. Faith looked at them. "Incoming," Baxter whispered.

"Jimmy Sinclair!" Phew! Baxter was happy to be the boring one. "Do you know Priscilla Bates?"

"Which brother did you marry?" Baxter asked.

"Neither. They're my cousins." She looked amused with sparkling blue eyes.

"We were headed to the bar." Jimmy stepped away.

"Nice to meet you." Baxter smiled as he stepped towards his friend.

Priscilla stepped his way. "I need a drink. You never introduced yourself."

"Baxter Kane."

She smiled. "I just met Tate."

"She's my sister."

"Are you an attorney too?"

He shook his head. "I'm C.O.O. of Kane Properties."

"I work in one of your buildings on State Street."

"What do you do?" He let his eyes wander discreetly. Damn, he was subconsciously comparing.

"I'm an attorney with Martin, Walsh, and Blum."

"Are you from the area?" They had stopped walking, and Jimmy had disappeared.

"No, New York, but I wanted a change. So now I bill sixty hours a week."

He chuckled. "I work as much if not more."

Jimmy returned and handed him a glass. "I'm James Sinclair. You've done the impossible."

"Impossible?" She had a soft laugh.

Jimmy slapped his back. "You caught Baxter's attention."

She hadn't, but he wasn't rude. She smiled and was attractive with brown hair, the opposite of blond. As he took a sip, he scanned her gown. Even when he lingered on her breast, he didn't feel it.

"He's teasing." She put her hand on Baxter's arm and he didn't feel the heat.

Her scent was pleasant, as was her smile and laugh. He itched his neck and felt the chain. Don't overthink it. "So your father is Jarrod's brother?"

"Jeremy Bates. He's a ..."

"Chemist. He owns a large chemical conglomerate."

"Watch out Jimmy will try a takeover."

Sinclair shook his head. "Only if you wrong me or someone I care about."

She laughed again. "You two are fun. Faith was totally intense." She snatched a flute off a passing tray. "Tell me how long you've known each other."

"Since sailor suits." Jimmy winked.

It was odd women flocked to Jimmy, but her attention kept going back to Baxter. By the end of the night, he asked for her number. Maybe she could help him forget another beautiful lawyer, soon to be, but close enough.

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