Ivy threw herself into her studies. Thanks to Jimmy, she had interviews with three different firms. In a few months, she could be working sixty hours a week. It would be the perfect solution to forget about Baxter. Every time they were alone his lips landed on hers and she was powerless to pull away.

Her head was aching from studying when her phone chimed. A text message from Baxter. Join me in celebrating the signed union contract.

He was presumptuous as he wrote a car would pick her up on Saturday at four. It was early for dinner. She could have a drink with him. He wouldn't kiss her in public. Public was safe. Her belly tumbled at the thought she no longer worked for him. With the barrier removed, what if he wanted to say goodbye? The thought of not seeing him again made her sad. But he kept kissing her. Maybe she should give herself something to be heartbroken about.

"You look like you're single handedly trying to solve world peace and climate change at the same time."

Ivy looked up at Eleanor. She had been staring at the text message. "Baxter wants to celebrate with me."

"He's so sweet."

"You may be the only Kane employee who thinks he's sweet. He likes his reputation of being tough."

"How do you know?" She smiled. "Have you seen his sweet side?"

"It doesn't matter. We'll never be."

Eleanor smiled. "I thought it was Jimmy?"

"No. He's a distraction. Baxter will marry someone acceptable." The same time next year romance was exciting in books, but Ivy didn't want to be Baxter's mistress.

"If it's mutual, Baxter will fight for you."

Ivy shook his head. "I don't belong in that house."

"Go celebrate your hard work. Let the future figure itself out."

A once a year rendezvous in Aspen. Just thinking about Aspen made her reply affirmatively. On Saturday, she paced back and forth wearing a tight mini dress and heels. When the car arrived, it was Jimmy's favorite hired driver. "Are you working for Mr. Sinclair?"

"Not tonight miss." The backseat was empty when she slid in. The streets of Boston came into view after they crossed the river. It was a warm October day and people were out in droves. Couples walking hand in hand caught her attention. She doubted she would ever walk down the street with the man she loved. She froze until she had to wipe her eyes. It was the first time she allowed the thought into her consciousness.

The car stopped by the harbor. As the driver opened the door, he said, "Slip twenty-three. Do you need an escort?"

She looked around. There were signs, so she shook her head. As she walked, she wondered what he had planned. One more thing to check off her list; she had never been on a boat before. She passed yachts and smaller boats. The boat in number twenty-three wasn't as big as the others, but the tall mast towered over the deck.

Just as she was about to call out, she saw him. His face lit up at the sight of her. He looked comfortable in faded jeans and a gray cotton sweatshirt. Meanwhile, she wobbled in her heels.

"I should have told you not to dress, but I'm glad you did. You look beautiful."

"What are we doing here?"

"A little sunset cruise. Come aboard." He reached out his hand and pulled her to him. She crashed into his hard body and he didn't let go.

"Hi." His voice cracked. "Come see."

She followed him down below. A table had been set with real dishes and candles. "Did you do all this?"

He smiled. "All by myself. I bought the food myself."

"At a supermarket?"

He laughed and shook his head. "A gourmet market. Wine?"

She nodded. It was the first time she felt alone with him since Aspen. The times when they had been alone, people were always outside his office or the driver was in the front seat of the car.

"Take off your shoes. You might get cold, but we have sweatshirts and blankets. I'm just going to take us out of the marina and drop anchor."

"Is this yours?"

"It's my father's. His..."

"What?"

"We always said it was his one true love, but he told me he had a love he let go."

"Let go?"

"I'm not supposed to say anything. Forget it. It's the past. He married my mother and I'm very glad he did."

"Why am I here? So you can let me go?"

He shook his head. "I don't plan to let you go. My father didn't know he gave me my leverage."

"Leverage. It's not a business deal."

"No. Come up on deck."

She watched as he untied the ropes and pushed off. With a turn of a key, the motor chugged to life. The smell of exhaust and gasoline wasn't as unpleasant as one might expect. He looked regal at the wheel. Almost like a young JFK, but more handsome.

They cleared the marina and Baxter stopped at a spot in the harbor closer to the shoreline. A ferry went by at a distance, so she was glad to be out of the way. They were far enough out for privacy.

"You don't want to be seen with me?"

He smirked. "The last I knew you were Jimmy's girl."

"Oh. Right. I keep forgetting. I haven't seen him recently."

"He probably has a big deal going."

"I thought he just invested money."

Baxter nodded. "He does, but he's also known for hostile takeovers."

"He's too nice."

Baxter laughed. "I'm much nicer in business. Here's to a new union agreement. I couldn't have done it without you."

"I owe you thanks too for helping me find an area in law to interest me."

"Let's go down so I can show you what I bought."

She walked down ahead, and Baxter grabbed her from behind and held her. "For six months, I haven't been able to forget you. I never want to."

"I don't want to be your girl who sits on the sidelines waiting for you to visit."

"You're beautiful." His hand ran down her side to her hip. Her body felt alive as her bottom pushed into his erection. She giggled as he turned her in his arms. "What's so funny?"

"How could she not know?"

He frowned. "Because I couldn't convince myself to want her. You are all I want. Only you."

She shook her head. "It's a suicide mission." His lips stopped her from continuing. She didn't know what she planned to say except her heart would get broken, but it would if they had one date or a hundred.

His hand ran up her thighs and under her dress. He smiled on her lips when he found her wet. "I love how you are always ready for me."

She ran her hand along him. It hadn't been a distorted memory. "What about you?"

He moved her through a door and pushed her down on a bed. Standing over her with dark eyes, he released himself from his jeans and let the denim fall. Then he took his shirt off over his head. Her mouth was dry as she looked at him. She wanted to claim him for herself, never to share him.

He knelt on the bed between her legs and lifted her into the middle. "Take your dress off?"

She giggled at his command. Only Baxter could boss her around and she liked it. He helped pull the tight garment over her head. She watched as his eyes feasted on her breasts and smooth skin. "As beautiful as in my dreams."

He tore open a packet and rolled the sleeve on his engorged member, then he settled between her legs. With his elbows propping him up on either side of her head, he kept eye contact as he entered her. Her body remembered him and stretched for him. Together face to face they rocked with the boat.

He kissed her as they came together as if they hadn't been apart. "I can't live without you." Tears leaked out of her eyes, and he gathered her up. "Shush. Don't cry, this is a good thing."

"How? Your mother?"

"We'll find a way. I always get what I want."

"I'm not a skyscraper in Chicago."

He shook his head. "No skyscraper is as beautiful as you. Let's get some food before the sun goes down." He sat up and disappeared. When he returned, he put on his pants. "You can freshen up in there." He pointed to the door he just exited.

After the bathroom, she put her dress on and joined him. He had a selection of marinated salads and sliced meats with crusty bread. She had never had a picnic like it. The conversation wasn't stifled, and the evening felt like Aspen on a boat. "I'm glad I'm not a hooker anymore."

Baxter blushed. "I may never live that down."

"Is Tate okay? I never see her anymore."

Baxter paused for a moment. "I think so."

"She doesn't like me with Jimmy."

"Because she knows he'll never be serious."

"What would she say if she knew it was you?"

"Me?" He chuckled.

"You. I..." Love. "... um, want."

"Want? I can think of a better word."

Ivy swallowed dry air. "You can?"

He nodded. "Uh, huh. Do you want to hear it?"

"Yes. No! I don't know." She covered her face.

He chuckled. "Let's take our wine up to watch the sunset."

They sat as the sky changed to pink and orange around the cityscape. "It's amazing. Thank you."

"You are the amazing one."

As soon as the globe sizzled behind the buildings. Baxter sprang up. "We can continue our evening back at the marina."

She shivered with the sun down and without his warmth next to her. She found a Suffolk Law sweatshirt and pulled it over her head. When she returned on deck, he smiled. "Perfect."

Once he tied the boat up at the dock, Baxter waved her to follow him down. "Keep me company while I clean up."

"I can help."

"Only if you want to. I'm trying to prove I'm not helpless."

She laughed. "I never thought you were." She picked up a stuffed olive and popped it in her mouth. She giggled as he stared at her lips. "You are dirty."

"Only with you. Everything is only you."

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