Baxter sat back and listened to the architect present design options for the renovation of the first multi use building project. Everything came with a price tag and his team had a lot of crucial decisions to make. He looked at his watch. They had been at it for three hours. "How about a break?" A few around the table nodded, and he stood. "Let's say fifteen."

As soon as he stepped out of the conference room, Danielle jumped up from her desk. "How's it going?"

"Tedious. What'd I miss?"

"Ivy called, but there's an issue in Phoenix."

Baxter listened to Danielle explain about a water main break flowing into one of their buildings. "Get the head of maintenance on the line." Ivy. "And call Ivy back. Tell her I'll be working late if she wants to study."

"Take two seconds to text her. She doesn't want me as your go-between."

"Fine. You're right. Phoenix."

He texted Ivy as he waited for the call to go through. By the time he had an update on the situation, he was late returning to the conference room. At least he was living up to his reputation. "Sorry, I had a flood to deal with."

It was after five before they wrapped up with some sizable progress. Danielle followed him into his office. "I held down the fort, but your inbox is full."

"It always is."

He picked up his phone and had multiple text messages from his father and one from Ivy. One thing was going right, Ivy was coming to study while he worked. His father heard about Phoenix. He looked up. "Did you talk to my father?"

She nodded. "He came looking for you. I told him you were on it."

"Is he still here?"

She looked around. "I didn't see him leave, but he doesn't say goodbye to me."

"I'll go check. Thanks, Danielle." His father would want to hear about the flood from him directly.

"Should I order dinner for two?"

"Could you check with Ivy for me, please? Let her decide."

His father's office was opposite his on the other side of the boardroom which took up the middle of the twentieth floor. As Baxter walked around the corner his father's executive secretary stood in his office doorway. Sue Ellen had worked for Philip for several years. Sue Ellen. Ellie? He shook his head. The redhead was closer to his age than his father's.

She turned when he approached. "Baxter is here." She stepped aside to let him enter his father's office.

Philip looked at him as he slipped into his overcoat. "What's the status on Phoenix?"

"Maintenance is pumping the water out of the garage. They have it under control."

"You need to fly out and check on it yourself."

"Dad, we have other employees whose job it is to look into the situation. Plus with technology, I can see the damage remotely."

"I would feel better if you checked up on it. A Kane needs to show his face."

"Send Kasper. He interned in maintenance just like me. He can handle a situation like this. I have irons in too many fires here."

His younger brother graduated with top honors in business. Instead of using his MBA, he climbed trees for coconuts on television. During his schooling, the younger brother worked in many departments just as Baxter had. The difference was they always treated Kasper like the baby.

Philip stared at his oldest son like he had grown a second head. "He's not ready."

"Ready for what? Inspect some damage. Get a report from the structural engineer which both of us and Joe will read. Maybe we should send Joe, he is our structural engineer. Or send Doyle with Kasper to take photographs."

"I'd rather it be you."

"You could go with them."

He shook his head. "Your mother won't let me travel. My heart."

"But she lets you go out a few nights a week with your old cronies. This is new for you."

He nodded. "Since my heart, I work less so I can enjoy life."

"Enjoy life or Ellie?" Baxter wished he could suck his words back.

"How? It's my personal business."

"I run this company. I know things. Does mother know you're meeting your true love? That's who she is right?"

"Why would I hurt your mother? She loves me."

But he loved her less than Ellie. "I won't hurt her, as long as you are always on my side."

"Blackmail doesn't suit you."

"Well adultery doesn't suit you. I'm sending Kasper and Joe. Kasper's a Kane, and Joe has the knowledge."

He turned before his father argued. Baxter hid his smile. The encounter went very well. Danielle narrowed her eyes as she watched him walk back. "My meeting went well. Joe needs to go to Phoenix, I'm asking Kasper to go with him."

"I'll contact Joe, but Kasper is all yours. Why did you decide on your brother?"

Baxter shrugged. "He insisted on a Kane and I have better things to do. He popped into my head."

Baxter called his brother. "What's wrong, is Dad okay?"

"He's fine. In fact, he agreed to let you represent the company in Phoenix."

"What's in Phoenix?"

"A water main broke which flooded a lower level garage. We're sending you and our structural engineer to check on it."

"Why me?"

"Because you are the director of business operations. Reality TV watchers across America see that title every week."

"It sounded better than being a model."

"Well, you need to earn the right to use your title. We'll have Gavin ready at seven am. You can sleep on the plane." On the bed where he had made love to Ivy. Baxter hung up before his brother could argue.

Danielle appeared. Joe's all set and I called Gavin. Ivy is bringing your dinner. What else do you need me to do?"

"Go see if my father left. Then go home."

"He did. I watched him and Sue Ellen walk out together."

Baxter shook his head. The woman was too young. A sourness reminded him Ivy could be wrong about her mother.

When Ivy arrived, Baxter's head was buried in work. The evening security guard had stopped calling him before allowing her in the elevator. He received Celtics tickets as a bonus for keeping Baxter's personal business private. Macintyre often waited in the lobby. His bonuses were worth a lot more than basketball tickets, even courtside seats, although he received those occasionally too.

A smile lit her beautiful face as she held up a brown bag. "Are you hungry?"

"I could eat, but I really want a kiss."

He stood, and she met him halfway around the large desk. Her lips took away all the tension from his day. When he dragged his lips off hers, he buried his face in her neck so he could breathe her in.

"Bad day?"

"Yes, no. A little of both. How was yours?"

She smiled. "You are looking at the newest junior associate at Martin, Walsh, and Blum."

Baxter picked her up and spun her around. "Congratulations! I knew you could do it."

Her law firm's office was in a Kane Properties building. He had a friendly chat with the managing partner when he called verifying her internship. Any other decision would have been the wrong one for them. It wasn't a threat because he wasn't Jimmy and occupancy rates were down. Instead, he had talked up her valuable skills.

"I'm excited and nervous."

"You'll do amazing. What did you bring to eat?"

"Pasta from the Italian place near the station."

"Did Danielle order it?"

"No, I did. I'm buying us dinner to celebrate. I won't be poor anymore."

Baxter laughed. If he had his way, she definitely wouldn't.

"I still need to graduate and pass the bar."

"You will. You're almost done."

Ivy took containers out of the bag. Garlic scented the air. "Tell me about your day?"

"My meeting with the architects was long but productive. I talked my father out of sending me to Phoenix. We're sending Kasper instead."

"Really? He agreed?"

"I didn't give him a choice. I can make things happen." He could make sure they happened, but for once he wanted to talk about something different. "When do you start?"

"Not until the first of the year. I want time to move quickly."

"I'd like it to slow down when I'm with you." They were both sitting at a small table. Baxter took her hand and held it until he needed to use his knife. He could change; he ate with plastic utensils instead of the silverware available in the executive kitchen. If he spoke his thoughts out loud Ivy would laugh at him and use it as a reason they shouldn't be together.

Ivy asked about his plans for the building. She always listened when even Tate would complain he only talked about work. When she made a simple suggestion he missed, he smiled. "We make a great team. I wish I had a job for you."

She shook her head. "The firm encourages Pro Bono work. I'm afraid I might prefer providing free services best."

"That doesn't surprise me. One day, you might not have to work for money."

She shook her head. "I need the experience the firm can give me."

"Did you tell Tate your good news?"

She laughed. "No. I wanted to tell you first."

He smiled. "I like being someone's first. Your first."

"You weren't my first." He frowned, feeling like a misogynistic wishing he were. Damn Doyle. "I didn't mean it that way."

"I like being the one you think about first."

She looked down. "I told my mother, but only because you were working."

He laughed. "That's okay. She must be proud."

"She is. She keeps warning me. Her guy broke her heart."

Or she didn't want her daughter to date the son of the man she was secretly seeing. Baxter held his suspicions. They wouldn't help his goals. "We need to celebrate."

She smiled. "I want a poor man's date. I'll even pick you up. Wear jeans."

He smiled. "I'll go anywhere with you."

On Saturday, Baxter waited for a text from Ivy. It often felt like he lived alone in the vertically sprawling home. No one was around to see him leave. As he climbed into the old sedan, Ivy smiled. "What?"

"Baxter Kane riding in my bucket of bolts."

"I've done a lot of things I've never thought I'd do, thanks to you."

"You're thanking me for driving you in my car."

"No, I'm thanking you for treating me like a regular guy."

Ivy laughed. "You aren't a regular guy. Have you ridden in the front seat before?"

She merged onto Storrow Drive. "Ha ha. Where are we going?"

"To a chain restaurant."

He winced. "Olive Garden?"

"No. Worse." Ivy laughed.

"Worse isn't a good thing."

"But it'll be fun to see you suffer."

"I thought you loved me." He pouted.

"I do." She laughed.

Baxter distracted himself by pressing the buttons on her radio. He was curious to check out her preset stations. "Classic rock?"

"So. I listen to pop and alternative too. Not classical."

Baxter laughed. "You think I listen to classical? Jazz, but not concertos."

"We don't even know what kind of music the other likes."

"Don't make that an excuse. Let's enjoy an overrated dinner and celebrate your job offer."

"Overrated. You are such a snob."

"But you like it. Admit it." He reached over to tickle her side.

"Don't. I'm driving."

Baxter frowned. "Sorry. Please concentrate. You're a skilled driver. I could hire you as a chauffeur."

Ivy laughed. "I have a job. Plus, I'd rather be in the backseat with you. Here we are."

Baxter looked up. "Applebees. You brought me to Applebees."

She smiled. "You say you love me and our differences don't matter. This would be a big night out for me. I can imagine what your night out entailed. A tux. Scotch or maybe champagne."

Ivy got out of the car before he could get around to her side. He took her hand and walked to the door. The building was in the parking lot of a shopping center. After they ate, they could buy groceries or a mattress. Or tires. Or even get a massage.

A group of people gathered around the entrance. "Looks like a wait."

"A wait? Can we?" He never waited. A generous tip always found a table.

Ivy laughed. "Not in the real world. Welcome."

She was having too much fun. "Are you mocking me?"

She laughed. "Maybe a little."

He stood by while she gave her name. The girl said thirty minutes which wasn't awful considering the people waiting. It was loud with a baby crying and a mother yelling just before a small body ran into his legs. He looked down at the small person with his boardroom glare and the little one started crying.

Ivy frowned and whispered. "Be nice." She put her arm around him and hugged him.

The last thing he worried about was being recognized. He wore jeans and his wool peacoat. Ivy looked beautiful in jeans. She felt shorter to him with flat tennis shoes. "Do you play tennis?"

She laughed. "No, they are just sneakers. Do you have different pairs for different activities?"

"I don't play tennis. My mother never made us."

"What did she make you do?"

They stood close together not taking up space in the crowded room. Baxter had grown accustomed to being noticed in any room he walked in. Anonymity felt liberating. "We tried almost everything. None of us are musical. Definitely not me. Once I started playing baseball, that was my focus."

"Did you dream of being a professional player?"

"Maybe when I was young, but I'm a realist. I knew I would never be good enough. I went to the best school with the best coach, but I couldn't buy talent."

"Maybe you can buy a team someday."

Baxter laughed. "You know me better than I do. I might need to add that to my list of goals."

"You have a list?" She looked up at him.

He tapped his temple. "Number one you. Two increase occupancy. And now three own a team down the line. I'm too busy now with one and two."

"Only three goals."

He shrugged. "The rest will happen. What are yours? You have the job and are almost done with school."

"Pass the bar. Do well at my job. Get a place of my own."

"Ive, where do I fit in?"

She frowned. "To be determined."

"Where do you want me to fit in?"

"By my side." Her eyes pleaded for something from him.

He brushed her lips. "In your place, not on your own?"

She nodded. "If it works out."

"It will. I always get what I want."

Next update is Monday. Enjoy your weekend ❤

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