The Cursed Cross (Cross 2)

Tate looked forward to Saturdays, but not the evenings. She avoided as many invitations as possible, but her mother forced her to attend certain events. The burden fell to her since Amelia was happy when Baxter and Ivy stayed home. Chin up, she'd suffer for her brother. Occasionally, Doyle or Kasper joined her which made the evenings somewhat bearable.

Bearable until Jimmy started seeing a pretty blonde. She wondered if he used the excuse he was seeing her as part of a deal. It was infuriating because he would laugh with his date and then lift his glass to Tate. What kind of game was he playing? She almost let all her frustrations out on Tom as she sat next to Rose at lunch, but he and Jimmy had been working closely.

"... Sinclair?"

She looked up. "What? I'm sorry. I was distracted."

"I'll help you with your problem if you help me with mine."

"I'm trying to stay home tonight."

He smiled. "If I can get a babysitter."

"No. You only have weekends with Rose."

"Jimmy wants to change that."

She narrowed her eyes. "Your time with Rose." The little girl looked up from her coloring at the sound of her name.

"My schedule. He wants me to work for him. It's a lucrative offer with a promise of fewer hours."

She nodded. "I leave at five most days if I want to." She didn't, because her apartment felt empty.

"Would you ever leave your family business?"

"No." As a child she had wanted to work with her father.

"When my aunt and uncle took me in, I was grateful for the security. My mother showed up occasionally, but she never recovered from my father's death. I was so indebted to them. Becoming a lawyer to work with Uncle Tom was my way of paying him back. Most associates work hard to advance. I do it to pay for the life I received."

"I can understand, but if you could have more time with..." She pointed her head towards Rose. "... or even have a life, wouldn't your uncle be happy?"

"I don't know. A life would be nice. Would you date me?"

She laughed. "No, we make good friends."

"Was your preoccupation about the guy who broke your heart?"

"My ex didn't break my heart." Duncan was her scapegoat.

"If you don't want me, I may ask someone else out."

"Who is she?"

"Just someone."

"You're being secretive or you're playing games."

He smiled. "Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not."

She rolled her eyes. "As for your problem, talk to your uncle. Tell him how you feel. He might surprise you."

"It's more because I would take business from the firm."

"It's an honor Jimmy respects you."

"What about you? That first night I thought, maybe? Did you ever date him?"

"Date? No. We want different things."

He laughed. "I'm not sure I see him at home as a family man."

Tate bit her lip. Jimmy was a homebody and family focused, but not wife and kids family. "Do you really have a babysitter?"

"Sometimes her m-o-m is home. She doesn't mind having her back for the night."

"Does her husband like her?"