The Cursed Cross (Cross 2)

7 - Mistake

Tate sighed and popped in her earbuds. She shut her eyes and tried to rest. They had been in meetings all day, but Baxter had insisted on flying halfway across the country at ten at night. She opened her eyes and shook her head. Baxter and Dani were still at work.

"It was easier when you were single."

Baxter looked up over his glasses. "You would want to sleep in your own bed if you had a warm body waiting for you."

She blushed at the memory and immediately frowned at waking up alone. The only sign Jimmy remembered was his comments about cake flavor. Baxter turned back to his laptop. She popped in her earbuds and put a movie on her laptop. A romance that ended happily, clearly a fiction.

"Tate. Tate!"

She took a bud out. "What?"

"We were discussing the Cancer event. Are you going?"

"Would mother let me avoid it?"

Baxter laughed. "So I'll count you as one at our table."

"Our. You're so settled." Her green eyes kept her from embracing their joy.

"It'll be fine." Baxter smiled reassuringly.

Dani added, "Maybe your guy will be there."

"My guy?" She scrunched her face creating a unibrow.

"You know the cross lore. Whoever you kissed in high school."

"Who told you about that?" As much as they included her, Dani wasn't family.

Dani slumped like a wounded animal. "Tate, it's common knowledge you wore the cross for years. You must have kissed some guy."

"Does everyone know about the stupid lore?" Tate spat.

Baxter shook his head. "Believe me, it's real. I'm just glad it didn't end up a curse for me and Ivy."

It was after midnight, when the plane landed at the executive terminal. Baxter looked at his phone. "We made good time. Macintyre's on his way."

Another plane taxied in. When the door to the terminal opened, Baxter turned his head. "Hey, where were you?"

"Vail actually."

Tate knew the voice. She turned to see the face she dreamed of. His suit fit perfectly. Even Baxter looked rumpled, but not Jimmy.

Her voice shook like the turbulence they hit on their morning flight. "You don't look like you were skiing."

He nodded. "Just investigating a new opportunity."

Baxter laughed, but Tate glared. Jimmy had a reputation. It baffled her, because it didn't match the boy she knew. Or the lover.

"Excuse me. My car's here. Have a pleasant night."

As his broad shoulders walked away, an uncomfortable tugging in her chest left her confused. Their car arrived and once settled Dani asked about Kasper's latest adventure.

Baxter answered, "His thirty days are up tomorrow. If he's still in it, he'll know if they won tomorrow."

Tate wished her brother's adventure didn't include her ex and his wife. Jimmy mentioned Vail and her mind went to Duncan. Not a coincidence.

Mac pulled up in front of her apartment first. "Thanks, Tate. You were invaluable."

"Just doing my job."

Baxter grabbed her arm. "Hey, I mean it. I appreciated your effort."

She smiled. "It's hard to tell which Baxter you are. COO or..."