I unlocked it, opened it and looked up at my guy wearing his construction outfit.

“Hey,” I whispered.

His eyes smiled. “Hey back.”

I leaned into him and tipped my head back. He put a hand light on my waist and bent to me, brushing his lips against mine.

I kept whispering and didn’t move even as he lifted away a bit, “You need a key.”

I watched his eyes flare then soften as he replied, “Back at you.”

I grinned and stepped away, moving in but out of the way so he could come in behind me.

“Morning, Mickey,” Lawr called.

“Lawr,” Mickey said as he walked into my house, me at his side. He looked to Auden. “Mornin’, Auden.”

Auden held his gaze only a second before he muttered to his coffee. “Mornin’, Mickey.”

“You want coffee?” I asked and Mickey looked down at me.

“Yeah, babe, but can’t stay too long. Just checkin’ in to see you’re all okay.”

That was why he hadn’t called yet that morning. He decided to do it in person.

“I’m good,” I told him, gave him another grin, reached out and took his hand for a quick squeeze. Then I let him go and went to the cupboard with the coffee mugs.

I was in the process of taking one down when Auden declared, “I know you think I’m a dick.”

I turned and froze when I saw Auden looking up at Mickey who was leaning back against the counter two feet away from me.

“Don’t think you’re a dick, bud,” Mickey said low, his eyes leveled on my son.

“I don’t blame you seeing as I was a dick,” Auden replied.

“Your mom’s filled me in, Auden, so I get it,” Mickey told him.

“Okay, well, that’s cool,” Auden returned. “But just so you know I’m actually not the dick I acted like last night. And it’s not like I’m the school’s most righteous dude, but I think people know not to mess with me. And I didn’t know her before. I also didn’t know what was going down. But now that I’ve met Ash, I’ll look after her.”

Something was coming from Mickey and I continued not to move as I felt it and watched him staring at my son.

Finally, he spoke.

And when he did, his voice was gruff.

“Can’t be there to look after my girl. Would mean a lot, you do it.”

Auden held my guy’s eyes, his chest puffing up, and he nodded.

I looked to Lawrie to see him gazing at my son, the pride I felt inside shining on my brother’s handsome face.

It was in that glorious moment, with unfortunate timing, Pippa wandered out of the hall in her wrinkled PJs, her hair an attractive mussed bedhead, her eyes to her feet.

“Hey, kiddo,” I called.

She looked up, caught sight of Mickey and stopped dead.

“Come on over and take a stool,” I invited like nothing was amiss. “I’m making breakfast.”