“Your ex?” Clay asks.

I look up at him. “Yep.”

“And you watch his dog?”

“He’s a friend.”

“I bet he is.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I narrow my eyes on his.

“Nothing.”

“I help him out when he’s out of town for work.” I defend, then get annoyed with myself because I owe this man no explanation.

“And you have dinner with him?”

“Did you miss the part where he’s my friend?”

“I missed none of that, babe.”

“Good, babe.” I snap then stomp out of the elevator as soon as the doors open. I know my annoyance is irrational, I’ve had that same kind of conversation with Leah a million times, but coming from Clay, it feels different. Or maybe it is a culmination of his comments and Brodie’s reaction to him. Honestly, I’m too exhausted to figure any of it out right now.

When we reach my apartment door, I use the key to let us in, flip on some of the lights and leave Clay standing in the living room as I go to my bedroom. After grabbing my work laptop off my bed where I left it, I take it with me to the kitchen and start it up. It takes a minute to find Carly’s number in the database and when I do I turn to look at the man standing in the middle of the room looking around.

“I need a phone, I don’t have a landline.”

“Security in this place is shit and you don’t have a landline.”

“Security is actually great in this building, and no one has a landline nowadays.”

“I have one.”

“Okay, Grandpa, congratulations. Now, can I use your phone?”

He comes to where I’m sitting, and I fight the urge to show any kind of reaction once he’s in my space and leaning into me.

“Say, ‘Please’.”

“Can I use your phone, please?” I say even though the word “no” is on the tip of my tongue.

He stands back and reaches into his pocket, pulling out his cell phone. “Was that so hard?”

Yes, it was, but I can’t figure out why I have the urge to push back, or why everything feels difficult when it comes to this man. After unlocking it, he hands it over and I notice the screen saver is a photo of a little dark-haired girl with bright pink bows in her hair with her arms wrapped around Skye’s neck.

“My niece,” he says.

I look up at him shocked that he gave me that so easily. “She’s adorable.”

“She’s trouble,” he says with a soft look on his face.

My stomach flutters. Damn, but I like that look on him. I duck my head and pull up the phone pad so I can dial Carly’s number. When the phone starts to ring, I put the call on speaker, figuring it will be easier for him to just listen rather than having to relay what she said.

“Hello.” Carly answers, sounding like she just woke up and I instantly feel a sense of relief.