“I’m starting to see a theme, Mouse,” Clay whispers against my ear.

I shiver and turn to glare at him. “Stop calling me that.”

“Never.” He smiles at me up close.

His expression does something weird to my stomach. Refusing to think about what that feeling is, I turn my attention to Winter when she comes back to us carrying two bright orange plastic hats.

“We have to wear these.” She hands me one of the hats and then puts one on her head. “Uncle Clay says he doesn’t have to because he has a hard head.”

“I believe that.” I tell her and she shrugs, then takes my hand once more leading me through the maze of boxes, piles of wood, paint cans and building supplies to the back of the building where the elevator is. When we reach it, Clay touches his cell phone to the panel on the front which causes the door to open up and once we’re all inside, Winter presses the button for the fifth floor. When the doors open again, we enter a familiar hallway and take a right to the only doors on the floor and Clay uses his phone again to let us inside his place.

The moment we step through the door, Skye is there to greet us, first going to Winter to get a hug that makes my heart melt, then coming over to me.

“Hey girl.” I squat down to rub my fingers through her thick fur, and she makes a chuffing sound as she nuzzles my neck. Once I’ve given her a proper greeting, I stand and look around. Without the hangover I had the last time I was here I’m able to truly appreciate just how beautiful the vast space is. And I imagine that his entire home must be the size of the area downstairs that is currently being worked on which makes me curious about what is behind some of the doors that are closed.

“Kick off your shoes and get comfortable, babe,” Clay orders me as he walks to the kitchen with the shopping bags.

Winter drops her backpack, takes off her hat and leaves it next to the door along with her coat.

Since I still have on the heels I wore to work that might not be killing my feet but aren’t exactly comfortable, I slip them off, then pad across the warm concrete floors in my stockings. I then take off my coat and lay it over the back of the couch along with the fitted suit jacket I wore over the silky button-down top I tucked into my pencil skirt.

“Willow, do you want to see my doll house?” Winter asks from across the room grabbing my attention.

I start to tell her “yes”, but before I can get my mouth open, Clay cuts me off.

“Reading first. You know your dad will have my ass if you don’t get your homework done.”

“Aww come on, I just want to show her it.”