She laughed out loud before shaking her head. “Liar!”

“No really. Ever since I got your pieces in my mouth, it’s the only candy I ever want.”

“You’re so dirty! My niece calls me that, and now I’m gonna think of you every time she says it!”

A devilish grin came over his mouth. “Good.”

It had been hours since Phillip left, and Reese’s body was still humming with aftershocks from him. Jesus, that man curled her toes. Shaking out her limbs, she stretched and loved how relaxed she was. It had been the perfect morning. Breakfast was wonderful and the sex was burning hot. As she set herself up for a turn, she paused and her smile fell. She was going to miss Phillip while he was gone. Three long weeks without him? Without his kisses, his smiles, and most of all, his dick? That was so wrong to do to someone. He said he craved her. Well, she craved him right freaking back.

But she couldn’t think of that. No, not only was it pointless because it wasn’t going to make him stay, but she was getting too close and it was good that he was leaving. This would put some distance between them and halt her roaming feelings. Bastard ass feelings. What were they thinking?

Rolling her eyes, she went to the radio as the door opened and Claire strolled in with her bag on her shoulder.

“Hey,” she called out with a grin on her face.

“Hey, where’s Brian?”

Claire shrugged her shoulder. “I don’t know, I thought he would have beaten me here. Phillip was hell getting out of bed.”

A smile tugged at her mouth. She had nothing to do with that at all.

“He’s so tired; he’s asleep in the car. Weirdo,” she said with a laugh before dropping down to stretch.

Reese smiled. “Since he’s here, you should show him your solo. You said you wanted to a while back, but haven’t done it yet. Does he not want to see it?”

Claire looked away. She looked so pretty today. She wore a large Assassins’ purple sweatshirt that she had cropped and cut off the arms with tight, black shorts over a pair of purple tights. Her hair was in a high ponytail with a braid wrapped around the base. She was wearing makeup, more than likely wanting to impress Brian, which she would—she was gorgeous.

“He does, but I don’t know,” she said, letting out a breath. “I’m afraid he won’t think I’m good and then he’ll think he is wasting his money and pull me.”

That shocked Reese. Was this kid serious? “Claire, that is ludicrous. You are phenomenal, and I’m sure your uncle already knows that. I think it would be nice to show him.”

Claire shrugged as Brian strolled in. She shot him a grin before nodding. “Yeah.”

“Well, think about it. Let’s get this duet perfected first.”

Claire shook her head. “I want to show him. I’m gonna text him to come in here in what, forty-five minutes?”

Reese smiled. “Yeah, that’s all we need.”

Claire typed it on her phone quickly and then laid it down before stretching further with Brian. They got done earlier than Reese thought, and she knew that these two were going to clean up in Chicago. After saying bye to Brian, Claire went through her dance a few times. Reese could tell she was nervous. The girl could spin for hours on one foot but the day her uncle was coming to watch her dance, she was falling out a simple double. It boggled Reese’s mind, but she understood. This was big. This was going to help things for them. Seeing Claire dance to a song she choreographed with only minimal help from Reese was going to blow Phillip away and then in turn, he would reassure her how proud he was. The only issue now was that Reese was nervous herself. It was crazy, but what if he hated it?

No, there was no way that would ever happen. Claire was fabulous, and Reese was the best damn chorographer in Tennessee. Maybe even the south. She knew her stuff… So what was the explanation for the butterflies going nuts in her stomach and her heart beating in overtime? Ugh, she needed to get herself together. This wasn’t like her. She wasn’t the nervous, jittery type. She was confident, and she needed to exhibit that because if Claire saw she was nervous, then she would get even more nervous.

Looking across the studio, she placed her hands on her hips and called out, “Claire! Come on. It’s a double.”

Claire stopped, bracing her hands on her knees and taking in a deep breath as she looked down at the floor. When she looked up at Reese, she saw the tears in Claire’s eyes. Holding her hands out, Reese asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m nervous as hell,” she cried out, taking in a deep breath. “I don’t want to mess up, and that’s all I keep thinking about.”

“Even if you mess up, Claire, it’s okay.”

Reese and Claire both looked towards the door to see Phillip enter, walking in the carefree way that had Reese’s body tingling. Her body sang for his and soon she found herself taking a step to go greet him, but then remembered that Claire was in the room. That always happened for some reason. When they were in the room together, no one else mattered. Only her and him. It freaked her the hell out, but then again, she didn’t care. She liked him, and that was okay. She could like him and still walk away with no cares in the world. She wasn’t worried at all. Or at least she was trying to believe that.

“I mess up all the time, miss shots and all that. As long as you try, I’m going to be proud of you. Don’t worry. It’s me, I’m easy,” he said, making Reese’s heart blow up in her chest. She wanted to shake Claire for making this man work for her love the way she had, but she knew it had been rough on her. Things were tough when you were young. Everything seemed so life altering, and you found yourself pushing people away, but regardless, you learn that the people that matter would always be there. No matter what.