She got out of the car quickly and returned the smile Ashley threw her way. She heard Clay close his door and turned to introduce them to each other. She realized than that she was actually nervous. For reasons she was unwilling to admit to herself yet, it was important for this meeting to go well.

“Clay, I’d like you to meet Ashley, she went to school with me and your mom and dad.”

This information sparked something in the boys eyes. He had heard so much about his father from everyone in his family, but it never seemed enough. He was always excited to meet anyone who knew his father. So with a shy smile he stepped forward and reached out his hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, Ashley.”

Ashley gave him one of her most alluring smiles and Spencer almost laughed out loud at the glazed look that crept into his eyes. Ashley was already charming him as she knelt down and shook his hand.

“It’s really nice to meet you too. You look a lot like your dad and he was a pretty decent guy, so I guess that makes you one too, huh?”

Clay pulled himself up to his full size, which was not much seeing as he was only seven, and gave her a solemn smile

“Yup, Aunt Spencer says I’m exactly as good as my daddy was, so I guess that’s true.” he was quiet for a second as he stared at Ashley, “You have really pretty hair.”

Ashley threw her head back and laughed, making her soft, curled tendrils brush over her bare shoulder blades. The kid was something else alright. She already liked him more than anyone else in Spencer’s family.

“Thank you, that was sweet of you to say.”

She got up at this point and let her eyes roam over Spencer as she smilingly watched them. She felt her heart speed up at the sight of such a simple smile. She was so in love with that smile and she wondered how she had lasted all those years without it.

“So I was promised a day at the beach, not a day standing on your steps. Are we hitting the beach or what?”

She was actually just eager to see Spencer in a bikini, but was not about to say that out loud. She could take it as slowly as Spencer wanted, but she was not going to miss out on a perfectly good ogling opportunity.