It was depressing, but it was his life. Really, all he cared about was getting Claire help. This was their first time to Dr. Haley, and that was the main reason Phillip was fidgeting in his seat. He had been taking Claire to another doctor in town, but Claire hated him, and refused to go there anymore. Elli suggested Dr. Haley and, when Phillip met her, he felt good about her. She honestly looked like someone that could crack through the walls of his niece, and he ignored the fact that he wanted to f**k her. It was against his normal MO but hey, it was all about Claire these days.

When the door opened, he glanced up to see Claire coming out with Dr. Haley behind her. Claire wore her regular ‘I hate life’ expression, while Dr. Haley smiled widely at him in a way that told him she wanted him. Standing up and smoothing out the front of his shirt, he smiled.

“How’d it go?” he asked, but Claire ignored him and went for the door. He watched her leave and let out a frustrated breath before turning to give the hot doctor a strained smile. “Not good?”

She smiled.

“It’s gonna take time. She really is lovely.”

“Lovely?”

She laughed at his surprised expression before placing her hand on his bicep. He looked down at her hand and then smiled as his eyes met hers. Man, he’d love to f**k her. She had naughty little glasses that sat low on her nose, long blonde hair, a great body, and bright green eyes. Her eyes widened before she dropped her hand and cleared her throat.

Looking away, she said, “Yes, everything is going to work out. See you next week. Stay strong.”

She turned quickly and disappeared behind the door. With a sigh, he sent a grin at the receptionist, but she ignored him, before heading out after Claire. Finding her leaning against his car, he hit the unlock button so she could get in. Getting in the car himself, he started it before asking, “How did it go? You okay with Dr. Haley?”

She shrugged her shoulders, typing something on her phone, as she said, “Yeah.”

He rolled his eyes, pulling onto the main road before saying, “Okay, what did you two talk about?”

“She just wanted my history. I gave it to her.”

“Okay,” he said with a nod, then he stopped and looked over at her, “You didn’t lie, did you?”

“Oh yeah, I did. I don’t know that chick.”

Damn it.

“Claire, what is the point of you getting help if you lie?”

Claire shrugged her shoulders again as she said, “She saw right through me, don’t worry.”

Relief flooded him as he let out a breath.

“Thank God.”

“Yeah, so she’ll probably hound me next week for the real story, which I have no desire to relive.”

He looked over to see that she was looking out the window, a sad look on her face. He blew out a breath before saying, “It’s for the best.”

“So you have said.”

He didn’t know what else to say, so he clamped his mouth shut and drove towards Green Hills Mall. He figured that she could find everything she wanted there. After coaxing her to pick something, she finally did, and then there was no stopping her. He learned that Claire’s style was her own. She went from picking preppy clothes, to nerdy stuff, and then ended up at sporty. She threw in some brightly colored 80s stuff and then some conservative stuff. He didn’t care what she bought, as long as it made her happy.

“Is it okay if we go to Victoria Secret’s?”

He made a face as he shook his head.

“How about I sit out here while you go in. I don’t want to see the panties and bras you buy.”

When a true smile graced her face, his breath caught. She was so pretty when she really smiled.

“Okay, can I have some money?”

He handed her his credit card and sat down, placing all her bags around him. He watched as she walked into the black and pink store and stopped at the loungewear, picking up a few things. He didn’t know why since she had bought out the nightwear section at American Eagle, but there was no way he was stepping foot in the store with her while she bought undergarments.

That was not happening.

After waiting for what seemed like hours, she finally came out with a few bags and handed him his card.

“Why’d you get more lounge clothes?” he asked as he stood up, grabbing all her bags.

She looked down and shrugged her shoulders.

What the hell did that mean?

He watched her, waiting for an answer.

She finally looked up and said, “I have dance tomorrow.”

“Dance?” he asked, confused. He didn’t remember signing her up for that, or even know she wanted to dance.

“Yeah, with Reese.”

“Reese?” he asked, even though he knew exactly who Reese was. He had met her a few times, but never really talked to her. Only admired her from afar. She was hot as f**k with dark hair that went down to her bottom, honey brown eyes, and suck-you-dry lips that could bring a man to his knees. She had delectable curves and the greatest ass he had ever seen. Even though she was super sexy, he knew with one glance that she was a ball buster. Since he loved his balls very much, he tended to stay away.

“Harper’s sister. She owns a dance studio and asked me to train there. I’m on some probation or something. Harper seems pretty excited for me, and I guess it’s cool.”

It was the most she had talked to him without yelling since she had been with him. He ignored his need to fall to his knees and thank the Lord above, saying, “That’s right, I knew that, and yeah, it is cool. Reese is really awesome from what I hear. I didn’t know you liked to dance.”