Author's Note: This takes place the week after the dinner with Ray & Naima and the weekend Emma spends with Clay.


Emma slowly ran her hairbrush through the length of her hair. She still had a little while before Clay would arrive to pick her up for her birthday dinner. Actually, this would be her second birthday dinner. She was supposed to have this dinner with her Dad and Mikey the night before her birthday, but that was cancelled because her Dad was spun up and didn't get back until early on the morning of her birthday. They had been trying to reschedule since then, but all three of their schedules had made it difficult. Tonight was finally the night they were all available, only a month late. This made it her second birthday dinner though because Clay had taken her out on her birthday for a picnic on the beach.

The original dinner was supposed to be just her, Mikey and her Dad. Of course, when they had planned that one, she wasn't dating Clay. After they started trying to reschedule, her Dad asked if she wanted to invite Clay. She had been surprised, but happy, that her Dad was willing to include Clay.

However, she was a little nervous as this would be the first time since she and Clay had started dating that the two of them as a couple would spend an extended period of time with her Dad. Okay, she was more than a little nervous. She was a lot nervous.

According to Clay, her Dad was all business when they were on base. Although Emma took that statement with a grain of salt since Clay had glossed over how angry her father had been when Clay approached him for permission to date her. She didn't think her father would be difficult exactly. She knew he wouldn't have included Clay in the dinner if he was still upset about them dating, but just because he wasn't upset any more didn't mean he was happy about it either.

Part of the problem, Emma thought, was that her Dad had never really seen or spent time with her when she had a steady boyfriend. Not that she really had any serious boyfriends in high school. There was a guy she dated for a little while at the end of her sophomore year, Sam, but they weren't serious. They had been more friends, but even so her Dad had never even met him. He had been deployed for most of that time. Her Mom was the one who had met Sam and most of Emma's casual dates.

When she was a freshman an upperclassman had asked her to the winter formal. James was a junior and a little bit geeky, but very nice. Her father had been there when James picked her up. Her mother had to stop her Dad from getting out his service weapon and having it ready to clean when James arrived.

She also suspected her mother had told her Dad about Julian, but Dad had never met him, and then her Mom died, and it didn't matter anymore.

What all of this meant though was that her Dad wasn't used to seeing her with a steady boyfriend, holding hands or, God forbid, kissing. She basically had the issue of her Dad needing to get used to seeing her in a relationship, complicated by the fact that the relationship was with Clay. She thought they were all in for a bumpy period of adjustment, and tonight's dinner was the just the beginning of that.

Emma sighed, put down her hairbrush, and turned away from the mirror. She was ready to go now but still had about ten minutes until Clay arrived. She picked up her phone and texted Hannah.

Emma

Leaving soon for birthday dinner with Dad, Clay & Mikey

Hannah

Where again? I want to sit at a table nearby and spy

Emma

Ha ha

Hannah

Just sayin it should be entertaining.

Emma

I do live to entertain you

Hannah

20 bucks says Uncle Jason does that thing where he rubs his hands thru his hair cause he's stressed within the first half hour.

Emma

Not helping

Hannah

Ohhh I'm supposed to help.

Don't worry it will be fun. There will be presents and fettuccine. What more could you want?

Emma

That's better

Hannah

Just don't kiss Clay with tongue while your dad's around.

Emma

Hannah!

Hannah

No kissing at all while your dad's around actually

Emma

Going now!

Hannah

Have fun!

Emma shook her head as she dropped her phone into her purse. She walked over to her closet and grabbed the sandals she wanted to wear. These were her new favorite shoes. They had straps studded with rhinestones that looked like flowers that wrapped around her foot and ankle. They were just dressy enough without being too fancy. Looking at them on her feet made her happy.

Just then there was a knock on her door. Knowing it was Clay, she opened the door without asking who it was.

"Hey," she said with a smile, leaning in for a kiss hello.

Clay kissed her gently and then stepped back. "Hi, you look beautiful."

"Thanks," she replied, stepping out the door and closing it behind her. "You look very handsome yourself," she added.

Mmm, and he did, she thought. That blue shirt brought out his eyes and it was just form-fitting enough to emphasize his muscular upper body. It definitely gave her ideas for later.

Clay took her hand as they started walking down the hall to the exit. "You know," Clay said seriously, "you should really ask who it is before you open the door."

Emma rolled her eyes just a little. At times like this, Clay sounded exactly like her Dad. "I knew it was you."

"Except I shouldn't even be able to make it to your door," Clay explained. "I shouldn't be able to get past the outside door. What if some other person got let in and knocked on your door?"

"I know," Emma agreed, "but at this point everyone knows you're my boyfriend. That's why they let you in."

"You could have broken up with me, and I now I'm stalking you," he pointed out.

Emma took a deep breath. Did she think exactly like her Dad? More like worse than her Dad.

"I promise that from now on I will always ask who it is," Emma assured him.

They exited the building and headed towards Clay's truck. As they crossed the parking area, Clay wrapped and arm around Emma and pulled her close into his side.

"I know I'm being a little over the top, but I don't want anything to happen to you," he said, then turned his head and pressed kiss to her temple.

"Maybe just a little over the top," Emma agreed, turning to look at him with a raised eyebrow.

He just smiled and shrugged his shoulders before turning and opening the truck door for her to get in.


Jason and Mikey walked up to the entrance to Lorenzo's restaurant, carrying gift bags with presents for Emma. Jason had driven over to Chesapeake to pick up Mikey from his hockey camp. They had made good time, but the return trip to Virginia Beach was in the opposite direction from the majority of the traffic.

As they approached the door to the restaurant, Jason kept an eye out for Emma and Clay.

"Do you think they're here already?" Mikey asked.

"I don't know, bud," Jason replied. "We're a little early."

"Wait," Mikey said pointing. "There's Clay."

Jason looked in the direction Mikey was gesturing and saw Clay opening the passenger side door of his truck for Emma. His daughter took the hand Clay was offering her and hopped down. The couple started walking towards the entrance, but neither of them noticed Jason and Mikey standing by the door.

Jason watched the pair as they walked together across the parking lot. They seemed to be in their own little world, talking and laughing together, and they were still holding hands from when Clay helped Emma out of the truck. Jason had to admit that both of them looked happier than he had seen in quite some time.

"Emma, Clay!" Mikey called out as the couple approached.

They both looked over and Emma smiled as she saw her father and brother. Emma released Clay's hand and moved forward to give her brother a hug.

"Mikey," Emma said fondly, "still have all your teeth from hockey?"

Mikey grinned, and responded. "So far."

As the siblings greeted each other, Jason smiled then turned to offer his hand to Clay for a handshake. "Clay," he said.

"Jase," the younger man answered. "Thanks for including me."

"It's Emma's dinner, and I know she wants you here," Jason replied, trying to be diplomatic.

He figured he needed to get used to this as his children got older. They would both date and sometimes want to bring those dates to family events. He just hadn't expected it to be so hard to deal with. He thought it might be easier for him if it were Mikey, which he knew was sexist of him, but there it was. Emma was his baby girl, and she was supposed to be holding on to his hand still.

Emma let go of her brother and turned to Jason. "Hi, Dad," she said as she moved to hug him.

"Hey, kiddo," he said, giving her a kiss on the top of her head. "Happy Birthday."

"You know," she said, leaning back to look up at him, "my birthday was a month ago."

"I know," he answered, "but it's your birthday dinner, so for while we're at dinner, you're the birthday girl."

"Works for me," she replied with a grin. "Are those for me?" She asked gesturing to the gift bags Jason and Mikey were holding.

"Can't have them now," Mikey proclaimed. "You know the rule."

Emma playfully gave a pouty look, but Clay spoke. "What's the rule?"

"No one is allowed to have their presents until we've ordered dinner," Mikey explained.

"Got it," Clay said. "How've you been, Mikey? How's hockey camp?" He asked.

"It's great," Mikey answered. "I'm gonna be ready for varsity this Fall."

Before Clay could reply to that, Jason spoke. "We should go in. We have a reservation."

Jason opened the door and they all headed into the restaurant. He stepped up to the hostess stand and gave their name. Once she found their reservation the hostess picked up menus and told them to follow her.

They trailed along behind the hostess across the restaurant until she reached a booth near the back. She smiled, placed the menus on the table and told them their server would be with them shortly.

Mikey slid into the seat on one side and Jason sat down next to him, while Clay gestured to Emma to slide in first on the other side. Then he sat down next to her, across from Jason. Jason picked up the menus the hostess left and began handing them around.

"You don't need this, Emma," he said teasingly as she reached for hers.

"I like to look," she protested, grabbing the menu from his hand.

Mikey laughed. "But you know you're going to have fettuccine alfredo."

"I could change my mind," Emma insisted.

"No, you won't," Mikey stated. "The only thing you like more than fettuccine alfredo is blueberry pancakes. And you can't get pancakes here."

Jason grinned as he watched the interplay between his children. He noticed Clay's attention to their antics.

"It's true, Spenser," he said. "Never get between Emma and her blueberry pancakes."

"Yeah," Mikey agreed fervently.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Emma said demurely.

"A fork and your brother's wrist come to mind?" Jason asked her.

"I was ten!" Emma objected.

Clay laughed. "But you let me have some of your blueberry pancakes the last time we ate the diner near my place," he teased.

"No way!" Mikey exclaimed.

"I like him better than you," Emma replied with a teasing smile for her brother. "Also," she added, "he didn't try and grab them off my plate."

"I was four!" Mikey responded, imitating Emma. Then his expression became thoughtful. "Does this mean you guys are like girlfriend and boyfriend now?" He asked curiously.

There was an awkward pause as Emma didn't answer immediately. Jason waited to see what she, or Clay, would say. He saw Emma's eyes flick to him quickly and then back to Mikey.

"Yeah, we are," Emma said quietly, but with confidence in her voice.

Jason saw a slight smile flicker across Clay's face at Emma's response, but he carefully kept his own face blank at her words. He was hoping that they were reaching the point where the novelty of dating each other was wearing off. But he supposed that a month wasn't long enough for the newness to have dissipated, particularly after all the build-up before Clay asked for permission. Also, all the spin ups meant they weren't together as much as they would have been if Clay worked an ordinary job. Jason figured he was just going to have hang in there for a little longer.

"But how does that work?" Mikey questioned. "I mean, Clay's on Dad's team."

"We keep that separate," Clay answered.

"Yeah, but how?" Mikey asked, probing deeper. "I mean, if Dad is the boss and—"

Jason rubbed his hands in his hair, then cut Mikey off before he could continue down that rabbit hole. "Why don't we let your sister and Clay off the hot seat, okay bud? We need to figure out what we want to order or when the waitress gets here only Emma will be ready."

"Okay, but-," Mikey tried to continue.

"Mikey," Jason said firmly, giving his son a serious look.

"Sorry, Dad," Mikey replied, opening his menu.

As Jason opened his own menu, he noticed Clay and Emma exchanging relieved looks. He wasn't the only one who didn't want to get into that discussion.

For a moment there was silence at the table as they looked at their menus, but then Clay spoke. "What's good?"

Emma leaned into his arm and peered at his menu. "The carbonara is good," she suggested.

"The pizzas are good too," Mikey added. "Mom always liked the seafood risotto, and Dad gets that beef thing."

"Beef braciole," Jason said. "Are we going to share an order of meatballs?"

"Yes," Mikey answered.

"Yes, please," Emma agreed as well.


Clay continued to look down at his menu as he decided what he wanted to eat. He was relieved Jason had stopped Mikey from continuing his questions about how Emma and Clay's relationship worked when Jason was Clay's boss. Clay wasn't sure he even had the answers to those questions yet.

The waitress arrived at their table just as they were closing their menus. She took their food and drink orders and headed back to the kitchen.

Once the waitress left the table, Emma smiled. "So, we've ordered our food," she said with a mischievous smile.

"That's true. We have," Jason said. "Mikey, you go first."

Mikey handed a small pink gift bag to Emma. She reached in and pulled out a card. As she tore open the envelope, she grinned at her brother. She laughed at the silly dog picture on the outside of the card, and then read the inside. Putting the card aside, she reached in the bag and pulled out a gift card holder.

"Sorry it's a gift card and not an actual present," Mikey apologized. "I don't have a lot of free time from camp to go shopping."

"That's okay," Emma assured him. "It's to my favorite shoe store, and you can never have too many shoes."

"I don't know if everyone would agree with that," Jason pointed out.

"Those people would be wrong," Emma informed him.

Clay laughed. "You do have a lot of shoes," he said. He had noticed that when Emma stayed at his place this past weekend. Shoes turned up everywhere. A pair of sneakers by the door, flip flops by the couch, some other pair with lots of straps in the bedroom, and when he came home from his spin up there was another pair sticking out from under the bed that she had left behind. He wasn't clear on where they all had come from.

"I like shoes," Emma stated. "Thank you, Mikey."

"You're welcome," Mikey replied. "I'm glad you like it."

Emma turned to give her father an expectant look. He smiled and handed her a slightly larger gift bag.

"Go, Dad," Emma teased, "you even put it in an actual birthday gift bag with tissue paper. Or did Aunt Naima help you with that?"

"Hey," he replied, "I picked out that gift bag myself, but if you don't want it, I can always use it for Mikey's birthday." He pretended to take the gift back as he spoke.

"No, no, just kidding," Emma hastily replied.

"That's what I thought," Jason said smugly.

Emma took the bag and made a show of weighing it in her hands. "Hmm, heavier than Mikey's bag," she said.

As she placed the bag on the table in front of her, the waitress arrived with their drinks and some bread and dipping oil. They each took their drinks and a small plate for the bread.

After the waitress left, Jason picked up his drink. "Before you open my gift, let's have a toast to the birthday girl."

They all picked up their glasses. "Happy belated birthday, Emma, and many more," Jason said, and they all clinked glasses.

"Thanks, Dad," Emma said giving them each a smile. "Now," she continued with anticipation, "back to the present."

She reached into the bag and pulled out the envelope with her father's card. She tore this envelope open quickly and pulled out the card. She smiled as she read the front. "To a Special Daughter," it said. She sighed as she read the inside.

"That's sweet," she said putting the card aside with Mikey's gift.

Then she grinned as she reached inside the gift bag. Her smile fell away as she pulled out a slightly battered blue velvet jewelry box. She gave her father a tremulous look.

He nodded. "Go ahead and open it," he said softly.

Emma took a deep breath and slowly opened the box. Inside was a pair of diamond earrings and a gold chain with a matching diamond pendant. She gently touched the pendant with a trembling finger.

"Those were Mom's," Mikey said quietly.

"You gave her the necklace when I was born," Emma said huskily.

"And the earrings when I was born," Mikey added.

"Yeah," Jason agreed gently, "but I know she'd want you to have them now, Emma."

"I-," Emma started to speak, but then stopped and bit her lip.

Clay wanted to comfort her, but he wasn't sure what he should do. Before he could make a decision, Emma turned to him. Her eyes were wet with unshed tears, and it broke his heart just a little. She gave him a little push, asking him to slide out of the booth. He did, and she slid across the seat and out to go to her father.

"Hey now," Jason said as he pulled Emma close in a hug. "I'm so proud of you, Em, and I know your Mom would be too if she were here."

"Thank you, Daddy," Emma said as she lifted her head from his shoulder.

"You're welcome," Jason replied as he pushed some of Emma's hair behind her ear. "I know they'll look just as beautiful on you as they did on your Mom."

Clay smiled as he watched Jason and Emma. Since joining Bravo Team Clay had come to see how much Jason Hayes loved his children, which wasn't something anyone would associate with his fearsome reputation as a SEAL. Being a SEAL made being a good father challenging, and Clay knew Jason and his kids hadn't always had perfect relationships, but Jason had been willing to put his kids first and stop being an active duty SEAL when they needed him. Certainly, that hadn't been something Ash Spenser was willing to do for his son. Clay had to admit that deep down he was a little jealous of the connection Emma and Mikey shared with their father.

Emma gave her father one last hug and then moved back to slide into the booth again. Clay slipped in beside her, putting his arm around Emma as he did so. She was still a little emotional and she leaned into Clay's side as he settled in next to her. Clay turned in his seat to hold her close.

"You okay?" He asked quietly.

Emma nodded. She was still holding the open jewelry box, and Clay looked down at the earrings and necklace.

"They're beautiful," he said.

"My Mom always wore them when she got dressed up," Emma told him.

"Your Dad's right," he said softly. "They'll look beautiful on you."

Emma tilted her head up to look at Clay. "Thank you," she whispered with a little smile.

He returned her smile and instinctively went to give her a kiss, but stopped before doing so, remembering that Jason was sitting right across from them. Instead he gave her a little squeeze with the arm he still had around her shoulders. Emma's smile widened just a little and Clay figured she knew exactly what he had just meant to do.

There was an awkward moment of silence at the table until Mikey gave a little cough and then teasingly spoke. "So, doesn't Clay have a birthday present for you?"

Emma turned to her brother and gave him a grateful look. "He gave me my present on my actual birthday," she said using the same teasing tone. "Unlike some people."

Mikey laughed. "I'm a busy guy, you know."

"Oh, I know," Emma kidded, "you're in demand."

Clay and Mikey both laughed.

"I am!" Mikey insisted.

"Uh huh," Emma agreed, sounding just a little sarcastic.

"Do we get to know what this present was?" Mikey asked.

"He gave me tickets to see Lady Antebellum when they come to Virginia Beach in August," Emma replied with a smile for Clay.

"That's a good gift for you," Mikey said.

"Yeah, it is," Emma agreed. "I can't wait to go."

Clay smiled at Emma, then said, "But now I know about the shoe thing thanks to Mikey, so I'll have some ideas for the future."

The three of the them laughed together, not noticing how quiet Jason had been.


Jason watched Emma slide back into her seat in the booth. He knew giving her Alana's jewelry was going to be emotional for them, but he had wanted to do it for a while. When Alana had first passed away, he had put her jewelry away in a lock box and ignored it. Just looking at the items had been too much for him and he didn't think Emma was ready to see them either. Recently, however, he had felt it was time for Emma to have some pieces, particularly as she was reaching an age where she might attend events that would call for dressing up. He hadn't expected it to be quite this difficult though, for himself or Emma.

As Clay settled back into his seat next to Emma, Jason noticed the younger man put his arm around her. Emma leaned into Clay's side and he tilted his head down to speak softly to her. Jason listened as Clay comforted Emma by discussing the jewelry with her. When Emma looked up into Clay's face, Jason could have sworn the kid was going to kiss her, but he didn't. More shocking for Jason though was the naked look of tenderness on Clay's face as he looked down at Emma. Seeing that expression stunned Jason as he realized his rookie was in love with his daughter.

Shit! This was not how this whole dating situation was supposed to go. They were supposed to go out a few times and then Emma would figure out that dating a guy on the teams was even more challenging than having a father on them. Clay would realize that he didn't have much in common with a girl almost seven years younger than him. Then they would go their separate ways, no harm, no foul. There weren't supposed to be any feelings involved.

Of course, with Spenser things never went the way they were supposed to. Of course, the kid would go and develop feelings. Jason should have known Clay was ripe for falling in love. Stella had been gone for almost two years, once she realized she couldn't hack being with a SEAL. That user Rebecca disappeared last winter, once Clay realized she was only in it for herself. For all his tough SEAL exterior, underneath Clay was still that little kid abandoned by his parents, looking for someone to love him.

Jason had no idea what Emma was feeling. She was very good at keeping her thoughts and feelings to herself when she wanted to. What would happen when Emma went back to NYU in the Fall? He had been worried about Clay hurting Emma, but now he had to be concerned that she would break Clay's heart. That was just what he needed, a brokenhearted Clay to nurse through deployment this Fall, with his daughter having done the heartbreaking.

He grabbed his glass of beer off the table and drained it. Jason had been so wrapped up in his revelation about Clay's feelings for Emma, he had lost track of the conversation at the table. Mikey was saying something was a good gift for Emma, and then Clay was teasing Emma about her love of shoes.

The waitress chose that moment to arrive at the table with their meals. Jason was relieved as he didn't want the kids to realize anything was wrong. Shit! He was thinking of Clay as one of the kids now. This just got worse and worse.

The waitress served them each their meals and asked Jason if he wanted another beer. Thinking of the roundtrip drive he need to make to Chesapeake later to drop off Mikey, he told her water would be fine.

Conversation dwindled as they enjoyed their meals. The waitress came back with Jason's water and another soda for Mikey. Jason decided he needed to get back to acting as if this was any normal birthday dinner and ignore for now what he had seen earlier this evening.

"How's your fettuccine, Em?" He asked.

"Delicious," Emma replied happily. "Just like always."

"Mikey, Clay," he continued, "how are your meals?"

"Good, thanks," Clay answered.

"Great, Dad," Mikey responded. "Pizza is always good."

"How's your meal, Dad?" Emma asked.

"It's good," he said with a smile for Emma. "Just like always."

Emma smiled back at him and ate another bite of her fettuccine.

As they continued to eat, one of the owners of the restaurant stopped by their table. Jason and Alana had been coming to Lorenzo's with the kids since they were small. Their regular visits had made them familiar to the family who had owned and run the place since it opened in the 1960s.

"Well, if it isn't the Hayes family back again," Larry commented. "How are you all this evening?"

"Hey, Larry," Jason replied, "we're doing well. How are you and the family?"

"I'm good. We're all good," Larry answered. "What's the occasion this time? Someone's birthday?"

"A belated birthday dinner for Emma," Jason said.

"Ah, well, happy belated birthday, Emma," Larry said.

"Thank you," Emma answered.

Larry's eyes moved from Emma to Clay. "You," he said, looking at Clay, "are not a Hayes."

"No," Clay replied with a friendly smile. "I'm not. Clay Spenser."

"Nice to meet you Clay Spenser," Larry replied.

"He's Emma's boyfriend," Mikey interjected.

Emma blushed and the tips of Clay's ears turned red.

Larry smiled. "Well," he said to Clay, "look out for Jason here. He won't stand for any funny business with his daughter."

Emma turned even redder.

"Oh, I know," Clay responded.

"That's good," Larry said. "Now you all enjoy the rest of your meal, and we'll have some tiramisu for you for dessert."

"Thanks, Larry," Jason said with a smile.

"Good seeing you again, Jason," Larry answered. "You all take care."

They all returned to their meals and conversation slowly picked up again. Mikey told them a bit about what he was doing at hockey camp, and Emma had some funny stories about things that had been happening at the hotel. Clay and Emma talked about their dinner with Ray and Naima the previous Friday, and Jason told them a funny story about helping Ray try to build RJ's crib.

Eventually the waitress came back with slices of tiramisu for them. Emma's had a candle in it.

"No one's going to sing Happy Birthday?" Clay asked.

"Not if they know what's good for them," Emma muttered.

"Uh uh," Mikey said.

"Emma doesn't appreciate being sung to in the restaurant," Jason said with a laugh.

Clay nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."

The waitress brought the check and Jason paid, giving a Clay a hard look when he tried to contribute some money.

"All set?" Jason asked. "We should get going so I can get Mikey back to camp before it gets too late."

They all headed to the door and stopped outside the restaurant to say their goodbyes.

"Thanks, Mikey, for the gift card," Emma said as she gave her brother a hug.

"You're welcome, Em," he replied.

"Good luck at your scrimmage tomorrow, Mikey," Clay added.

"Thanks, Clay," Mikey responded, bumping fists with him.

"Thank you, Dad, for dinner," Emma said. "And for the jewelry."

"You're welcome, kiddo," he said, giving Emma a hug.

"Thanks for dinner, Jason," Clay said, reaching out to shake Jason's hand.

"You're welcome," Jason replied. "See you at the base tomorrow."

Emma and Clay started walking to Clay's truck and Jason and Mikey watched them go. Once they reached the truck, Clay opened the door for Emma and helped her in. Then he walked around to the driver's side and got it.

As he watched Clay start up the truck and pull it out of the space, Jason decided he needed to have a conversation with Ray about this situation. Clay and Emma had dinner last Friday night with Ray and Naima, so Ray might have some insight into what was going on. In Jason's experience, Ray always had some insight into interpersonal situations like this. If it weren't for the drive to Chesapeake with Mikey, Jason would go over there tonight, but it would have to wait. Not too long though, Jason thought. He needed to figure this out.

"Ready to go, Mikey?" Jason asked turning to his son.

"Yeah, Dad," Mikey said with a yawn.

"Let's get you back to camp then," he said as they began walking to Jason's truck.


"That wasn't as bad as I expected," Emma said as Clay climbed into his truck.

"What did you expect?" Clay asked with a laugh.

"I don't know," Emma said thoughtfully. "Dad being more tense, I guess."

Clay nodded as he backed the truck out its space.

"I guess I owe Hannah twenty bucks though," Emma said.

"For what?" Clay asked.

"She bet that Dad would run his hands in his hair like he does when he's stressed in the first half hour," Emma explained.

That surprised a laugh out Clay. "She was right about that."

"She also said no kissing around Dad, which you almost did," Emma teased.

"I caught myself in time," Clay said with a sheepish grin. "I couldn't help myself, you were upset," he added, reaching over to take Emma's hand in his.

"That's sweet," Emma said softy.

He glanced over at her and smiled, then squeezed her hand.

Emma smiled back at him. She wasn't sure what her father's reaction would have been if Clay had kissed her, but she supposed the only thing they could do was continue to have her father see them together so he could adjust to it. She did think her Dad was making an effort. He could have excluded Clay from tonight's dinner, but he was the one that suggested inviting Clay.

She became lost in thought as she tried to think of other ways to get her Dad used to her and Clay together.

"You've been quiet a while," Clay eventually commented. "What are you thinking?"

"Just that the only way my Dad will get used to us being together is if we keep doing things like this with him," Emma replied.

"Yeah," Clay agreed. "It's just going to take time for him to see that I'm not trying to take advantage of you and that we're happy together."

Clay pulled the truck into the driveway of the hotel and drove around the back to the employee quarters. Once he parked, Emma unfastened her seatbelt and turned to look at Clay.

"It might take a while," Emma said uncertainly.

Clay reached out and pulled Emma closer to him. "It's takes however long it takes," he assured her. "You're worth it."

Emma smiled as Clay leaned in and kissed her.