I chuckled. “Carlos is making a mess out of that stick.”
She looked down and smiled at him. “He’s a puppy, and he’s teething. Better the stick than your skin.” I could vouch for that—I’d been on the receiving end of that bite when I was too slow with his food bowl—it wasn’t pleasant.
“Food is on the way,” I said, setting my phone down on the table. “What do you want to watch next?”
“How about the one where the guy who fell in love with his hot boss tells his daughter all about it?”
I raised a brow at her, choosing to feign ignorance. “I’m not sure I get that channel—ow!” I rubbed at my thigh where her foot connected with it. “What was that for?”
“I’ve let you get away with your secrecy for a week. Now spill.” She shifted into a sitting position, a disgruntled Carlos holding on for dear life. “What’s going on with you and James?”
I sighed and turned to face her on the couch, patting the cushion in front of me to lure Carlos my way. “Nothing I want to put a name to yet.”
She perked up at that. “So are you two and that other girl something now?”
“What? No! That was… James and I?—”
“Yes?”
I rolled my eyes. “—won’t be discussing the details of our private lives with my teenage daughter!” Hannah bit back a smile and sank into her seat. “We’re seeing what happens. I’ve never really been the commitment type.”
“You seemed pretty committed to Mom back in the day.”
“I’m ignoring that ‘back in the day’ comment,” I told her. “That was a long time ago, and all it got me was a broken heart.” I reached over and tugged the blanket. Carlos growled and attacked my hand. “And missing out on seventeen years with you.” Even in the low light from the TV, I could see Hannah blush. “Probably for the best though. Your parents did a good job with you.”
Hannah opened her mouth to say something else, but my phone rang. James’s name flashed up.
“Aren’t you going to answer him?” Hannah asked.
I shrugged. “I’ll call him back later. This is our night.”
“You should answer it.”
I considered. Jamesdidknow it was my weekend with Hannah. Maybe it was important. “It’ll only take me a minute.”
Hannah gave a dismissive wave of her hand, picking her cup off the table. “I need a refill anyway.”
Carlos crossed the couch and threw himselfdown next to my leg in a huff as I answered the phone before it went to voicemail.
“I’m so sorry,” James said by way of greeting. “I know you’ve got Hannah this weekend and I tried to avoid involving you, but I?—”
“James, slow down. You’re fine. What’s going on?”
“I’m sorry to ask, but can you come down to the bar?”
“It’s not really a great time,” I said as Hannah returned to the room. “Did someone not show?”
“No, that’s not it.” He sighed. “I don’t want to freak you out.”
I sat up, every nerve on edge. “What’s wrong?”
Another sigh. “Someone broke in. We found evidence that it could be Luke. Since you ran into him after we closed last week, the police need your statement.”
“I’m guessing I can’t do that over the phone,” I said, letting out a breath. I risked a glance at my daughter, who raised a brow at me.
“I wish you could. I tried getting around it but because the alarm was tripped, the police are involved more than I’d like them to be.”
“I…” My eyes stayed locked on Hannah. True to her nature, she picked up on what was happening.
