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Not a date.

She wasn’t sure what this was—only that her pulse had quickened the moment he’d opened his truck door for her to climb in, and it hadn’t quite settled since. Maybe coffee was his way of apologizing for the scare he’d given her earlier. Or maybe he expected them to go Dutch.

Wouldn’t be the first time she’d been asked out and then informed later that she’d have to pay her own way. She wouldn’t mind if that’s how the night played out. Not with Daniel and Pirate for company. Somehow, she could breathe easier and enjoy going someplace besides home or work with the two of them beside her.

Still—definitely not a date. Right?

Maybe the hostess realized that, too. Maybe her stern countenance was because she was worried that Polly was here against her will? The woman glanced up at Daniel’s harsh face, then quickly averted her gaze down to the wiry-haired mutt beside Polly and frowned. Was she afraid of Daniel? Well, Polly wasn’t about to let that happen. Sure, he had some scars on his face and neck, but he wasn’t a monster. And she didn’t believe he was a threat to anybody here. She stepped to the side and reached back to link her elbow through Daniel’s. She immediately felt him stiffen. But she just held on tighter when she felt him pulling away. “We prefer a booth, please. That way the dog can sit between our feet, and he won’t get in the servers’ way.”

“The dog can’t come in here,” the hostess insisted.

Daniel pulled off his gloves and gestured to the sign at the checkout counter: Service Dogs Welcome.

The hostess pressed her palm to her chest. “But he doesn’t have a vest on him. I know it’s cold out there, but, you know, sanitary regulations.”

Polly surprised herself by chiming up in Pirate’s defense as well. She reached down and cupped her hand around the side of Pirate’s head, scratching beneath his ear. “Of course, you can’t see any labels because he’s wearing this handsome sweater. Trust me, he has very good manners, and he serves Sergeant Travis very well.” When her claims alone didn’t seem to convince the woman, Polly pulled out the big guns. “My dad, Jedediah Burke, heads up the KCPD K-9 Unit. He and I have been in here several times with his dog, Gunny. He’ll vouch for Pirate.”

The other woman frowned. “The dog will?”

“My dad, of course.” She’d taken to calling her stepfather Dad over the past few months. Her birth father was an absent, self-absorbed ex-con who didn’t have a paternal bone in his body. But Burke adored her mom and treated Polly and her sister like they were his own daughters, and she loved him for it.

She wasn’t sure her dad had ever actually met Daniel and Pirate in person, but they’d talked on the phone after the first time Daniel had walked her to her car—the night Cayden Thornhill had assaulted her in the ER and then run away. Burke had gone all protective father figure on Daniel, grilling him about everything he’d seen or heard, getting a rundown on Daniel’s credentials as a Marine Corps veteran, and the extent of the danger Polly had been in that night. Although she hadn’t been privy to the actual conversation, her mother had. And she’d told Polly that, despite the grilling, a thank-you and a future favor had been involved. So, she was 99.9 percent sure she could convince her dad to give them his support.

“I see. I’m new, so I don’t know who you’re talking about. But I can’t argue with the KCPD. My boss and one of the waitresses working tonight are married to detectives.” The hostess’s smile didn’t reach her eyes, but her tone stayed polite. “Since Mollie’s dog-friendly, I’ll seat you in her section.”

“I know Mollie. That’d be great.”

The hostess nodded. “If you three will follow me.”

Polly pulled her arm from Daniel’s and followed the hostess. But now she felt the firm press of fingertips at the small of her back. Her skin sparked to life beneath her coat at Daniel’s unexpected touch. Was that a silent thank-you for defending him and his right to bring Pirate in with them?

Polly’s lips curved into a shy smile at the subtle gesture. You’re welcome.

Still not a date.

But it felt as if a connection between them had been made. She’d take it.

The hostess led them to the last booth near the windows. They tucked their gloves into pockets and shrugged off their coats, tossing them across the red vinyl bench seats before sliding in across from each other. The hostess set their menus on the table and went back to the front counter while they settled. Polly perused her menu, although she already knew what she wanted to order, while Daniel put Pirate into a stay beneath the table. It was slightly chilly sitting right by the tall windows that faced the sidewalk and street outside. Daniel left his stocking cap on while Polly pulled her disinfectant-scented sweater more tightly around her scrubs.

Instead of picking up his menu, Daniel braced both hands on top of the table. She felt him watching her with that stormy gray gaze until she finally looked up and made eye contact. “She’s prickly,” he said.

He spoke! She suspected he was even making a joke. Polly giggled at the wry comment before her excited response spewed out. “Ya think? I bet she’s a cat person. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But still, thinking she could separate the two of you and kick Pirate out of here? I wasn’t going to let her attitude stop me from getting that great cup of coffee you promised.”

The corner of his mouth twitched into what she suspected was his version of a smile. “You didn’t have to defend me. Pretty sure I scared her.”

“Just by standing there? She was being rude. You can be intimidating, yes. But not to me, and not to her. And Pirate’s an absolute sweetheart. I was educating her. I did the right thing. At least, what I thought was right…” Her words trailed away, unsure what point she was trying to make, or even if Daniel was interested in pursuing that line of conversation with her. Damn those shy genes for kicking in at the worst times. “I… I didn’t embarrass you, did I?”

“No.” He reached out and laid his hand over hers. Polly swore she felt something like a jolt of electricity tingling beneath her skin and traveling up her arm. She was more certain of the warmth she felt from his big, calloused hand covering hers. She didn’t want to move for fear he’d pull away. “Been a long time since I’ve had anyone standing up beside me, fighting for me.” As if the admission or the touch of their hands made him uncomfortable, he pulled back to reach beneath the table to scratch Pirate around his perked-up ears. “Nobody human anyway.”

Polly wasn’t sure how to respond to what she thought was a compliment. “You’re welcome?”

The corner of his mouth twitched again. “Thank you.”

Pirate settled beneath the table without a sound, laying his chin on his paws. A small thump of his tail against the table leg greeted an approaching waitress.

“Mollie!” Polly called, delighted to see the woman with bright blue eyes and a mass of curly dark hair heading their way with a tray of coffee and two mugs in her hand. “Hi.”

“Good to see you.” Mollie Standage squeezed Polly’s hand when she reached the table. “How are Sergeant Burke and your mom doing? They were in here for lunch just last week.”