“Why would it? Mike’s chill.” Hazel was pulling her phone from her pocket. “This is Sienna...she wants me to stay over at her place tonight. Is that okay?”

“Sure, as long as it’s okay with her mom. Don’t forget you’re working for Mary again tomorrow, though. I’ll pick you up there when you’re done.” Sienna lived just down the street from Mary and Sam, so Hazel could walk to Mary’s in the morning. “But most important is checking with Monique first to get her permission.”

Hazel’s eyes rolled dramatically. “She’ll probably be on another hot date.”

“I thought she stopped dating?”

“She said she would, but she’s just being sneaky about it.” Hazel typed a quick answer to her girlfriend. “As if Sienna can’t track her with her phone app. She’s been going to the Purple Shamrock when she says she’s going shopping or to visit a sick friend.” She stood and headed for the door, then turned. “Sienna didn’t like her mom yapping to her about all her dates, but it’s so much worse now that she’s lying about it. Sienna doesn’t trust her anymore.” Hazel was in the house and up the stairs before Zoey could respond.

Her heart dropped. Everyone else had been right—hiding the fact that she and Mike were together was a mistake. She was going to sit her daughter down this week and get it out in the open. Tomorrow—right after they got home from Mary’s. Hopefully it wasn’t too late. She didn’t ever want Hazel thinking she couldn’t trust her mom.

A red pickup truck came up the driveway with a beautiful old jukebox strapped in the back. This project was going to be interesting. And profitable.

She had the jukebox in pieces in the shop that evening when her phone pinged with a text from Mike.

M: What do farmers give on Valentines Day?

Z: A load of manure?

M: LOL no. Hogs and kisses! Just like the ones I want to give you right now.

She looked up to see him at the door, a warm smile on his face. She’d texted him after she’d dropped Zoey at Sienna’s, letting him know she’d be unexpectedly free tonight. She waved him in, meeting him on that side of the worktable to accept that promised hug and kiss. He bent her over in a low dip, as if they were dancing, and she grabbed his shoulders with a gasp.

“Easy there, Fred Astaire!”