“As usual, you’re absolutely right. I’d never want to ruin us just for some...well, you know.” He stood as she came around the table, then followed her to the door. “I’ll look into that zoning issue, but don’t lose any sleep over it.” And just like that, he sounded like her pragmatic friend again.

“Oh...thanks.”

Mike held the door open, and she had to brush against him as she walked by. She paused and glanced up, only to see him staring down at her. Damned if he wasn’t smoldering again. With his face right there above hers. She could push up onto her toes and kiss those lips. She was clearly losing her mind tonight. This was Mike. His mouth quirked up into a suggestive grin for just a heartbeat, then he pulled back and urged her past him. He seemed in a hurry to get to his car and away from her. Zoey waved and headed into the house.

It wouldn’t be Karen Schiff who would be making her lose sleep tonight.

CHAPTER TEN

VICKIE SET HER coffee cup down on the table very slowly. She didn’t want to overreact, especially since Hazel was only thirteen. But the girl had just dropped an interesting tidbit of information, and Vickie needed to know more. She kept her voice as casual as she could.

“So Mike McKinnon stopped by the other night, eh? Is Zoey repairing something for him?”

Hazel’s phone buzzed on the table, and she started to reach for it, then caught Vickie’s warning look. Phones were never allowed at the Pendergast table, but they were sitting in the Hartford kitchen right now, so the rules were fuzzier. Vickie had stopped by to drop off some Italian cookies Helen Russo had given her—far too many cookies for Vickie to go through. Hazel sat back in her chair, smart enough to leave the phone where it was.

“I don’t think so.” Hazel shrugged. “He stops a lot to talk to Mom. They’ve been friends forever.”

She wanted to ask Hazel to define a lot, but she didn’t. The girl had enough to deal with now that her dad was not only getting married, but also having a baby with Genna.

“Yes, they have. I remember your mom hanging out with Mike and Mary when they were way younger than you are. She was an only child, like you, and the McKinnons gave her a big, noisy family to hang out with.”

“I won’t be an only child for long,” Hazel reminded her.

“You’re your mother’s only child, sweetheart. You’re her whole world.” Even if Hazel marched to a completely different drummer than her mom.