Page 51 of Mike

“Must be a nice promotion or a raise,” she said, turning to walk toward the kitchen, because clearly she couldn’t resist testing her smarts.

“I said I’d give you deets once we’re all together, so don’t go poking,” Mike teased, coming up behind her to watch as she put the first of the sandwiches on the grill.

“Fine,” she allowed. “Then make yourself useful and set the table.”

“Yes ma’am,” he sassed, saluting her. “You want chips, too?”

She nodded. “Grab a bag or two out of the snack cupboard.”

“You got it.”

It didn’t take long to have all the Reubens heated and melty. Mike opened the back door and raised his voice to call his father and the kids. “Lunch is ready.”

“Saved,” Tim yelled, getting up off his knees and brushing them down.

Dilly scoffed, following suit. “Like, you’ve barely done anything.” Sure enough, the pile of weeds in front of her was easily twice as large as Tim’s.

“Now, now. You’ve both been a huge help,” Mike’s dad interjected, clearly signaling an end to the bickering. “Go wash up.”

The three headed for the house while Mike walked inside and snagged an introductory sandwich for himself, downing half of it before it hit the table.

“Huh. It’s a good thing I made extra,” his mother said.

“You always do.” Mike grinned around a mouthful, swallowing in appreciation. “Delicious, Mom.”

“Save some room. I made chocolate cake for dessert.”

Mike, with his belly getting comfortable, gave a groan of pleasure, putting the rest of his partially eaten Reuben on his plate. “I’ll limit myself to two of these, then,” he vowed, although he might be hard pressed to keep his promise. His mother’s cooking, rocked.

Once everyone was seated and filling their mouths with good food, Mike’s mother piped up again. “So Micheal. What’s your good news?”

“You have good news, Dad?” Dilly questioned, her eyes showing interest.

“I, um, do. Sort of,” he prevaricated. Now that it was time to spill the beans, he was a little nervous. He even felt his cheeks, and the pate of his head, heating.

“How do you have sorta good news, Dad?” Tim asked, making no show of slowing down after his first sandwich. “It either is or it isn’t.”

“Well, it’s good news for me. I just don’t know how you guys will take it.”

“Just spit it out, Dad,” Dilly ordered, ever the pragmatic one.

“Okay. You asked for it.” Mike drew in a breath. “I’ve been sorta seeing this woman, and… I’ve asked her out on our first date tonight.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“I uncovered some major intel regarding my case,” Joelle began the minute they sat down at a table in the small restaurant Mike had chosen. Mike had wanted to pick her up, but she still wasn’t quite ready for him to see her sad little living arrangement. Not that he probably didn’t already know where she bunked. The well-connected man, no doubt, would have had any and all available PD units scouting the area for her, so he’d be fully informed.

Joe liked her semi-autonomy, but found herself unbothered with Mike’s presumed stalking. Still, should she fill Mike in on what she’d found?

Her gut was telling her she’d need him and his team onboard before things went much further.

Mike quirked a brow. “Are you sharing that tidbit because you’re excited, or because you’re thinking of taking me up on my offer of help?”

“A little of both,” she told him, her amusement sparked. This man wasn’t shy about interjecting himself into questionable situations.

“Well, don’t leave me hanging,” he chuckled.

“I found a warehouse.” She dangled the tantalizing morsel.

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