“Stuntman Mike plopped on the floor between us. I leaned over, petting his head, and whispered to Kristen. “I hear this place has great food. Why don’t we eat here more often?”

If I was here to cheer her up, I was going to do just that.

Her face softened. “It’s hard to get a reservation,” she whispered. She glanced at my lips again before her eyes came up to meet mine.

“I know a guy,” I said. “Although I heard they had to close for a few days after the place got vandalized a couple weeks back.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Oh yeah?”

I nodded and looked over at Sloan before continuing, my voice low. “The worst TP’ing Canoga Park has ever seen. No leads. Probably an inside job.”

She smiled, and I saw her mood lift before my eyes.”