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Her mom huffed. “Oh, all right, we won’t just drop by anymore, but if you’re killed by a sadistic serial killer who eats livers, don’t come crying to me.”

Hannah refrained from explaining if she was killed, she wouldn’t be crying at all.

Now she just had to get her parents out of there before Blake bolted.

BLAKE SAT IN the living room with Hannah’s dad, eating a slice of pizza silently. The pizza guy had shown up several minutes after Hannah’s parents, and when her dad had snatched the pizza and settled into the big easy chair, Blake’s plans for the rest of the night had seemed to go up in smoke.

To top it off, Milo sat at the older man’s feet, mean mugging Blake as only a little twerp pup could.

“So you’re army?”

Her dad’s voice was loud and booming, like he imagined a giant’s would be.

“Yes, sir. I train dogs at Alpha Dog Training Program.”

“I saw that on the news broadcast. I’ve heard good things about it.” Her dad took a bite of pizza, chewing slowly. “I guess I should thank you for saving my daughter’s life.”

Blake swallowed, his own bite almost lodged in his throat. He didn’t know what was worse; having her dad resent him or admire him.

“Although, I should point out that it takes a special kind of man to have more guts than brains. You took on an armed assailant with my daughter in the crosshairs. She could have been killed during your rescue.”

Well, the admiration was short-lived, at least.

“I had the situation under control, sir, and would never put Hannah in harm’s way. She’s really special.”

“I know she’s special.” Her dad pinned Blake with another piercing stare. “What I want to know is, how special is she to you?”

“I’m not sure what you mean, sir.” Blake knew exactly what he meant, but he wasn’t going there.

“I mean, how long have you been seeing each other?”

“Since last night. I made sure Hannah got home from the ball okay and asked her out on our first date for tonight.” There was no point in mentioning the other night with the bookstore, as Blake was trying for a redo.

Her dad shot him a pointed look. “When I used to ask a girl on a date, we always left the house.”

“Yes, sir, that was the plan, but Milo peed on my shirt before we could leave, and Hannah offered to toss it into the washer. We were just waiting for it to finish.”

Her dad stroked Milo’s head, as if rewarding the dog for pissing on him. “Wouldn’t it have just been easier to go home and get another shirt?”

“Yes, sir, I suppose it would have been,” he said, silently praying for Hannah to rescue him.

Hannah and her mom came back into the room, and Blake stood up, grateful.

“Come on, Gilbert, we’re leaving,” Hannah’s mom said briskly.

“I haven’t finished my pizza yet.”

“Gilbert York, stop torturing this young man, and get your wrinkly old ass out of that chair.”

Hannah covered her mouth, and Blake glanced at her. Yep, she was laughing behind her hand.

Hannah’s dad stood up slowly, giving him one last warning look before he kissed his daughter on the top of her head. “Behave yourself.”

“Shut up, Gilbert,” her mom said.

“Woman, I’m getting tired of the way you talk to me.”

“Then stop being an old fool and embarrassing your daughter.”