As Molly paused by the side of the road to let a car pass, she typed Donald Cooper, ice cream shop on Walnut St. NOW and sent the text before glancing behind her. She couldn’t hold back a smirk. John was trying to follow her, but Warrant had put on the brakes. He’d plopped his fluffy hundred-pound butt down in front of the dog park entrance and braced his front legs, refusing to move. That’s right, baby, she thought gleefully. Earn your expensive dog food.

“Don’t you want to go with your mama?” The distance between them made his voice faint, but Molly could still hear John’s cajoling words. “I bet there’s some bacon over there. Wouldn’t you like some bacon? Mmm…salty and meaty?”

A laugh escaped Molly as she glanced at the text that had popped up on her phone.

On our way from Clayton and Fifth. ETA four minutes.

Four minutes is doable, she thought, jogging across the road while adopting her game face. “Felicity!” she said, the last syllable rising in a well-practiced squeal as she trotted over to the runner to give her an exuberant hug. “I thought that was you.” Keeping an arm around Felicity’s back, she turned toward the man who was not even trying to hide the way he was checking her out. She gave him a small smile that he returned with a leer.

“Are you two twins?” he asked.

“Just sisters,” they chorused, before bursting into practiced giggles.

Molly kept her expression as dumb and happy as possible. “Who’s this?”

“This,” Felicity said, “is Donnie. I dropped my apartment key without realizing it, and he picked it up for me. The stupid tiny pocket in these shorts is useless.” She flipped the waistband of her shorts over, revealing the small inside pocket and a smooth, bronze patch of hip. Donnie’s gaze locked onto the exposed skin, and his eyes bugged out a little.

“That’s so sweet of you, Donnie,” Molly cooed.

“It’s so sweet.” Felicity tossed her glossy, dark hair over her shoulder, and Donnie’s eyes followed the movement as he swallowed visibly.

“You should buy him some ice cream as a thank-you.” Molly gave him an approving smile, carefully not looking over his shoulder. Surely four minutes had passed by now.

Pouting a little, Felicity said, “I’d love to, but I left all my money at home.”

“I have money.” Molly patted her pocket. “You can pay me back later, Fifi.”

Felicity gave her a quick, covert glare at the hated nickname, but the expression disappeared as quickly as it arrived, replaced by a beaming smile. “Thanks, Moo!”

Hiding her grimace, Molly accepted that as well-deserved payback.

“I should…” Donnie trailed off as he glanced over his shoulder, his whole body going stiff as he saw the approaching sheriff’s deputies. “Shit! Gotta go!”

He bolted.

“Wait!” Molly tried to grab his arm, but he slipped past her outstretched hand.

“Sorry, ladies!” he shouted over his shoulder. “You can buy me that ice cream some other time!”