The dog jerked to a stop, tightening the entangled leash wrapped around Charlie’s lower extremities and pitching him forward. Letting go of the leash was the only way he could prevent the inevitable, and like Houdini, Bane whipped around, pulling the loosened leash until it was free and he was gone.

Ugh. That dog. Charlie heaved out a sigh and started for the street in search of his headache.

“I believe he belongs to you?”

Charlie turned to find Lane walking toward him, Noah smiling at her side. Bane was in her hands, tail wagging, tongue dripping. Charlie swore the dog was smiling at him.

“Not unless you want him?”

“Momma—”

“No.” Lane shot Charlie a look that could only be understood to mean don’t you dare. “This is Charlie’s dog and he’d be very sad without him.”

“Right.” Charlie took Bane and made sure he had a grip on his leash before setting him down. “I was just taking him for a walk . . . would you want to join me?”

“Actually, we—”

“We’re getting ice cream. Do you like ice cream?”

“Ice cream is my favorite.” Charlie smiled at the exuberant little boy pulling his mother’s hand.

“Mine too! You can come with us.”

“Noah.” Lane’s voice rose.

“That’s okay.” Charlie read her reaction loud and clear. He should go. A tickle of attraction was beginning to cloud his judgment. Or maybe it was a lust for some human companionship? Didn’t matter. He needed to go home. Study the case. He didn’t have time for ice cream. “I should really take Bane on his walk.”

“He can go with us,” Noah pleaded. And like Bane understood the little boy’s plight, the dog sat obediently next to him and lifted a paw.

“Well, with those faces, how can we resist?” Lane’s shoulders relaxed a fraction and she ruffled Noah’s hair. “We’re walking to Sandie’s. A couple of blocks away.”

Soft auburn hair fell over her forehead, but he could still see her eyes. They seemed to be searching. Maybe for a way out of the uncertain invitation.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes!” Noah answered. Lane nodded.

Two blocks, two cups of butter pecan, and a cone of rocky road later, the three of them sat around a small iron table in front of Sandie’s Ice Cream Shoppe. The day’s heat hung around, even with the sun gone, and was doing a number to Noah’s frozen treat. Most of it was dripping down the side of his hand.

“You should’ve let me pay for the ice cream. Make up for what I did to your uniform.”

“And miss out on the cinnamon roll offer?” Charlie raised his eyebrows. “There’d be riots if I didn’t show up with those cinnamon rolls.”

“Did you know my daddy was an Army soldier?” Noah said as he licked the melting ice cream.