Lane expected to hear disappointment in his voice. Something to tell her he’d wanted her to stay a little longer. Maybe share a dance. This was, after all, their date. Sort of. If sharing a family style dinner with her four-year-old son and the rest of Walton could be considered a date. But as Charlie stood, their eyes locked and meaning passed through them—what it was, she didn’t know—but it felt like he understood her unease.

“It was really nice meeting everyone.”

“You too, Charlie.” Meagan smiled. “Did Lane invite you to our father’s barbecue fund-raiser next weekend?”

Lane stiffened. She hadn’t fully decided if she was going, much less inviting the man whose perceptive ability had her on alert. Charlie’s arm brushed up against her shoulder, but rather than pull back, he stilled. The warmth of his nearness spread through her.

“Actually, I’m already scheduled to be there.”

“You are?” she asked, looking up at him.

Charlie’s gaze reached Lane. “We’re handling security for the event.”

“Security?” In all the years, there’d never been security. “Because of the election?”

“Partly, yes.” Meagan sighed. Her face seemed paler than usual beneath the moon’s glow. Exhausted even. “A lot of people have been pressuring Daddy. They want to feel safe. You know, with the whole investigation.”

“It’s always good to err on the safe side,” Charlie added, and this time Lane heard the disappointment in his voice. She didn’t know a lot about him, but from the long hours he’d been putting in at the station with Sheriff Huggins and the other deputies, Lane guessed the pressure of not finding Sydney’s killer was getting to him.

“See, now you have an ally—”

“Ready, Noah?” Lane cut her sister off before shooting her a look, only to receive an amused grin in return. “Charlie’s dog is waiting for him.”

Noah grabbed a piece of sausage and wrapped it in a dirty paper towel. “Give this to him for me. We’re best friends.”

“Best friends for life if you keep spoiling him.” Charlie accepted the gift as the three of them left the park, the prying eyes, and her sister’s enjoyment at making Lane uncomfortable. That, in itself, was odd. Why the sudden camaraderie between them? Something had shifted in their relationship and Lane hated the skepticism lurking in the corner of her mind.

Noah paused at the edge of the park. “Momma, my legs are tired.”

The days of carrying her son were quickly diminishing, as much as it pained her. “Buddy, we just have to cross the street and walk another block.”

Charlie held out his hands. “Come here, bud.”