Recognizing that I wasn’t going to answer, he asked softly, “Where did Rose go? Are you certain she’s safe?”
“Yeah,” I said, glancing down at our hands. “She went to Shreveport with her aunt for the weekend. It had been planned for a couple of weeks, and I insisted that she still go. One less person to worry about with Kate around.” Then I added, “But then, your mother is watchin’ Muffy for me, so you probably already knew about her trip.”
“I only knew that she’s out of town. Not the details.” Mason held my gaze. “Neely Kate, I’ve always considered us friends. Would you agree?”
“Of course. I was heartbroken when you and Rose broke up.”
“So if we’re friends, then you can trust me, right?”
My blood ran cold. He wasn’t going to let this go. “Do you want me to be honest, Mason?”
“Of course,” he said, though I noticed he’d steeled his back.
“Right now, it feels like there’s Mason my friend and Mason Deveraux, the man who works for the attorney general, and to my disappointment, I feel like the attorney general Mason is in my kitchen.”
“You don’t think I’m here out of concern for your safety?” He sounded more hurt than I’d expected.
“Yes, I absolutely believe you’re concerned about my safety. But I also believe you’re usin’ our friendship to get information.”
“Before you would have wanted me to have the information so I could help catch Kate. What’s changed?”
“No offense, Mason, but it’s hard to believe that after you threatened Rose you were bringin’ down anything in your way.”
He pushed out a breath. “An unfortunate choice of words that I wish I could erase, yet I can’t. I only want to help you, Neely Kate.”
“Before you left, I was sure you had my back,” I said quietly. “Now I feel like you’re tryin’ to trick me into sayin’ something that will help you with your investigation.”
“Do you have something to hide?” he asked.
I got up and got us two mugs.
“Why did Alonzo Adkins try to kidnap you yesterday?” he asked quietly.
“I really wish I knew the answer to that,” I said, leaning against the counter.
“Was he your past rising up like the boogeyman?”
“Honestly, Mason? I have no earthly idea, and that scares the bejiggers out of me.”
“I’m not sure this is a good idea,” I said as I held on to Joe’s arm. “People’s tongues are bound to be waggin’.”
We stood in the entrance of a hotel ballroom in Little Rock, which was already full of men and women in tuxes and formal dresses. He’d convinced me to keep our plans to attend the fundraiser, but after our crazy morning, we’d been late.
“Let ’em wag,” Joe said as he gave me a gentle tug into the room. “Kate’s big escape is gonna overshadow the news that you’re our sister.”
I caught a glimpse of Jed slightly to my left. The only way he’d agreed to let me go was if he could act as a bodyguard, saying it would be easy to explain his presence given the fact that Kate was still on the loose and had killed two people in front of me. I’d never expected to see him dressed in a suit two nights in a row, and tonight he was wearing a tux to boot… and he sure did look fine. I was struggling to hold on to my brother’s arm and not go over to the man I loved.
“Why do you like him so much?” Joe asked when he noticed where my gaze had wandered.
“Because believe it or not, he’s a good person. He’s tryin’ to make his life right, and he loves me and wants to protect me. But most importantly, he makes me feel like I’m enough.” I cast him a glance. “Does that make any sense?”
He gave me a sad smile. “Yeah, it does, but for what it’s worth, I already thought you were enough.”
The small orchestra on a low stage began to play, and couples were making their way onto the dance floor. Joe and I wandered the room, chatting with other couples. I was sure he enjoyed the surprise on their faces when he introduced me as his sister. A few eyebrows rose, but the conversation always quickly turned to Kate’s escape and murders.
We’d been making the rounds for a good thirty minutes when Joe’s body tensed as he gazed locked on something across the room. “Mason.”
“He’s here?”
Sure enough, Mason was approaching, wearing a tux of his own. He stopped in front of us and gave me an appreciative glance. “You look beautiful, Neely Kate.”
I glanced down at my bright red strapless dress then back up at him. My hair had been pulled up into a loose updo and I felt beautiful… like a princess. Only my prince was stuck in the periphery and was at serious risk of being spotted. I had no doubt that Mason would recognize him. “Thank you, Mason.”
“Joe, you must be quite proud of her.”
Joe’s face beamed as he let his gaze linger on me. “You have no idea.”
Mason gave Joe a polite smile that looked forced. “May I steal her away for a dance?”
Joe’s hand landed protectively on my arm. “I suppose that’s up to Neely Kate.”
I could see this might turn into an argument, and the Simmons family had endured enough excitement and notoriety for one day. “Of course,” I said, purposely preventing my gaze from drifting to Jed.
Mason lightly put an arm around my back and led me to the dance floor. When we were amongst the other couples, he pulled me into a dancing embrace, keeping a respectable distance between us.
“You really are beautiful tonight,” Mason said with a genuine smile. “Be sure to get photos for Rose.”
My heart stuttered. “We already have a few.”
“I can’t imagine she would miss helpin’ you get ready for something like this. Whatever dragged her away must have been really important.”
I didn’t bother to hide my hurt and disappointment. “And here I thought you were trying to make up for this morning.”
Guilt flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by slick Mason, the version of himself Joe had warned us about last fall and winter. “Is there something that happened between us this morning that I need to apologize for?”
I almost told him that he’d been an ass this morning, but that wouldn’t help anything. “I’m exhausted, Mason. I was hoping you asked me to dance because we’re friends and Joe apparently doesn’t feel like dancing, but then you had to go and ruin it.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, acting truly chagrined. “You’re right. Only I noticed something odd and thought I would bring it to your attention… since you’re Rose’s friend and all.”
I didn’t like where this conversation was heading, but there was no running away from it now.
“And?” I prodded.
“With Kate still on the loose, I was worried about Rose bein’ off the radar. I knew she wouldn’t answer my call, so I called her aunt Bessie to check on them. Imagine my surprise when Aunt Bessie was still in Layfette County with Rose’s uncle Earl.”
My feet stumbled, then froze in place, but Mason gently nudged me to keep us moving.
“Sorry,” I said. “You caught me by surprise. Maybe they decided to call it an early weekend.”
“Nope. Aunt Bessie didn’t know a thing about it.”
My anger rose up, but I decided to play this light, as though he was barking up the wrong tree. “You do realize that could be considered stalkin’?”
Mason released a soft laugh. “I suppose it could be considered that way. Or it could be considered investigating.”
“So you’re a detective now?” I asked in a teasing tone, even though my stomach felt like it was full of rocks. “Perhaps you should run for sheriff.”
He released another chuckle. “Maybe I should. Maybe then I’d get some straight answers.”
“Mason…”
“You know what I find extremely interesting?” he asked, still spinning me around on the dance floor.
“I haven’t the faintest idea.”
“Since a man with ties to a crime or
ganization in Dallas showed up in little Henryetta, Arkansas, I thought to check in on all the major players in Fenton County… to ensure their safety, of course.”
“Of course,” I murmured.
“Guess who I couldn’t locate?”
I was trying to keep from shaking with fear for my best friend. I flashed him a coquettish smile. “If you’re lookin’ for Daniel Crocker, you’ll find him in a cemetery plot.”
Mason nodded. “That he is, but I’m referring to Skeeter Malcolm. No one seemed to know where he was, which, from what I gather, is quite unusual.”
“You don’t say,” I murmured, knowing that Jed’s gaze was on me. Had Mason noticed him too? That seemed incredibly likely since very little slipped past the man holding me in his arms. “Do you know what I find interestin’?”
“Do tell,” he said.
“I find it interestin’ that the man who keeps protestin’ over and over that he’s my friend keeps tryin’ to find ways to shake me up.”
His arms stiffened. “Neely Kate.”
“No, you hear me out. I know Rose hurt you. I know you felt like a fool for her sneaking the Lady in Black past you for so long, but that doesn’t mean we’re out to sneak one past you now.” I glanced up at him. “Did it occur to you that Rose can spend the weekend with the whole tree full of Keebler elves, and it would still be none of your daggum business? It has nothin’ to do with you.” I took a step backward, out of his grasp. “I thought we were friends, and the way you’re actin’ makes me think I can’t trust you one iota.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way, but perhaps you shouldn’t be hiding things from me in the first place.”
“So you’re sayin’ I can tell you about something awful I did in Oklahoma and you’ll keep it to yourself and won’t turn me in to the law?”
His eyes widened. “Did you break the law, Neely Kate?”
Tears stung my eyes. “That just answered my question.”
I turned and started to walk away, but Mason called out, “Neely Kate. Wait.”
I ignored him, stomping off to the lady’s room, but his longer legs caught up with me in the hallway.
“Neely Kate.”
I spun around to face him. “The world is not black and white, Mason Deveraux. The world is full of gray.” I touched my fingertips to my chest. “I’m not even close to bein’ pristine white. I’m very, very gray. If you can’t accept that, you need to turn around and walk away from me right now.”
“Neely Kate.”
“Do you think I’m a good person?”
He looked taken aback. “What kind of question is that?”
“Answer the question.”
“Of course you’re a good person. What kind of nonsense talk is that?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you so sure of that? What if you found out that I killed a man?”
He tried to hide his reaction, but I could see his shock.
“Instead of bein’ so quick to judge people and lock them away, maybe you should get to know them first and find out why they’re doin’ what they’re doin’. You might be surprised what you find.” Turning on my heel, I walked back to the ballroom to find Joe.
I had to talk to Rose. Immediately.
Up Shute Creek (Rose Gardner Investigations #4)
November 2, 2018
***
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Also by Denise Grover Swank
Rose And Neely Kate reading order:
Family Jewels
Trailer Trash
For the Birds
Hell in a Handbasket
In High Cotton
Up Shute Creek
* * *
Rose Gardner Investigations
Family Jewels
For the Birds
Hell in a Handbasket
Up Shute Creek
* * *
Neely Kate Mystery
Trailer Trash
In High Cotton
* * *
Magnolia Steele Mystery
Center Stage
Act Two
Call Back
Curtain Call
* * *
Darling Investigations
(Humorous mystery romance)
Deadly Summer
Blazing Summer
* * *
Rose Gardner Mysteries
Novellas are bonus material
TWENTY-EIGHT AND A HALF WISHES
TWENTY-NINE AND A HALF REASONS
THIRTY AND A HALF EXCUSES
FALLING TO PIECES (novella)
THIRTY-ONE AND A HALF REGRETS
THIRTY-TWO AND A HALF COMPLICATIONS
PICKING UP THE PIECES (novella)
THIRTY-THREE AND A HALF SHENANIGANS
ROSE AND HELENA SAVE CHRISTMAS (novella)
RIPPLE OF SECRETS (novella)
THIRTY-FOUR AND A HALF PREDICAMENTS
THIRTY-FIVE AND A HALF CONSPIRACIES
THIRTY-SIX AND A HALF MOTIVES
SINS OF THE FATHER (novella)
The Wedding Pact
(Humorous contemporary romance)
THE SUBSTITUTE
THE PLAYER
THE GAMBLER
THE VALENTINE (short story)
* * *
Bachelor Brotherhood
Spinoff of The Wedding Pact series
ONLY YOU
UNTIL YOU
ALWAYS YOU
* * *
Young adult contemporary romance
ONE PARIS SUMMER
Off the Subject Series
(New adult contemporary romance)
AFTER MATH
REDESIGNED
BUSINESS AS USUAL
Also by D.G. Swank
CURSE KEEPERS WORLD
(Urban fantasy)
Curse Keepers Trilogy
The Curse Keepers
The Curse Breakers
The Curse Defiers
Curse Keepers Collection (box set)
* * *
Of Ash and Spirit Trilogy
Of Ash and Spirit
Of Fire and Storm
Of Blood and Monsters
The Chosen Series
(Adult urban fantasy)
CHOSEN
HUNTED
SACRIFICE
REDEMPTION
On the Otherside Series
(Young adult sci fi romance)
HERE
THERE
About the Author
Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period. Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.) Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks. She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.
* * *
For urban fantasy: dgswank.com
For mystery and romance: denisegroverswank.com
In High Cotton: Neely Kate Mystery #2 Page 29
