Page 113 of Family Jewels

I cast a glance at Neely Kate. “I’ll see if she can spend the night with Maeve. Since we don’t know what’s going to happen with our deadline.”

“Good idea.”

I handed Jed a list of the places we planned to go in case we got separated for some reason.

Jed slipped out the back door, then texted when he was in his car and ready to follow us.

“This is ridiculous,” Neely Kate mumbled on the sidewalk as she locked the front door. “No one’s gonna bother with me.”

When she turned around, I looked her square in the eye. “You matter, Neely Kate.”

She blinked in surprise. “What does that mean?”

“It means you’re important—to me and to Joe. And to Maeve and Bruce Wayne and Jed, for that matter.”

Anger washed over her face. “I don’t mean a hill of beans to Jed Carlisle.”

I shook my head. “I have no idea what’s going on with you two, but the fact that he’s insisting that you come despite being frustrated with you is proof that he cares.”

She pressed her lips together and headed toward the truck, obviously done talking about it.

After we dropped Muffy off with Maeve, who was more than happy to watch her, we spent a half hour at the first house, talking to the owner and making suggestions.

We were on our way to our next client when I got a call from Jonah.

“Hey, Jonah.”

“Rose,” he said, sounding uncomfortable. “I hate to ask, but is there any way you could bring by the money you owe the two guys who worked at the Hendersons’? They usually get paid the day they do the work.”

“Oh my word,” I said in horror. I’d forgotten all about it. “I’m so sorry! Of course! I have an appointment and then an hour-long break. How about I bring it then?”

“That will work. I hate to bring it up . . .”

“No! I’m sorry I haven’t paid them already. I’ll be by in an hour or so.”

When I parked in front of the next client’s house, I sent Jed a text telling him about the change in plans.

“We won’t have much time to get lunch,” Neely Kate said. “Maybe we should move our one o’clock appointment back by half an hour?”

“Then we’ll have to move the two o’clock. How about we go through the drive-through at the Chuck and Cluck?”

“You hate that place.”

“Hate is a strong word.”

“Jed hates that place.” A grin lit up her eyes. “Sounds great.”

She started to open her door.

“Neely Kate,” I said, grabbing her wrist. “What’s goin’ on with you two? You started to tell me earlier, but tell me now.”

She looked over her shoulder. “Mrs. Benson is peering out her picture window at us.”

“Then let her look. Talk to me.”

Inhaling deeply, she sat back in her seat and looked out the windshield. “When you were in Houston, I went out one night.”

“Went out? You mean out to dinner?”