Page 71 of Family Jewels

She rolled her eyes. “Brett and I dragged him out into the alley.”

I cocked my head to the side. “Who held his cow-pie-covered boots?”

Her mouth twitched with a sly grin. “We rock-paper-scissored for it. I won.”

Of course she had. “Did he wake up before you left?”

“Yeah, he was as angry as a three-legged cat on a tightrope, but Brett told him that if he bothered you or me again, Skeeter Malcolm intended to deal with him personally.”

“And what did Homer say to that?”

“He cursed like my cousin Alan Jackson when he got stung on the behind by a hornet at the last Rivers family reunion, but I’m pretty sure he’ll obey.”

“What makes you think that?”

Neely Kate held my gaze. “The fear in his eyes. No one inspires fear like Skeeter Malcolm.”

I swallowed. Just one more reminder of the true nature of the man I’d thrown myself at the night before. The man who’d inspired more of a response in me in less than five minutes than Levi had all evening.

“Are you satisfied now?” she demanded. “Because I need details. How was your date?”

I sat down on the opposite end of the sofa. “Good, I guess.”

Some of the excitement left her eyes. “Goodisn’t good when it comes to a date, Rose. What happened?”

“Well, he’s nice and easy to talk to. He also didn’t say a word when I disappeared for ten minutes to talk to Trixie and Buck in the bar.”

She shook her head. “Who are Trixie and Buck?”

“Trixie is the woman from my vision of Rayna. Turns out she found Rayna’s body after Raddy took off. She’s the one who called it in.”

Neely Kate’s eyes widened.

“And I’m pretty sure Buck is the guy Raddy lost that necklace to in the poker game.”

She gasped. “Do you think Rayna’s friend was spying on her for Buck?”

“I hate to accuse her of something so devious, but it seems possible. She looked like she knew something, especially after I had my vision.”

“You forced a vision?”

I nodded. “I had to. If there was even the slightest possibility it could help solve Rayna’s murder.”

“What did you see?”

After I told her, she narrowed her eyes and asked, “And Levi really didn’t say anything?”

“No. But I doubt there will be a second date.” I let out a sigh. No need for her to know I’d practically jumped out of his truck to avoid the possibility he’d ask. “Why did I go talk to Trixie? Who leaves their date long enough for their food to get cold?”

Compassion filled her eyes. “You’re a good person, Rose Gardner. Of course you’d try to help Rayna, even if she’s dead.”

I flopped back and sank into the back cushions. “James was none too happy with me.”

“JamesMalcolm? How didhefind out?”

“Because I left Buck and Trixie in the bar and then hid in the bathroom and called Jed.”

“Why?”