I called Neely Kate as soon as I pulled away from the house. “Any luck finding Becky?” I asked.

“The manager’s running late, so we haven’t talked to him, but we found a neighbor who remembers her. He said he sees her walk to the convenience store nearly every day in the early afternoon. He pointed out the apartment he thinks she lives in, so we’re watchin’ the door while we wait for the manager. What about you?” she asked. “Find out anything useful?”

“You wouldn’t believe what I found out.” I spent several minutes filling her in on both Carol Ann and Patsy.

When I finished, she was quiet for a moment. “What do you think she was up to?”

“Honestly,” I said, “I would have said she was jumping into the drug business, but why would she tell Poppy she was doin’ something her mother would be proud of? Carol Ann’s daddy got thrown into prison because he messed with the drug trade, or at least Lucille thinks so. She would not be happy.”

“Yeah, that’s throwin’ me off too.”

Since I didn’t know where I was going next, I pulled into a convenience store parking lot. “Her cousin in Big Thief Hollow didn’t know anything specific about Carol Ann’s business?”

“No, she only mentioned it in passing. She made it seem like no big deal.”

“Or she was bein’ super secretive about it. How’d it come up in the conversation?”

Neely Kate was quiet for a moment. “Come to think of it, Charlene’s mother’s the one who mentioned it. She kind of played it down.”

“Sounds like we need to have another chat with Charlene.”

“Yeah . . .”

“Did you know anything about Patsy cheatin’ people in her real estate deals?” I asked.

“I’ve heard rumors. I know there was a lawsuit filed against her that got dismissed, but the people who sued her weren’t the most trustworthy citizens of Fenton County. I figured it was a wash.”

“Yeah, but Judge Berger’s the one who threw out the case. Plus, you said Patsy’s office staff acted weird. There’s something fishy going on with her. All the more reason for me to talk to Calvin again.”

“Agreed, but when are you plannin’ on seeing him?” Neely Kate asked. “Witt had to leave Marshall in the panic room while he went to talk to someone about renting garage space for his mechanic shop. He won’t be able to go with you until later this afternoon.”

“Huh.” I didn’t want to wait to go see him. I’d built some momentum, and I would hate for it to grind to a halt now. I heard the beep of a text message and saw James’ name on the screen.

We need to talk. Can you meet me at the Sinclair at noon?

My heart skipped a beat. What did he want to talk about? Was this about Marshall or about us? Maybe he’d decided to end things before I could give him an answer. Maybe the whole situation had begun to seem like too much of a gamble.

“Rose,” Neely Kate said in an insistent tone. “Are you still there?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Sorry. I got distracted. Call me if you find something. Maybe we can meet Charlene after you wrap things up there.”

“Yeah,” she said. “Be safe.”

“Yeah. You too.”

I checked the time and saw it was eleven thirty. If James had decided to end it, I’d rather know now than spend the rest of the day in suspense. I texted him: Okay.

I could see the bubble telling me he was typing. After several long seconds, he sent: See you then.

Considering how long it had taken him to send those three words, I knew he’d originally planned to say something else, but Lord only knew what. I found myself pressing the back button so I could look at the list of my texts. Mason’s name sat there like a bomb waiting to go off. No matter what happened with James, I felt like I had to put this business with Mason to rest. If nothing else, I needed closure—my talk with Maeve had shown me that.

I also needed to understand how much of James’ appeal came down to how different he was from Mason, who’d always seemed so safe, solid, and reliable. Turned out he’d been none of those things, but in fairness to him, he’d expected me to be a much sweeter, more innocent version of myself. James represented everything Mason was not—dark, wild, and ruthless.

I pulled up my conversation with Mason and, before I could think on it too hard, typed, Okay. I’ll meet you.

Since my food intake for the day had been limited to coffee and a protein bar I’d found in my desk drawer, I was starving. I swung by a sandwich shop so I could eat while I drove.

I might not feel like eating after my conversation with James.

I pulled behind the abandoned gas station five minutes early and drove back farther than usual so I could park in the shade. After lowering the tailgate, I sat on the edge, then took a deep breath and drew out my phone. Mason had already responded, and the time stamp indicated he’d done so immediately.

Dinner at Jaspers?

My breath caught in my throat. I wasn’t sure I could handle dinner with him. It was too much like a date, and besides, I was pretty much guaranteed a date with Kip Wagner around ten p.m. How about coffee instead?

He seemed to hesitate before responding. I can come out to the farm if you’d like.

Then a few seconds later, he sent: And pick up my box.

The absolute last place I wanted to meet him was at the farm—Marshall, Jed, and Witt aside. There were too many memories of him there that I’d spent months trying to purge. How about in my office?

His response was much quicker this time: Whatever makes you comfortable. I can’t get away before four. I can text you.

I stared at his message before I sent: I have appointments out of the office this afternoon. Try to give me at least fifteen to twenty minutes’ notice.

Okay.

I stared at the phone, trying to decide how I felt about seeing him again.

Anxious. Apprehensive.

Nevertheless, it still seemed like a good idea. I couldn’t seriously think about starting a new relationship before reassuring myself the last one was good and dead.

I heard an approaching car engine, then saw James’ black sedan drive around the corner. My breath stuck in my chest as James got out, keeping his gaze on me until he stood directly in front of me.

The dark look in his eyes pulled at something deep in my core, and I stopped myself from sucking in a breath to clear my head. Part of me didn’t want to clear my head. I liked this feeling of standing on a precipice with him.

I found myself asking that same question again. Were my feelings for James real, or did I want him because he was the exact opposite of Mason Deveraux?

Still, as I stared up into James’ face, practically sitting on my hands to keep from touching him, I knew that no easy explanation encompassed this man or my feelings for him. James knew my flaws as well as my strengths, and yet he wanted me anyway. No, it was more than that—he considered some of my flaws to be strengths. He was the first man who’d seen my full potential and encouraged me to live up to it. If I were honest with myself, that’s how I felt about him too. I saw his flaws, yet I also saw the better man hiding underneath them all, the one he didn’t show the world.

Was it enough?

He spoke first, his voice husky. “You’re makin’ it damn hard for me to focus on why I asked you here.”

Reveling in the knowledge that I could distract him, I said just as huskily, “Maybe that’s not such a bad thing.”

“Does that mean you have an answer to my proposal?”

His question was like being doused by a bucket of cold water. I glanced down, feeling slightly ashamed.

“So it’s a no?” he asked in a much colder tone.

“No, it’s not a no, but it’s not a yes either.” I stared back up at him, my eyes pleading with him to understand.

He moved closer, his face softening. He reached up and cupped my cheek, his fingers sliding deeper into my hair, then curling around the strands.

A white-hot heat flared up inside me, and I sucked in a breath of surprise and need. One touch had me wanting to sleep with him right here on my truck bed in broad daylight. “I’m scared of this.”

“Of what?” he asked, his voice so low his chest rumbled. His hand loosened its hold on my hair, but only so it could slide behind my head and wrap around more strands. Pulling a little tighter this time, he held my face upturned. “Us?”

“You make me forget myself. You make me into someone else. Someone more wanton.”

He grinned at that, but it was more of a predatory grin than amused. “Wanton?”

I tried to look down again out of embarrassment, but his grip on my hair tightened, holding me in place as the playfulness faded. “Don’t ever be ashamed of who you are with me. I love you wanton.”

I wanted to look away, but his gaze held mine, refusing to relent.

“You are the sexiest woman I’ve ever known,” he said, and I felt the feather-light touch of his hand on my left side, his fingers lightly sliding over my ribs, drifting up to the curve of my breast.

Another wave of heat washed through me and I relaxed, letting his hand hold up my head.

He stepped between my legs, pushing them apart, but then he stopped, and his hooded eyes widened into a look of concern. “You’re wearing a gun.”

“I thought it prudent after last night.”

As he shifted from seducer to protector, his hand fell away from my side and he loosened his grip on my hair. “Did you have any problems after I left last night?”

It was hard to stifle my disappointment at losing his touch. “No. And none today. But my encounter with Wagner made me realize I needed more than a Taser for protection.”

Wearing a grim look, he nodded as he let go of my head and took a step back. “Do you want me to assign someone to watch over you?”

“No. I suspect Wagner won’t try anything until tonight.”

“And what do you plan on doing about his ultimatum?”

“I can’t give him what I don’t have,” I countered.

His voice turned rough. “True. But he’s gonna show up with guns blazin’ anyway.”

I offered him a half-smile. “I’m still workin’ out how to avoid that.”

“I’m gonna be there when he comes, Rose.”

“At my farm?”

“Did he tell you he’d meet you somewhere else?”

“No.” Part of me wanted to protest that it would destroy my attempts to look neutral if he showed up, but I was smart enough to know that while I might have held Wagner off last night, there would be no repeat performance tonight. I didn’t want a shootout at my house, and men like Wagner only respected and bowed to threats that were stronger than him. He’d make doggone sure he came back with more force this time, which meant I had to be prepared too. “Okay. You can be there.”

He nodded, relief filling his eyes. He took another step back. “You’re not the only one who loses control, and as much as I want to take you right here, that’s not why I asked you to meet me.”

He was putting distance between us to talk. I grinned. “Then why did you ask me to meet you here?”

“We need to set some ground rules.”

“What does that mean?”

“If you’re going to continue to be in dangerous situations, we need to make sure you’re protected.”

“You mean you’ll send your men to protect me.”

He paused, and it was obvious he wasn’t excited to have this conversation. “Not just mine.”

I squinted at him. “What does that mean?”

He paused again, his entire body taut with tension. “Dermot’s men too.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “Dermot?” I shook my head. “He’ll never agree to that.”

His dark gaze held mine. “He already did.”

In that moment, I could see exactly what this cost him. He’d sacrificed his pride and risked his reputation, all for the sake of keeping me safe because I wouldn’t let him claim me. He’d put everything on the line.

I shook my head, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say. No? Thank you? I’m sorry?

His mouth spread into a soft smile. “It’s okay, Rose.”

“It’s not,” I said in a thick voice.

He moved closer and stood between my legs again, wrapping his arms around my back. When he looked down at me, his smile had fallen away and the look in his eyes suggested an emotion I’d only seen a time or two before. Love. Not that he’d ever admit it. “You were right. The best way to keep you safe is for you to be neutral. Dermot recognizes that too. He’s none too thrilled to get into the middle of a spat with Wagner, but he believes in you enough to risk it.”

“Why?”

“Because he thinks you can help bring about the kind of peace this county hasn’t known for decades.”

“Me?”

His hand slid behind my head again, his fingers curling around my hair in a light hold. “You.”

I tried to shake my head, but his hold made it a tiny movement.

“It comes with a price though,” he said reluctantly.

“What does he want you to do?”

“Not me,” he said, and the pain in his gaze let me know how much it killed him to say this. “You. He wants you to agree to have visions for him.”

“How does he know about my visions?” But even as I asked, I knew.

“The night Merv kidnapped you.”

I’d managed to send Jed a text that night, telling him that Merv was kidnapping me, and he’d called Dermot as backup. Dermot had shot Merv to save me, and he’d been there in the aftermath, when James had dragged me out from underneath Merv’s body—and also out of my vision of death. I’d been a freezing mess, unable to warm up, and too shaken to hide my visions from anyone present in the warehouse. It wouldn’t have been difficult for him to piece things together. All he would have needed to do was ask a few well-phrased questions.

Mouth gaping, I stared up at him.

“He’s open to negotiation.” He swallowed. “I told him it wasn’t my talent to barter.”

I pushed on his chest, backing him up so I could slide down from the tailgate and take several steps away. I felt trapped and confined, but it had nothing to do with James. “I’m not sure I can agree to that.”

“I know it’s not ideal, but I suspect he’s open to a limited arrangement. I can insist you’ll only do it if you’re accompanied by Jed or one of my men you trust.”

I shook my head. “No, you don’t understand . . .”

Until last night, I hadn’t seen or communicated with James since the morning after Merv’s death. He had no idea my visions had stopped. Neely Kate was the only one who knew.

“I’m not sure I can do that.”

“I do understand. You have no idea how hard this is for me to even suggest it.”

I turned to face him. “Believe me, the enormity of that isn’t lost on me.”

“Offer him one. I swear we’ll make sure you’re safe when you do it. I’ll even be with you if you want.”

I took a step closer. “James, it’s not my stubbornness that’s keeping me from considering it.”

“Then what is it?” he asked, confused now.

“Because I haven’t had a vision in nearly two weeks.”

He stared at me, his eyes wide. “You mean since you almost died.”

“Yeah.”

“They’re gone?” he asked in disbelief.

“The spontaneous ones.”

“You can’t force a vision either?”

“I haven’t tried.”

He waited for me to elaborate.

I started to turn around again, but he snagged my arm and spun me to stand in front of him. “Why haven’t you tried?”

“I spent my entire life wishing the things away. Why would I want them back now?”

“You’re serious?”

“Those visions made me an outsider. Now that they’re gone, maybe I’ll finally fit in.”

His face went blank.

“You’re only upset because you can’t use them,” I said, sounding more bitter than I’d intended.

“I’m upset that you still see yourself as that scared woman who walked into my pool hall a year ago.”

Tears stung my eyes. He was right. Some days I still saw myself that way. I’d made so much progress, yet sometimes I still felt like that scared girl who’d been berated for twenty-four years by my mother’s sharp tongue.

“Your visions don’t define you, Rose, but they’ve played a part in the woman you’ve become. And I wouldn’t change a hair on your head.”

“So you think I should force a vision?”

“Only you can decide what choice to make, but your visions have done a lot of good.” He paused. “You of all people know that. What are you really afraid of?”

I stared up at him, realizing he was right. That hadn’t been the real reason. “What if I try to force a vision and they’re gone for good?”

“What if they’re not?”

“I’m not ready to face this yet.”

“That’s not the way of the Lady in Black. She faces her fears head-on.” A smile played on his lips. “She threatens to shoot hardened criminals in the family jewels.”

“Maybe she needs a little longer to figure this one out.”

“I’m not sure you have that much time.”

He was right, but I still wasn’t ready to face it. Maybe I wasn’t the badass Lady in Black after all. Maybe Kip Wagner was right. Maybe I’d been playing dress-up all along.

“It’s okay,” he said, tugging my chest to his and wrapping his arm around my lower back. “But I need you to know that the visions have nothing to do with how I feel for you.”

It wasn’t until he said the words that I realized that had been one of my fears too. “Thank you.”

“You still need to negotiate with Dermot.”

I tilted my head back to look up at him. “You think I should negotiate with something I’m not sure I have?”

“I think you should assume you still have it until you prove otherwise.”

“You and I both know how badly this will go if I can’t force a vision for him. It could mean my death.” I shivered at the thought. Dermot might be nice to me now, but I had no idea how he’d react to the notion he’d been double-crossed.

James’ eyes hardened. “All the more reason to have Jed or me with you.”

“I thought you said I could pick one of your other men.”

“That was before I knew about the change in your visions.”

I should force one now and get this over with. James was right. I needed to face this head-on. “This is stupid. There’s one way to resolve this, and it needs to be done.” I pulled out of his arms. “Give me your hand.”

He looked momentarily confused but quickly caught up to speed, taking my hand in his. We both knew I could have forced a vision in his arms, but for some reason, I felt more comfortable this way. Thankfully, he didn’t fight me on it.

“What do you want me to see?” I asked in a low voice.

He looked down at me with warm eyes, a gaze he only showed to me. “Let’s make it easy. Look for what I’m gonna have for dinner.”

I shook my head. “That’s not the Lady in Black way. She goes big or she goes home.”

He grinned, and his hand tightened around mine. “That’s my girl.”

“I’ll look for what happens tonight with Wagner.”

He didn’t answer, just held my hand tighter.

I closed my eyes, about to ask that very question when I heard a loud bang, a sound that reminded me of a gunshot. Suddenly, I was back in that warehouse, hearing the gunshot that had killed Merv. Feeling his body crush mine to the concrete floor. Being covered by his blood. My eyes flew open in panic.

James pulled me to his chest, wrapping his arms tight around me, and it was then I realized I was shaking.

“It’s okay. A car passin’ by backfired.”

But it wasn’t okay. It was far from okay. “I need to try again.”

“Just give yourself a couple of minutes,” he said in a soothing tone. “A couple of minutes isn’t gonna make a difference one way or the other.”

I glanced up at him, realizing how much he’d changed too. Last November, he would have pushed me anyway, fear or no fear. I wasn’t sure if this was a positive development or not. Nevertheless, I was grateful for the reprieve. I suspected being afraid could hinder my abilities even more. It had certainly affected me that way when Merv had practically held a gun to my head to force a vision.

“Why don’t you sit down?” he said, already guiding me toward the truck bed. “There’s something else I need to talk to you about.”

“Okay.”

I put my back to the tailgate, reaching my arms behind me to hop up, but James put his hands on my waist and lifted me as though I weighed nothing. He set me down and left his hands on my hips, watching me with a look I wasn’t used to from him.

“Why do you look so worried?”

He hesitated a moment, then said, “Mason Deveraux is in town.”

Was he worried that I’d be happy to hear the news? Or worried it would upset me? “I know,” I said softly. “I saw him yesterday.”

His eyes hardened. “You saw him?”

“Not purposely, if that’s what you’re thinkin’. I ran into him at the Piggly Wiggly late yesterday afternoon.”

“I thought you were banned from that place.”

I rolled my eyes. “Does everyone know?”

“I’m not everyone, Rose,” he said in a dark tone.

I lifted a hand to his face and stroked his cheek with my fingertips. “No. You’re not.” I dropped my hand to my lap. “I was picking up a prescription, and they didn’t want to give it to me . . . because of the ban and all, and Mason was suddenly there, cajoling the pharmacy tech to give me my prescription anyway.”

“I don’t need the details,” he said in a gruff voice, his fingers digging into my hips.

“It’s important you know that I didn’t plan it. I had no idea he was even going to be in town until I saw him.”

“And?” he asked.

I lifted my eyebrows. “Are you askin’ me if I want him back?”

He didn’t answer.

“We talked in my truck afterward.” I held his gaze. “And we’re talkin’ again this afternoon in my office. Our conversation didn’t go well yesterday, and I need for it to end differently.”

He started to pull away, but I grabbed his wrists and held his hands in place.

“I know you don’t understand, but I have to do this. It’s the only way I’ll really be free of him.”

“Do you want to be free of him?”

I lifted my chin and gave him a look of defiance. “He doesn’t deserve me.”

“Neither do I,” was his gruff response.

I relaxed my hold on his tense arms and placed my hands on his chest, feeling the hard muscles underneath.

He froze, staring at me as though he wasn’t sure what to do, a rare look for him.

“You see me for who I am and you’re still here,” I said, my hands sliding up to his shoulders. “That means more than you know.”

“You mean because you lost your visions?” he asked, parting my legs as he stepped closer.

“Before that.” I tilted my head back to look up at him. “Last winter. You saw the real me before anyone else. You believed in me before anyone else.”

“So you’re here with me because I saw you first.”

“No . . . but part of the reason is that you saw me . . . and you liked what you saw. You didn’t try to change it.” I leaned my head back to look up at the clear blue sky. “I’m not explaining this right.”

His face lowered to my neck, and I felt the lightest touch of his lips to my skin.

My body tensed as if I’d been shot with a jolt of electricity.

His hand at my hip snaked around the small of my back, hauling my groin hard against the bulge in his jeans.

I gasped and tried to lower my head to look at him, but his face had moved lower, his mouth and tongue blazing a path to the top of my sundress.

His other hand rose from my hip to the strap of my dress, slowly tugging it and my bra strap down over my shoulder. His mouth remained on my skin as his finger hooked over the fabric of my dress and slowly tugged it down, exposing my nude-colored bra.

I held my breath in anticipation.

His hand cupped my breast, his finger sweeping up to find my nipple.

I gasped again as heat shot straight to my groin, and he tugged me tighter to his bulge. I lifted my leg to wrap it around his waist, but the gun in its holster was in the way.

As though reading my mind, he pushed the thin fabric of my dress up my thigh until the gun was exposed. He dropped both hands to unstrap the harness and drop it onto the truck bed. He reached under my dress and tugged my panties off, and I had half a mind to stop him. Anyone could drive back here and see us, but I knew the chances of that happening were slim to none. And if nothing else, I knew James would never put me in danger. He might lose his head when he was with me, but his concern for my safety would always trump his own needs.

He dropped my panties next to my holster and then returned his attention to my sundress, pulling the strap on the other side down and easing the fabric all the way off. My bra came off next, and he tossed it aside.

I sat in front of him naked except for the thin swath of fabric at my lap, while he was completely clothed. Reaching for the hem of his shirt, I lifted the fabric slowly, exposing his abs and his chest as though I was unwrapping a gift, taking in the sight of every ripple of muscle. When I got to his shoulders, he took over, tugging his shirt over his head and tossing it close to my bra.

I unfastened his belt before shifting my focus to unbuttoning and unzipping his jeans. I started to pull them down, but he grabbed my hands and stopped me without explanation.

Staring down at me with a hunger that stole my breath, he lowered his mouth to mine and showed me how much he wanted me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, clinging to him as his lips and his teeth and his tongue devoured me. I kissed him back with my own hunger, fueled by the growing ache deep inside me. By the time he lifted his mouth, I was gasping for breath, my body burning with need. Without thinking, I reached for his jeans, tugging at the heavy fabric, but his mouth had lowered to my breast, pushing him out of reach and making me lose focus as the fire in my groin grew hotter.

I cried out as the ache spread, desperate to be satisfied.

He moved to my other breast, giving it the same attention as he had the first, which was why I was surprised when his finger slid inside me with the gentlest of touches. I shuddered and pushed into him.

I moved both hands to his hips, sliding my fingers between the fabric and his skin and pulling the fabric down over his hips enough for him to spring free. Smiling, I wrapped my hand around him and stroked.

He rose up, staring down at my face with his finger still inside me. His thumb stroked my bundle of nerves while his finger worked its own magic. I gasped again, and he grinned as he wrapped an arm around my upper back, holding me up as he lowered his mouth to my breast to resume what he’d started.

Soon he had me writhing and panting, until I was close to begging him to give me what I needed, but the small part of me still capable of reason knew it wouldn’t be fair to him unless I made something perfectly clear.

I grabbed his face with both hands and jerked him up to face me. “This isn’t a yes. Not yet. I need more time. There’s so much to think—”

His eyes darkened. “I know.”

Then his hand slipped out from between my legs. I thought he’d changed his mind until he grabbed my leg and pulled it up to his waist, sinking deep inside me with one hard plunge.

I arched my back and moaned, pushing against him.

He set a frenetic pace, but I matched it beat by beat, until I’d climbed so high that I was sure I’d pass out from the lack of oxygen. And then I exploded into a million pieces, losing myself as we came together and wave after wave of pleasure washed through me. The pleasure was overwhelming, but I was never once scared I’d lose myself because James was holding me tight in his arms.

I opened my eyes and found him staring down at me in wonder. I grinned. “You never cease to amaze me.”

He laughed. “I think that’s supposed to be my line.”

I lifted up and placed a soft kiss on his lips, and he kissed me back, his passion tamed into gentleness.

His face lifted and the tenderness in his eyes startled me. “You don’t have to say yes, Rose. You have so much to lose. If I were a better man, I’d rescind my offer.” A wicked grin lit up his face, but I saw the darkness in his eyes, the regret and self-loathing. “But I’m not a better man, and I want you. I want every part of you I can get.”

A new fire sprang to life inside me at his words. “You know I want you too. Surely you have no doubt of that.”

His fingers dug into my hip and hauled me closer to him. “No, that one thing I’m sure of.”

I laid my cheek on his chest, my heart aching. What was I going to do?