“You’re kidding?” I asked, rushing down the hall. I was an assistant DA in Little Rock by then, and I was on my way to court. “You’ve kept a guy around long enough to introduce him to me?”
“Says the man who hardly ever dates.”
“I date.” I laughed. “I went out with a paralegal just last week.”
“And was there a second date?” she prompted.
“No. She was dull as dirt.”
“You can’t spend your life alone, Mason.”
“Agreed. I can’t see wasting my time on women who don’t hold my interest either.”
“But you have to get out there to find them! You’re not going to find a wife stuck in your office.”
“A wife? Who said anything about a wife? I’m just interested in sex.”
My statement drew the horrified glance of an elderly woman in the hall.
“You can lie all you want, Mason Deveraux, but I know you. You’re not a casual sex kind of guy.”
“Unlike you,” I teased.
“Not this time. Joe’s a keeper.”
“Joe, is it?”
“He has a sister. Maybe I’ll set you two up.”
“I think I’ll pass. Imagine how well our relationship would fare when you dump Moe a few weeks from now.”
“Joe. His name is Joe and I really like him.” She paused, turning serious. “I think he’s the one.”
I stopped short outside the courtroom and moved away from the door. “Really? You’ve only known him for a month.” Still, with all the men who’d traipsed in and out of Savannah’s life, she’d never once made that statement.
“Sometimes you just know.”
“Be careful with your heart, Savannah. Makes sure he deserves you.”
“I think you’re too careful with yours.”
“Maybe I’m counting on finding the one. Just like you.”
“So you’ll meet him?” she asked excitedly.
“Of course. Name the time and the place.”
We met for lunch a week later at a restaurant close to the courthouse. I tried to mask my surprise when I found out that Savannah’s Joe was Joe Simmons. Based on his chilly reception, I presumed he’d heard of me too. In her excitement, Savannah failed to pick up on it.
Our conversation was stilted, both of us asking superficial questions and giving short responses. I studied him closely, watching for evidence that he loved her the way she obviously loved him. So far I’d seen no indication of that, which was making me angrier by the minute.
Savannah excused herself to go to the restroom and Joe and I stared at each other until I decided to be the better person. “It’s apparent we don’t care for each other.”
Joe raised his eyebrows and gave me a cocky grin. “You think?”
“But we both care about Savannah. I love her and don’t want to hurt her. I presume you want the same.”
He leaned forward. “Look, Deveraux. I don’t like you. You’re a stuck-up prick who’s fallen for his own PR.”
“Excuse me?” I asked, as politely as I could manage. “PR?”
“You know, the educated rich white southern boy who goes to an elite school, then comes home and plays boy wonder in the courtroom. Well, all you really are is a self-righteous shithead who threw out two cases I worked my ass off to build.”
I knew exactly which two cases he was talking about. “Maybe if you’d done it by the book, I would have had something to work with.”
“If I’d done it by the book, none of that evidence would have come to light.”
“Well we can’t use it anyway,” I said, “so what good did it do you?”
“I’m trying to get scum off the street.”
“And I’m trying to make sure the defendants are really scum who deserve to be put away.”
“Isn’t that the defense attorney’s job?” Joe asked.
Savannah returned to the table and stood by her chair. “Did I miss something?”
Joe got up and pulled her into a hug, then kissed her on the mouth. “I have to go. I’ll call you later.”
She held onto him as he started to pull away. “Is everything okay?”
He smiled down at her, finally showing her at least some of the adoration I’d been searching for. “Of course. I just got called in while you were gone. Can I still come over tonight? I can help you study for your test on torts.”
She smiled, a dazzling smile I hadn’t seen in years. In that moment, I decided that as long as Joe made her look like that, I could and would endure any shit he threw my way.
“He does know the torts you’re studying aren’t pastries, doesn’t he?” I asked dryly as she sat down.
“Yes.” She giggled. “He went to law school before he joined the state police.”
“Did he now?”
Joe Simmons was full of all kinds of surprises.
Chapter Ten
Joe
Savannah had been pregnant. With my baby.
For some reason, knowing that had far more impact than the knowledge that Hilary was currently pregnant. Maybe it was because she’d been farther along. Or maybe it was because Deveraux had said the baby was a girl. No matter the reason, Savannah’s baby was so much more real to me than the blob I’d seen on the ultrasound screen just that afternoon.
Mason leaned against the support post on my front porch, looking like he was about to murder me.
I sat down on one of the chairs on my porch, noticing that Mildred was peeking at us through the window across the street. I was surprised she hadn’t called Henryetta’s finest to check out the disturbance. The chief deputy sheriff dukin’ it out with the assistant DA. That was sure to be big news even if Henryetta didn’t have a gossip column in the Henryetta Gazette. Not that it needed one with Mildred butting in everyone’s business.
Violet’s porch light was on too, and it didn’t surprise me a bit when she came marching over to investigate.
“Mason?” she asked when she noticed him by the post, then her gaze turned to me and she gasped. “What in God’s name…” She spun around with her hands on her hips. “Punching Joe in Jasper’s last week wasn’t enough? You had to come over and beat him up at his own home? Does Rose know you’re here?”
“Leave Rose out of this,” Mason said, his voice pitched low.
“Leave her out of this? Are you crazy?” She stepped closer, jabbing her fingers into his chest. “Are you hurting my sister?”
“What?” Mason asked, obviously horrified. “No. Never.”
“Then why did I see bruises on her arm?” Mason didn’t answer, but Violet forged on, her voice taking on a menacing tone. “I swear to all that is holy, if I find out you’ve hurt one hair on her head, I will hunt you down and make you regret the day you ever laid eyes on her.” She paused. “Have I made myself clear?”
“You’re accusing the wrong person, Violet.” Mason swiped at the blood trickling down his chin. “People seem to be lining up to hurt her, but I’m not one of them. From her perspective, you seem to be the first one in line.”
“I’ve spent my entire life protecting Rose. Don’t you even start with me.” She turned to look at me. “Joe, do you want me to call the police?”
“Violet, in case you’ve forgotten,” I said, looking up at her, “I am the police. Everything’s fine here. Go on home.”
She looked unconvinced, not that I blamed her. It was pretty damn clear we’d been in a fight.
I stood, my stomach aching from Mason’s punch. “We’re clearing the air. If we’re both gonna live in this god-forsaken town, we have to learn to get along. Sometimes men get hot-headed and throw punches. It doesn’t mean it’s right, but this thing between Mason and me has been a long time coming. But we’re done fighting—at least the physical part.” I swung my hand toward Deveraux. “Right, Mason?”
“Yeah. That’s right.” His eyes hardened, negating his statement.
Not that I cared. Let him take a swing at me again if he wanted. I just needed Viole
t to get out of the way.
“Okay…if you’re sure.” She took baby steps toward my porch steps.
“Violet, go.”
I waited until she reached her driveway. Then I lowered my voice and said, “I meant it when I said we need to clear the air.”
“Shouldn’t you be running back to Hilary in Little Rock?” Mason sneered. “Isn’t that your MO? Leave her for a bit and use some poor woman before running to her? Savannah, Rose...and the others.”
I started to protest, but Mildred was dead center in her window now, not even pretending to be subtle about her snooping. “Can we do this inside where we’re not on display?”
He hesitated.
“Look, I don’t know what Hilary’s going to do, but I’m not going anywhere, Deveraux. I plan to stay in Fenton County. If you and I don’t come to some kind of agreement, we’re going to come to blows again. What if it’s in front of Rose? Do you really want to do that to her a second time?”
“Fine.”
I went through the front door, leaving Mason to follow me or not, not stopping until I reached the fridge and pulled out two beers. I handed him one as I sunk into the sofa, the sorry remnants of my dinner on the coffee table.
“Why are you here, Mason?” I asked as I popped the top off my beer. “Obviously, you’ve been saving that bombshell for a while. Why come tonight?”
“I’m trying to protect Rose.”
I snorted. “More like trying to protect yourself.” I took a long drag of my beer. “I bet Rose was horrified to hear that little nugget of info. Was that the deciding factor for her in choosing you?”
He stared at the unopened beer in his hand as if deciding whether he was going to stay long enough to justify opening it. “Rose doesn’t know. No one does. Not even my mother.”
That surprised me…and then it didn’t. Mason Deveraux was a master at releasing information at just the right time during a trial. It made sense he’d do the same in real life. Tonight was proof enough of that.
“I’ve offered to give Rose the money to buy you out, but it’s going to take a couple of weeks to get it. I want you to tell her you’ve changed your mind and you don’t want to be a partner.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head and making my forehead throb. “Because I do want to be a partner.”
“You and I both know you have no legal right to any say in the nursery.”
I pressed the cool bottle to the growing knot on my brow. “And you and I both know she’s going to give it to me anyway. Isn’t that part of the reason you’re here?”
Mason set his bottle on the side table with a bang. “You’re a selfish son of a bitch, aren’t you?”
I shrugged. There was no denying I had my own reasons for what I’d done, almost all of them selfish.
“Joe,” his tone softened. “You’ve got your hands full with your ex-fiancée and her pregnancy. Please, just leave Rose alone. All she wants is a little peace. Her life has been nothing but chaos since her mother was killed. How much upheaval can one person take?”
“I know you find it hard to believe, Deveraux, but I love her. She’s my everything.”
“If you care so much about her, why aren’t you doing anything to protect her from your father?”
I sucked in a breath, my anger simmering. He’d hated my father since he met him last year at a fundraiser I’d attended with Savannah.
I hated my father too, but I also knew what he was capable of doing to those who had stood up to him.
Whenever my father plotted to take someone down, he left a trail of devastation so tightly orchestrated even investigators using a microscope could never tie it back to him. He wielded his power on the highest of political officials as well as the lowliest members of the house staff. J.R. Simmons was a man of extremes. He was either your best friend or your worst enemy. There was no middle ground. And no one wanted to be in the path of his wrath.
When I was eight, I eavesdropped on my father as he berated an employee for losing money on an investment. I’d watched in horror and fascination as the man cried and pleaded for my father’s mercy. But I learned that day my father didn’t believe in mercy. “I will ruin you,” he said, and then he fired the man and sent him out the door. Within seconds of the employee leaving, my father called the bank and convinced them to find a way to foreclose on the man’s home.
My father didn’t bat an eye before destroying anyone who got in his way. But if I toed the line, there was nothing to worry about.
I shook my head. “As long as I’m not running for office, she’s fine.”
Mason stood. “Are you even listening to what you’re saying? Leaving that threat hanging over her head is like playing Russian roulette. You’re seriously going to do that?”
I jumped to my feet. “What the hell do you want me to do, Deveraux? My hands are tied!”
His eyes hardened. “You claim to love her—prove it. I’m going to stop him. If you care anything about her, help me do it.”
“What? You’re going to take on my father? Are you crazy? Do you have the slightest idea of what he’s capable of?”
Mason’s expression softened and his eyes pleaded with me. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but I love her too. It makes me crazy to think about her being sent to prison—even for a day—because of your father’s lies. I’d give up everything and drag her halfway around the world to protect her from your father, but she’d never agree to leave her family and friends.”
“Save the drama for the courtroom, Deveraux. I would never let that happen.”
“How could you stop it?”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t have an answer. Anyone who tried to defy him was crushed.
“Joe, something bad is about to happen. I can feel it. Your father’s going to use his weapon, and I need to be prepared to stop him.” He paused. “Help me.”
“No. You’re crazy.”
“Then I’ll do it without you.” He turned and headed for the door.
“Leave it alone, Mason,” I called after him. “If my father even catches wind that you’re up to something, he’ll blow it all to kingdom come. That will hurt her even worse.”
“Not if I get to him first.”
Chapter Eleven
Rose
I knew something was wrong even before Mason glanced at his phone after dinner, then said he was going into the office. But I watched him walk out the door certain there was nothing I could do about it. I also suspected it had something to do with Joe, but I wasn’t sure what to do about that either. So I wasn’t surprised when Violet called me about thirty minutes later.
“Did you know Mason’s at Joe’s house right now?”
My stomach twisted in knots. “No.”
“They were out on his front porch causing a commotion, so I went over to check it out. Both of their faces were bleeding, so I think they got into some kind of a scuffle.”
“Bad?” I forced out.
“No. Mason’s lip and Joe’s eyebrow. And they weren’t fightin’ when I got over there. They weren’t saying anything. They acted like they were waiting for me to leave.”
“Is Mason still there?”
“Yeah. Joe said he and Mason were done hitting each other, but they had some things to work out. Then they disappeared into Joe’s house.”
“Do you hear them shoutin’?”
“No, but Miss Mildred’s about to fall out her window screen trying to figure out what’s goin’ on.” She paused. “Oh, wait. Mason’s leaving now. You know, for a guy with a busted leg, he’s sure getting around.”
“Yeah…” My stomach was a mess with nerves.
“Rose, I’m really scared for you.”
“Why?” What did she know that I didn’t?
“This is twice in one week that Mason has been part of a physical fight.”
“Both times with Joe,” I added. “He provokes him.”
“The first time Joe never lifted a finger. We were both witnesses.”
> “For all we know Joe threw the first punch this time,” I said.
“Rose,” Violet said slowly, as though she was explaining something to Mikey. “Mason showed up on Joe’s doorstep. He instigated this.” She hesitated. “And I know he put those bruises on your arm. Deny it.”
I paused. What could I say? I didn’t want to lie to her. “He had a nightmare and grabbed me. He didn’t mean to hurt me and was horrified when he realized what had happened.” Oh, Lord. What had I done? Why had I admitted that to Violet of all people? “You can’t tell Joe.”
“Rose, Joe is a deputy sheriff now and you live outside of city limits. The sheriff is who you call for domestic violence cases.”
“Good heavens, Violet! Just let it go! I told you it was an accident.”
“I want you to promise me something.” She sounded worried and serious. “If Mason ever threatens you or he hurts you, I want you to call Joe.”
“Not you?” I asked in a snotty tone. How dare she think so badly of Mason!
“No. I might not be able to help you. But Joe can. Promise me.”
Her request was utterly ridiculous, but I could hear tears in her voice, and I wanted to ease her mind. “Okay. I promise.”
“Thank you. I know you have a hard time believing it, but I really do love you. I’ve just done a bad job of showing it lately.”
“I love you too.”
“I’m gonna try to be a better sister. I don’t want to lose you.”
“You’re stuck with me as a sister for life. We’ll talk more about the business next week.”
I hung up and helped Maeve finish cleaning up the kitchen.
“My real estate agent called and asked me to meet him at the house tomorrow morning before I head back to Little Rock,” she said as she dried the crock pot lid. “I thought you might like to come see it.”
“I’d love to. I’m so excited that you’re moving to Henryetta.”
“Me too.” She beamed at me. “I’m supposed to meet the Realtor at eleven to go over some things from the inspection, but if you join me there at around eleven-fifteen, I’ll show you around. It’s tiny, so it won’t take long.”
“It sounds wonderful. And I want to help you get moved and settled.”
Picking Up the Pieces: Rose Gardner Novella 5.5 (Volume 2) Page 10