Page 75 of Trailer Trash

I glanced up at Jed. “Is that enough?”

He stared at me in pride and disbelief. “It will do.”

I nodded. “Then we’re almost done.” I walked over and kicked Beasley between his parted legs. “That’sfor looking up my dress a few moments ago. Pervert.” Then I turned and stomped toward the driveway.

Jed followed me. We were silent until we got into the car and he pulled away.

“God,” I said. “That felt good.” Then I turned to face him. “Don’t you ever suggest I can’t handle something again.”

A sly grin twisted his mouth. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

“I’m done being that cowardly girl.”

“You were never cowardly, Neely Kate.”

“I was. I could have—”

“You can second-guess every decision and every action you made from here to kingdom come, and it won’t change a blessed thing. You are a strong, capable woman, Neely Kate Rivers, and God help any man or woman who tells you different. But I’m here as your backup, just in case you need someone cheering you on.”

I smiled at him.

“Now where to?”

I glanced at the clock on the dashboard. “I’m starving. Let’s eat.”

His eyes lit up. “You worked up an appetite.”

I shrugged, my mind whirling. “We still have a few hours before we can go to the club to see Carla, so now’s as good a time as any. But I need to buy a shovel before we meet Carla.”

“Time to face the azaleas?” he asked.

“Yeah, but not until after we talk to her. We’ll need to wait until really late so no one sees us.”

He nodded.

We stopped at a diner and ate, our conversation steering clear of what was going on in Ardmore.

“Can you get away from the landscaping office for a week?” Jed asked. “Can Rose spare you?”

I pushed out a breath. “She’ll say that she can, but I’m not sure. Her sister’s coming home next week, and I know she’ll be dealin’ with that along with everything else.”

“Maybe she can get that new vet to help her.”

My eyes widened.

“Skeeter knows she’s been on two dates with him over the last two weeks.”

“He’s spyin’ on her?”

“Makin’ sure she’s safe.”

“And spyin’ on her.”

He was silent for a moment. “Skeeter’s complicated. He has strong feelings for her, but he doesn’t know how to handle them.”

“Kind of like he doesn’t know how to handle you.”

He hesitated. “Yeah. I guess so.”

---