Page 22 of For the Birds

She flushedmore.

“And if you’re ever in a bind, Jed is the man you want on your side. I’ve seen him fight off three men and win . . . and that was after he started off tied to a chair. He was amazing to watch.”

Her face fell slightly. “Do you . . . likeJed?”

My mouth tipped into a sad smile. “No. Not likethat.”

“Skeeter,” she said in a resignedtone.

“I’m not sure whether to deny it or confirm it, but I’m trying to moveon.”

She nodded. “I’m just surprised you’d be romantically involved with the criminal leader of the county.”

“First, we’re not romantically involved. They’re just feelings.” And an amazingly hot kiss, but that was a moment of weakness on both our parts. “He shows me a different side of him,” I said. “A side no one else sees. Not evenJed.”

She nodded again, then put her hand on my arm. “But he’s still a criminal.”

My lips pressed together as I tilted my head in agreement. “So isJed.”

“Jed wants out,” Neely Kate said. “He wants to do something legit.”

And so did James, deep down in the part of him that he didn’t let the world see. Jed was free to go and forge his own path, but James would be left with his thumb in the dike of the criminal world, trying to keep it contained. If he left, all hell could break loose.

What in the world was I doing standing here defending James Malcolm, even if it was only to myself?

“You’re probably wondering why I’m so adamant you date Levi when I know you still have a thing for Skeeter. Especially since I’m seein’ Jed now,” Neely Kate said. “You must think I’m a hypocrite.”

I didn’t say anything.

She glanced away. “You and I are different.” When she turned back, there was a new fire burning in her eyes. “You have a moral code that Skeeter Malcolm can never live upto.”

I gasped. “Are you insultin’ me?”

She laughed. “Only you would think bein’ called moral would be an insult.” Her merriment faded. “I’m sayin’ he is firmly entrenched in a world you can never condone. Do you really want to subject yourself tothat?”

She wasn’t telling me anything I hadn’t already told myself. “This isn’t about me. This is about you and Jed. Have you figured out how to tell Joe? How do you think he’s gonna handle you datin’ Skeeter Malcolm’s right-hand man, even if he is retired?”

“I’ll deal with Joe when the time comes. For now, Jed doesn’t want anyone to know . . . not that he’s ashamed of me,” she hastily added. “He’s worried I’ll be a target. Especially with Scooter missin’.”

“He asked you to keep it fromme?”

She made a face. “No. That was me. I’m really happy, and I was worried you wouldn’t approve.” Tears filled her eyes. “But it was hard bein’ happy when I couldn’t share it with my best friend.”

“I know.” I grinned. “And I suspected something, so you’re not as good at keeping secrets as you might think. Just don’t try to hide it from the world forever.”

“We won’t,” she said. “Who knows, he might get tired ofme.”

“Not likely.” She blushed. “Just be careful with your heart, Neely Kate,” I said softly. “You’ve been hurt so many times. I know Jed would never purposely hurt you, but with his world . . .”

“I know,” she said. “I’m willing to take my chances.”

I wasn’t, because at the end of the day, Neely Kate was right. I might be attracted to James Malcolm, but we could never be together. Not really. He’d been right to put a stop to our kiss before it got out ofhand.

Maybe looking for a lost parrot was exactly what I needed. That andtime.

“Is this how you investigate a case?” Kermit shouted from his front porch. “Who the heck taughtyou?”

Neely Kate shot him a glare, then turned to me. “Let’s go find a parrot.”

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