Page 38 of For the Birds

Joe was moving? He’d irritated the snot out of me over the last half a year, but I’d grown used to having him at the next farmhouseover.

“Neely Kate’s gonna miss you,” Isaid.

“We’ll still spend plenty of time together,” hesaid.

Had Dena factored into that decision? I was happy he was moving on, even if it felt a little like he was rushing things with her. The vision hadn’t affected me like I’d expected—in spite of the kissing and Dena’s invitation, I wasn’t jealous—I mostly felt relieved that Joe wasn’t stuck in his unhappiness anymore.

“Well,” I said, shooting Joe a look of gratitude before smiling at Dena. “We hate to keep youtwo.”

“Oh, you’re not keepin’ us,” Dena said, somehow oblivious to the tension surrounding us. “We were just about to get something to eat. Can we joinyou?”

Levi glanced at me, then said, “That would have been great, but we were just leaving. I promised Rose to take her up in the Ferris wheel, seeing how she’s neverbeen.”

“You’ve never been on a Ferris wheel?” Dena asked in amazement. “How is that possible?”

“Rose’s mother never allowed such frivolities,” Joe said. “Rose lived a sheltered life until her mother died lastyear.”

Horror washed through me again. He’d saved my embarrassment over my vision—and I had no doubt he knew what had happened—only to throw me to the wolves.

“Oh, that’s right,” Dena said. “I forgot your mother was murdered by Daniel Crocker last summer.”

Was all my dirty laundry getting hung out to dry tonight? “Yes. Memorial Day weekend.”

“It’s hard to believe that was a year ago,” Dena said. “And then with your sister and Mason . . . you’ve had quite ayear.”

She didn’t even know the half ofit.

“Rose is a resilient woman,” Levi said, picking up our trash. “And I admire her all the more for it.” He put his free hand around my lower back. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have a date with that Ferris wheel.”

He didn’t wait for an answer, just ushered me back toward the carnival crowd, only pausing to toss the trash in acan.

I expected Levi to ask for some kind of explanation, but he kept guiding me toward the Ferris wheel at the opposite end of the carnival. “Levi, I owe you an explanation.”

He stopped and looked at me in disbelief. “You don’t owe me anything.”

“But after what Joe said . . . andDena.”

“Those weren’t their secrets to tell,” Levi said, his eyes filling withfire.

I stared up at him in shock. Was he mad he’d heard it from them first? “I know I should have toldyou . . .”

“No.” He shook his head, looking frustrated. “No. You shouldn’thave.”

My mouth gaped. “You didn’t want toknow?”

“Of course I want to know, but I wanted you to tell me . . . when you were ready. I know you’ve been hurt, Rose, and I know that asshole back there was one of the guys who hurtyou.”

Asshole seemed too harsh, but Levi had no way of knowing Joe had helped keep my visions secret. Or that he was Neely Kate’s brother. “How did youknow?”

He pressed his lips together. “I’m trained to read body language, just like that sheriff ex of yours. My patients can’t speak up for themselves, so I need to know if their owners are telling me the truth.” He paused and lowered his voice. “Look, Rose, I can see you’ve been hurt, and I want to earn your trust. I’m willing to bide mytime.”

“But why?” I asked, shaking my head. “Why me when you have your pick of half the women in this county?”

A soft smile lifted his mouth. “I’m intrigued.”

And so was I. What man heard such secrets and didn’t ask for more clarification?

Unless. . .

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