“Where do you think yer going?”

“I…” I shot Neely Kate a questioning look. “Neely Kate said she told you I’d need to leave early.”

“You can’t leave in the middle of a round. It’s bad luck.”

“But I really have to go.”

“You just wait until it’s done.”

I considered protesting, but I was downright certain Granny Rivers wasn’t going to let me leave without a fuss, and I couldn’t risk Maeve noticing me. So I sat there, every muscle in my body tense, for five more minutes until Granny Rivers let me loose.

“Go out the back,” Neely Kate whispered. “Then Maeve won’t see you.”

“Oh, good idea.”

I didn’t have any problem getting out the back of hall, but by the time I got into my truck and pulled out of the parking lot, I realized two things. I was gonna be late meeting Jed and I was still dressed in my jeans and sweater.

I had two choices: Stop at a gas station and change, which would make me even more late, or show up only slightly late in my normal clothes. I decided to just get there and work out the rest later.

Jed was waiting for me when I pulled around the back of the Sinclair station. I hopped out, bag in hand, as he got out of the car.

His eyes widened at the sight of me. “You’re not dressed.”

“I got hung up.”

“Skeeter won’t give a shit about excuses.”

He wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know. “Turn around.”

His eyes widened. “What?”

“Turn around,” I said as I slipped off my coat. He just kept looking at me, but when I reached for the hem of my sweater and started to lift it up, Jed spun around as quickly as if he’d turned into a top.

“What are you doin’, Rose? It’s forty degrees outside. You’re gonna freeze.”

I was perfectly aware of the temperature, but I didn’t see any other option. Goosebumps broke out across my skin as I tossed my sweater into my bag. “I have to change and this is the fastest way.”

He didn’t answer as I continued to disrobe. I kicked off my shoes and shimmied out of my jeans, shivering as I stood in the cold night air in my bra and panties. Then I pulled out my dress and stepped into it. The dress had been purchased in New Orleans and it was much tighter than the ones I normally wore. I reached around and zipped the dress up to the middle of my back. I started to contort my arms to get it the rest of the way up when I decided to utilize my companion. “Jed, zip me up.” Turning sideways, I presented my back to him.

Thankfully he turned to me and reached for my zipper without complaint. When he finished, he opened the back door. “Let’s get goin’ or we’re both gonna be in trouble.”

I slid onto the backseat, thankful for the warm interior. “Where are we goin’ tonight?” I asked after Jed had gotten back in and pulled onto the county road.

“The tire plant.” Back in December, I’d found out that Skeeter secretly owned the plant and kept a secret office inside.

“Who’s gonna be there?” I asked as I pulled my heels out of the bag and slipped them on.

“Skeeter and three business associates, all men. You met one of them at the last meeting. Seth Moore. But the other two have moved up in the ranks after a couple of recent vacancies.”

I suspected the vacancies were from the two men who had betrayed Skeeter. I’d detected their underhanded activities with visions I’d purposely had for Skeeter as part of our arrangement.

Jed looked into the rearview mirror and caught my eyes in the reflection. “These men are hard and don’t mess around. Be on your toes.”

“I was on my toes the last time he used me.”

“This is different.”

I didn’t want to be cocky, but I’d handled myself pretty well at his last meeting. I wasn’t about to go in thinking I had the world by the tail, but I wasn’t as terrified as I’d been last time. Yet I’d also learned that I couldn’t let these men know I was afraid. I had to show confidence if I hoped to gain their respect. And I needed their respect if I was going to get answers from them.

“I won’t let my guard down.”

“Good.”

“You’ll be there, won’t you, Jed?”

He grinned slightly. “Yeah, I’ll be there as your bodyguard again.”

“And who’s protecting Skeeter?”

He chuckled. “Skeeter’s on his own in this meeting. But he can handle himself.”

“So what’s my purpose tonight?”

“Skeeter says you’re supposed to sit back, listen, and then deduce.”

“But not force any visions?”

“Skeeter will be the judge of whether anyone is worth the risk of havin’ you read them.”

I’d had multiple visions at his last business meeting, and while I’d gotten some valuable information, I’d pissed off a couple of guys enough to get a gun pulled on me. Skeeter had told me he considered my “gift” too valuable to put me at unnecessary risk.

By the time Jed arrived at the plant, I had my hair up and my black hat pinned in place.

Jed sent a text as he pulled into the parking lot, so I wasn’t surprised to see Skeeter exiting the back of the building as Jed parked parallel to the entrance.

Skeeter opened the back car door and reached for me. I took his hand and stood, leaving my street clothes and coat in the backseat of the car. Skeeter took notice and gave me a questioning glance, then bent down. “Jed, get those things out of sight before you come in.”