“Violet. I see you’re being neighborly,” I said in a saccharine-sweet voice.

She looped her arm over his, having the audacity to give me a condescending smile while wearing my peach-colored dress and matching heels that I’d loaned her several weeks ago.

Neely Kate decided to ignore Southern etiquette, the kind that says every insult must be layered beneath several bless your hearts. I suppose you could get away with that when you’d just barfed your expensive steak dinner down someone’s back. “Violet Beauregard. What in the Sam Hill are you doin’?”

Violet lifted her delicate eyebrows with a haughty glare. “What’s it look like? I’m on a date.”

Joe gasped and started coughing while Violet shot him a glare.

“With your sister’s ex-boyfriend?” Neely Kate practically shouted. “Have you no shame?”

“Neely Kate,” Ronnie muttered, grabbing her arm. “Stay out of it.”

“Is there something we can help you with, Deputy Simmons?” Mason asked, using his official voice. His body was as rigid as a steel rod.

Mason had officially had enough.

Oh, crap.

Joe got ahold of himself and grinned, beaming over the fire he was stoking. “Nope. Since Mike has the kids tonight and I was alone, I asked Violet if she wanted to go out to dinner since we have something important to discuss.”

“You’re out with my old boyfriend, Violet? Are you here discussing me?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Contrary to what you think, Rose, the sun does not rise and set on your world. Not everything has to do with you.”

Joe pulled his arm out of her death-grip.

If Mason hadn’t been blocking me in, I would have jumped out of my seat to throttle her.

“Thanks for dropping by to say hello,” Mason said, his voice tight. “But we don’t want to keep you from your dinner any longer.”

Joe started to lead Violet away, but then he turned back, his eyes lighting up. “What were you doing in the bar a few minutes ago, Rose?”

My stomach seized. “What are you talking about?”

“There was quite a commotion in the bar when we first came in. As soon as I saw you here, I knew you must have had something to do with it.” He winked, leaning closer. “Taking care of you is a full-time job. I’m more than happy to take back the position.”

Mason clenched his hands into fists so tight his knuckles turned white. “Is there a point to this, Deputy?”

Mason’s controlled anger only encouraged Joe. It also made him act like an idiot.

“I just know how Rose likes to get into trouble.” His grin widened as he straightened. “In all kinds of ways.”

It was a vague innuendo, but it was enough. Mason burst out of his seat, leaving his cane behind as he lunged for Joe, swinging his fist at the same time.

From the look of surprise on Joe’s face, he was caught off guard. He stumbled backward when Mason’s knuckles connected with his cheek.

“Mason!” I shouted, scrambling out of the booth and grabbing his arm when it looked like he was about to hit him again.

Joe hunched over, his hands on his knees, and looked up at Mason with murderous eyes. “I could press charges for this, Deveraux. Assistant DA or not.”

I stepped in between the two men, my pulse pounding in my head. “If you even consider it, Joseph Simmons, I swear on my mother’s grave that I will never speak to you again. Do I make myself clear?”

Joe looked like he was about to lunge past me, but I stood my ground, staring him down.

“Do I make myself clear?” I repeated.

Joe shook his head, his cheek already bruising. “You’re taking his side over mine? He swung first and peace-loving Rose Gardner is taking his side?” He turned away. “Unbelievable.”

“Yes. I’ll choose his side every time, Joe. I’m with Mason now. You have to get that through your head.” My voice was calmer than I would have expected given the fact that my nerves were strung like an over-tightened fiddle string.

Every patron in the restaurant had their eyes glued on us in various expressions of disbelief and shock. I wanted to crawl under a rock and live there. But that wasn’t an option.

I turned to face Mason, whose expression bounced between rage and horror. “Mason, let’s go home.”

He nodded, obviously dazed.

The manager, who seemed completely shocked that Mason would be involved in this kind of drama, walked over to our booth. “Is everything all right, Mr. Deveraux?”

“Yes. We’ve straightened everything out. But we’ll need our check,” he said, regaining his composure as he spoke.

“We’ll be more than happy to comp your meal to make up for the inconvenience.” The manager obviously hadn’t seen what had happened.

“No,” Mason said forcefully. “No. I’ll pay.”

The manager turned to Joe, his face scrunching with disapproval. “Sir, we’re going to have to ask you to leave.”

Joe laughed, but it was an ugly sound. “Fine, I’ll leave.” He turned his attention to Mason. “You may have fooled Rose and the rest of this town into believing you’re someone you’re not, Deveraux, but you haven’t fooled me. You can bet your ass I’ll be watching you.”

“Joe,” I warned, my side plastered against Mason’s chest, pushing him back when he tried to lunge for my ex-boyfriend again.