I took several deep breaths, trying to calm my temper.

“Look Rose, I have to go to court, but I don’t want you thinking that I see you as a circus sideshow.”

“You see me as a circus sideshow?”

People in the hall stared into the elevator car. The doors started to close and Mason pushed the door open button. “No. I’m trying to tell you that I don’t, although I’m doin’ a very poor job of it. Let me explain it later, okay?”

Tears burned my eyes. “Just go to court, Mr. Deveraux. Tell me how much the football tickets were and I’ll reimburse you.”

He walked out of the elevator, anger and confusion in his eyes. “No. I don’t expect you to reimburse me.” Taking two steps backward, gave me a pleading look. “I have to go.”

“I’m not stoppin’ you.”

“I don’t want to leave you upset and thinking the worst of me.”

Hurt and anger had curled inside me like a snake and attacked. “Don’t worry, Mr. Deveraux. I thought badly of you long before I discovered this.”

Pain filled his eyes before his usual disdain replaced it. “Then I guess there’s nothing left to say.”

He walked into the courtroom as the elevator doors closed. I struggled to keep from crying. What was wrong with me? Why was I so hateful to that man? I was torn between being grateful for his help and horrified that my antics entertained him. The hurt on his face at my parting words stabbed my conscience. I needed to talk to someone.

Neely Kate.

Her office was on the first floor and she knew everything about everything when it came to people. She’d know what to do, although I suspected there wasn’t anything to do. I just needed to get over my pain and humiliation.

When I entered the personal property tax office, I found her at a desk behind the counter. She looked up and saw my face, her smile falling. “Rose?” She jumped out of her seat and came around the counter, pulling me into a hug. “What on earth happened?”

“I don’t know exactly. I’m so confused.”

Neely Kate lifted her chin to peer around the corner. “I’m takin’ a break, Jimmy.”

“Of course you are.” A sarcastic male voice echoed from the back.

Putting her arm around my shoulder, she pushed me out the door. “Have you had lunch yet?”

“No.”

She steered me toward the courthouse exit. “First things first. You need food. Let’s go to Merilee’s.”

“But haven’t you already been to lunch?”

She waved her hand in dismissal. “Don’t worry about it. Jimmy’ll grumble, but he won’t do anything. He’s been distracted over all the pension mess and I’ve been getting away with murder.”

I winced at her choice of words, but she didn’t notice.

Once we were seated in the café, Neely Kate started her inquisition. “Is this about Joe?”

Shaking my head, I blew my nose. “No.”

Her eyes flew open. “Oh my stars and garters! Is this about last night? I’m so sorry I didn’t show up, but my grandma got chest pains and made me rush her to the hospital.”

I’d completely forgotten about her grandmother. Some friend I was. “Is she okay?”

She looked confused. “What?” she waved her hand. “Oh, yeah. It was nothing. Heartburn. It doesn’t matter how many times we tell her not to eat the ten-piece buffalo hot wings special at Big Bill’s Barbeque, she still does it. Every time.” She leaned over the table. “Did Mr. Deveraux show up?”

“Yes, but I cannot believe you called him, of all people. And until just a few minutes ago, I couldn’t believe he actually came.”

“What happened a few minutes ago?”

I sniffed. “He called me entertaining.”

She squinted in confusion. “What’s wrong with that?”

“That’s not what he said exactly. But that was his point. To be more exact, I think he said that my antics had made his stay in this boring town more tolerable.”

Her face was expressionless as she waited for me to continue.

“He insulted our town.”

“Who doesn’t?”

“He insulted me.”

She looked confused again. “Which part insulted you? I missed it. Rose, I think that was his stuffy way of saying he likes you.”

“What? No.”

She stared at the wall, deep in thought. “Who knew that Mr. Crabbypants had some humanity deep down?”

“Why did you call him to come check on me last night?”

Turning back to me, she shrugged. “Because he had enough guilt in him from your jail experience that I knew he’d help you. Besides, would you rather I call him or Officer Ernie?”

“Neither,” I grumbled.

The waitress brought our food and I attacked my hamburger, realizing I hadn’t eaten since the night before.

“Stop being such a baby.”

I shot her a glare since I couldn’t protest with a mouth full of food.

“Think about it. Mason Deveraux is new to town. A town he doesn’t want to be in. He’s a mean ol’ cuss, even if he isn’t old. He’s stuffy. He’s arrogant. And he’s got everyone in town scared of him.”

There was no arguing with that.

“Then you run right into him and tell him off. And you keep doin’ things to throw him off his carefully polished pedestal. For once, someone’s not kowtowing to him and is meetin’ him toe-to-toe instead.”