How could he still be so casual about what she’d overheard? His take on the situation hadn’t changed. He’d explained over and over that Luellen would say and do anything to get attention. Which might be true, but it didn’t answer a whole lot of burning questions. Such as why Luellen had used the word rendezvous, which implied a certain amount of planning on both sides. The encounter hadn’t been all that impulsive. Mary Beth knew far more than she wanted to know about it at this point, thanks to Luellen’s big mouth. But Bobby Joe had continued to stonewall.

“I did my best, baby. And you know I only want the best for you.” Bobby Joe sighed. “Don’t you?”

He stroked her hair and let his hand drift to the nape of her neck, rubbing it. The halfhearted attempt at a soothing massage only made her more tense.

Her reply caught in her throat when his fingers traced the chain that held the hidden pendant. His mind was elsewhere—most likely on his guilty memories, she thought with renewed anger. She knew how contrary Bobby Joe could be. If she told him to stop what he was doing, he’d only keep on.

He tugged gently at the delicate chain, as if he had hit upon something that might distract her. Mary Beth stayed motionless, frozen with sudden fear.

In a few moments the ruby strawberry dangled from his finger, glowing red in the light from the street lamp, still attached to the chain. “Pretty,” he said absently. “Is that new?”

“I’ve had it a while.” She slid the necklace from his finger and dropped it back inside her blouse. “It was a gift.”

“I don’t remember ever seeing it.” His tone was indifferent. Maybe she could finesse this.

Mary Beth shrugged uncomfortably. “I don’t wear it often.”

Her other responses were only evasions, but that was an outright lie. Since Parr had given it to her, she wore it every day.

Bobby Joe pulled his hand away and rested it on the steering wheel, drumming with his fingers. Then he laughed under his breath, not with amusement. “Guess I’m supposed to ask questions, right?”

“What for?”

“You’re being so cagey, Mary Beth. That’s not like you.”

“Bobby Joe, I’m beginning to think you don’t know me at all—”

He interrupted her by snapping off the radio before she could brazen it out. She had to. Bobby Joe was immature but he wasn’t stupid. If he eventually guessed that Parr was the giver, the brothers would be at each other’s throats.

“That works both ways, doesn’t it? Now, if it was a gift, go ahead and tell me who gave it to you. We have to be honest with each other.”