Taming a Texas Devil - Katie Lane Page 0,32
took a real effort to keep his resolve . . . and sanity. “Don’t go there, Deputy Meriwether.”
“Go where?”
“The same place you wanted to go the other night. I’m not interested.”
“And yet, the flush on your cheeks and the heat in your eyes say something completely different.” She placed a hand on his chest, and he felt his heart jump to meet it. He tensed, fearing if she kissed him again he wouldn’t be able to control the desire that had moved from his gut to behind his zipper. But all she did was lean closer and whisper in his ear. “But I guess two officers of the law getting down and dirty would be stupidity at its finest, wouldn’t it? I am an officer of the law. And I think I’ll remain one for a while.” She stepped back and flashed the toothy beauty queen smile. “Have a good day, Lincoln Hayes, Texas Ranger.”
She winked, then turned and sashayed down the street, greeting everyone she met as if she were running for mayor.
Chapter Nine
“This peach pie is the best I’ve ever had, Deputy Meriwether,” Reba Valentine said as she finished off the last bite of her slice. “I would love the recipe to serve at the boardinghouse. Unless it’s a family secret.”
“There are no secrets in the Meriwether family,” Dixie said. “My mama always says that secrets are like rabbits. You start with a couple and end up with more than you can keep. I’ll text you the recipe and you just let me know if you have any problems when you’re making it.”
“Oh, I won’t be making it. I’m horrible at baking. Thankfully, Val is amazing at it.” A soft smile spread over Reba’s face. “Among other things.”
Dixie couldn’t help feeling a little jealous. Reba was obviously a woman in deep love. Dixie had never experienced that kind of consuming emotion for a man. She was much better at manipulating men than she was at loving them.
Although there were two men she wasn’t having much luck manipulating. Her daddy still hadn’t relented about the money. In fact, this morning when she talked to him on the phone, he hadn’t acted the least bit worried when she told him she was hot on the trail of Sam Sweeney’s murderer.
Then there was Lincoln Hayes.
The infuriating man wanted her. She knew he did. And yet, she couldn’t even get a kiss from him. If he saw her in town, he went out of his way to completely avoid her. If he hadn’t given her a gift, she would be thoroughly ticked at the man. But a deadbolt was just about the sweetest gift a man had ever given her. He might act like he didn’t care about her, but getting her a lock for her door proved that he did.
“You want some more raspberry lemonade, Deputy Meriwether?” Devlin Lancaster walked up and held out a pitcher of lemonade. She was an attractive woman who wore glasses and usually kept her long dark hair pulled back in a bun. Today, she wore a white shirt and a flowered skirt with turquoise designer boots that Dixie coveted. It was Devlin’s house where they were having the Mary Kay party. The pretty ranch-style home had just been completed.
“I would love some more.” Dixie held out her glass. “And like I said before, you can just call me Dixie.”
Devlin refilled her glass. “I keep forgetting you’re not like Sheriff Willaby who expects everyone to call him by his full title—even when he’s off duty.”
Miss Gertie snorted. “That’s because he’s a horse’s behind.” She looked at Dixie. “The jury’s still out on you, but I must admit you’re not as much of a lame brain as I thought you were.”
Dixie might’ve been offended if she hadn’t gotten used to Miss Gertie’s coarse manner. “Thank you, ma’am. I have been known to grow on people.”
Miss Gertie snorted as she studied herself in the hand mirror Luanne had given her. “I thought you told me this color would highlight my eyes, Luanne. I look like a streetwalking jezebel.”
Dixie had to agree with Miss Gertie. Luanne was extremely heavy-handed with the makeup and every woman at the party looked like a streetwalker. Dixie was itching to jump in and take over the party. After years of competing in pageants, she was an expert on makeup. But taking over wasn’t how you made friends.
“You look nothing like a jezebel, Miss Gertie.” Luanne handed Dixie a lipstick to try. “This will