Taming a Texas Devil - Katie Lane Page 0,63

you understand, Officer Hayes?”

Just the feel of her finger on his mouth made him what to jerk her back into his arms. He finally accepted that this was going to be a losing battle. While he was here, he would never be able to resist Dixie.

“Yes,” he said against her finger.

A smile tipped up the corners of her mouth. “Yes what?”

He blinked, and then laughed. “Yes, ma’am.”

She removed her finger and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. “I’m glad we got that settled. Now I have work to do and so do you.” She pushed past him and headed to the desk. He grabbed his hat from the hook next to hers and opened the door, but before he stepped out, she spoke.

“Officer Hayes.”

When he turned, she had a wicked look in her eyes.

“Make sure you don’t forget your handcuffs tonight.”

Chapter Seventeen

“It’s a true honor to be invited into the Simple Book Club, Dixie. We don’t let anyone in. First you have to be nominated.” Luanne pressed a hand to her chest, jangling her many bracelets. “Which I was more than happy to do.”

“I nominated Dixie,” Raynelle said. “You just jumped on my bandwagon.”

“I already was preparing to nominate her when you cut me off. Something you do on a regular basis. You are the most interruptin’ woman I have ever—”

Dixie stepped in before the argument could get heated. “My goodness! What a great honor. I’m so grateful to both of you for nominating me. And I would love to be part of the Simple Book Club and look forward to discussing a lot of great novels with you ladies.”

“Well, not all of them are great,” Raynelle said. “The last one made me cry more than cutting a bad onion.”

“Just because a book makes you cry doesn’t make it bad, Ray,” Luanne said.

“It does for me. I have enough to cry about with my deadbeat son. I don’t need books adding to my misery. Although thank the Lord his girlfriend broke it off with him. That’s one less mouth I have to feed.”

“You need to kick that boy out, Ray, or at least make him get a job.”

“I know. I know. But what can I say? He’s my baby. And it’s nice coming home to someone—even if they are a deadbeat.”

Dixie felt sorry for Raynelle and tried to give her some hope. “I lived at home until just this past year. It’s hard figuring out what you want to do with your life. I’m sure your son will figure it out eventually.”

“How did you figure out you wanted to be a deputy?” Raynelle asked.

Dixie smiled. “It was just a whim at first. In fact, I was pretty sure it was the wrong fit. Now I know I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Like my mama always says, ‘The Lord works in mysterious ways.’”

“Amen to that, sister,” Luanne said. “We sure feel blessed the Lord sent us such a good deputy. It’s too bad Sheriff Willaby is back. I’ve never liked that man.”

Dixie stared at her. “Sheriff Willaby is back to work? You must be mistaken. I haven’t heard anything about him coming back.”

“Well, I don’t know all the particulars. All I know is that he gave Martin Schumer a ticket this morning for parking in a handicap parking space without a permit.” Luanne snorted in disgust. “As if Martin’s wheelchair isn’t enough of a permit.” She glanced down at the two take-out cups in Dixie’s hand. “If you didn’t know the sheriff was back, who is that other cup of coffee for?”

“I bet I know who it’s for,” Raynelle said with a knowing smile. “Maybe a sexy badass Texas Ranger?”

Raynelle was right. The coffee was for the sexy badass Texas Ranger Dixie had left sleeping in her bed. A Texas Ranger who had loved her so well during the night they’d both overslept. Which was why she knew nothing about the sheriff being back. She needed to get to the office and figure out what was going on.

“I better go, ladies,” she said as she backed toward her SUV. “Thanks so much for inviting me to join the Simple Book Club. I’ll look forward to my first meeting.”

“It’s at the Gardener Ranch,” Raynelle called after her. “And Sadie is the best cook ever.”

“Now why would you say that, Ray?” Luanne scolded. “I’m just as good a cook as Sadie. You loved my pigs in a sleeping bag when I made them.”

Before she could hear Raynelle’s answer, Dixie

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