Page 12 of Mountain Man Officer

She looked over, startled. “Hi.”

“Let me help.” I flagged down the bartender, hoping he would remember I was a cop.

He did, and he arrived a moment later, turning me into a minor hero of sorts.

The girl smiled, her eyes lighting up. “Can I have two bottles of Bud, please?”

The bartender nodded, grabbed the bottles, flipped off the caps, and set them down.

“Thanks!” The girl’s friend toasted me with her beer.

I nodded politely. “Will you let me get it?” I asked my mystery woman.

She picked up her bottle without answering. “I saw you at the grocery store.”

I smiled. “I think you were checking me out.”

She gasped in mock horror. “I was not.”

“I was checking you out,” I said.

She blushed. “You must be new around here. I haven’t seen you before.”

“Jason White. I’m the new detective in town.”

“Oh.” She sounded surprised. “How long have you been here?”

“Just a week,” I said. “I could use someone to show me around.”

“Oh.” She exhaled softly, lowering her lashes.

“I’m Ava.” The woman’s friend stuck her hand out.

“Pleased to meet you,” I said before turning back to the sexy shopper.

“I’m Lindsey,” she said. “Lindsey Parker. I work at the salon.”

“Did you do my wife’s hair?” Dillon came up behind me.

Lindsey’s eyes shifted away from mine briefly to size up Dillon. He was bigger than me, taller and broader in the chest. But I was leaner, sculpted where Dillon was intimidating.

“Is your wife Macy?” Ava guessed.

“That’s right,” Dillon said.

“Yeah,” Ava laughed, “Lindsey did her hair.”

“It looks great,” Dillon said. “Macy loves it.”

“I saw your family at Walmart,” Lindsey said. “Your children are beautiful.”

“Thanks,” Dillon said awkwardly. “I think I’m gonna take off.” He set his empty mug down on the bar. “It was nice meeting you, Lindsey. Ava.”

They waited until Dillon had disappeared to talk about him.

“Dillon used to be a hermit,” Ava said conspiratorially.

Lindsey shifted uncomfortably.

---