Page 5 of Logan

“Okay. I don’t see why he wouldn’t continue to grow feed here, but since the contract is withme, he’ll have to write up a new one for you. I want you to stay here, Logan.”

“I already told you I would, Dad. I’ll keep the ranch and take care of it. I have a job here now, so I’ll be fine.”

“What about Dixie?”

“What about her?”

“You two living in the same town will be tough.”

“Nothing I can do about that. I’ll probably never see her.”

“I’m sure she knows you’re back by now.”

“I’m sure she does, too. We’re adults, we’ll be okay.”

Clint laughed. “No, you won’t. You loved her. Still do.”

“I had a job to do, Dad.”

“I know. Logan, I’m proud of you for what you’ve done with your life. You did what you wanted and now, you don’t because of me.”

“That’s not true, Dad. I knew all along that I’d return to Clifton eventually to take over the ranch.”

“Yes, but you didn’t know you’d fall in love and lose that woman because of your job. I know it had to be hard for you to lie to her, but as you said, you had a job to do. But you two loved each other. It’s a damn shame.”

Logan didn’t say anything. His dad was right. Itwasa damn shame. Logan had loved Dixie more than any other woman, and he’d never have her in his life again.

****

When the blue lights flashed behind her, Dixie exhaled, and pulled onto the shoulder of the road and lowered the window. She looked into the side mirror, watched as the door opened, and sawhimstep out. When he put his cowboy hat on and tugged it low, she sighed and watched that long stride come toward her. The closer he got, the more she focused on the fly of his jeans.Oh, man. She knew what was behind that fly and she shivered.

“License, registration, proof of insurance, please,” his deep voice ran over her like warm molasses.

“Are you kidding me?” she asked as she stared straight ahead.

“No, ma’am, I am not kidding you. Do I have to ask again?”

“You cannot be serious,” she grumbled as she reached into the glovebox.

“I’m very serious. You were fifteen miles per hour over the speed limit.”

She handed him the documents.

“I heard you were back and became a deputy. A step down for you, isn’t it?”

“It’s still in law enforcement, and that bugs the hell out of you.”

Dixie gasped. “It does not! I don’t care what you do.” She glanced over when she saw him crouch beside the door and look in at her. He wore aviator sunglasses, but she knew his eyes were dark blue. As she stared at his handsome face, a slow, sexy grin lifted those damn perfect lips.Couldn’t he have gotten ugly?

“You just keep telling yourself that.” He handed her back the documents, withoutchecking them, and straightened up. “Slow your ass down.”

She took the documents, then wrapped her fingers around the steering wheel and squeezed them until they hurt, crumpling the paperwork. Glancing into the side mirror, she watched him saunter back to his patrol SUV, and couldn’t take her eyes off that tight ass of his in those Wranglers. His long legs eating up the distance quickly. After he opened the door of his vehicle, he removed his hat before getting in.

Dixie blew the horn, making him look her way. She held her hand out the window, raised her middle finger, then pulled onto the road, and drove off.

“Fuck you, Logan Townson. Why do you still have to look so damn good?” She sighed. He wastoogood-looking. That was his problem, or maybe it was hers.

****

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