Page 6 of Logan

Logan shook his head. The one finger salute didn’t surprise him one bit. That was Dixie. Damn, she looked good, and he knew he had a snowball’s chance in hell of ever getting her back.

Sighing, he got back into his vehicle and watched her drive away. He couldn’t help but think back to when they first met. To when he had a job to do, and he had to use her to do it…

As he passed by the bakery, a woman stepped out and practically collided with him. Logan wrapped his arms around her, to preventher from toppling over and potentially injuring herself.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you,” he apologized, his tone laced with genuine concern as he helped steady her.

“It’s alright, I’m fine,” she reassured him. She looked at him, and his stomach clenched when their eyes met.

“Hi,” he said with a grin, locking eyes with her.

She continued to stare at him with bright green eyes.

“Hello,” she managed to say, seeming mesmerized by his presence.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Dixie McCarthy,” she replied.

“Logan Townson,” he introduced himself, offering his hand for her to shake.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she said softly.

“The pleasure is mine.”

“Well, thank you for saving me. I should probably get going.”

“Yes, ma’am. I hope we cross paths again, Dixie McCarthy.” He touched the brim of his cowboy hat and turned to enter the bakery.

So, that was Dixie McCarthy, the woman he needed to get close to in order to bring down her father. It was going to be a tough task for Logan, both physically and emotionally. Her photo had not done her justice. She was undeniably beautiful, and his heart skipped a beat when their eyes met. But he had a job to do, and he couldn’t let his personal feelings get in the way. Logan had grown up in Clifton but luckily, the McCarthy family hadn’t arriveduntil after he had left for college. This meant he didn’t know them personally and could hopefully gain their trust as he tried to gather evidence against Charles McCarthy.

When he left Clifton after high school and attended college, he still wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life. He knew when his father retired, he’d return home and take over the ranch, just like he’d promised he would.

Once he looked through courses to take, he decided to go into law enforcement of some kind. He never dreamed he’d work undercover for the FBI and since he did, no one but his father knew about his job.

He’d been hired almost immediately after graduating at the top of his class. He’d been on several undercover cases, but the one involving Charles McCarthy was a big one. The FBI had been watching him for quite a while, and he was tough to pin down. He covered his tracks well and no charges ever stuck. Once it was discovered he had a daughter, the plan was set in motion. It wouldn’t be the first time an agent had to get involved with a family member to get close to the criminal. It was just a job, and he knew when he met Dixie McCarthy, his heart wasn’t going to survive her, but he’d do what he had to and move on.

He had gone to Dewey’s a couple of nights later. It was time to get to know Dixie McCarthy.

Logan sat in Dewey’s bar, watching the crowd. He got to his feet when he saw Dixie weaving her way through the tables, carrying a large tray filled with drinks.

Logan knew she worked here since he’d been briefed on her. She also worked at a coffee shop in town. He shook his head as he remembered looking at the photo the FBI had of her. She was a stunning woman, and he was surprised that she was still single at the age of thirty-four.

According to the file, Dixie McCarthy was a well-liked woman, and men seemed to flock around her, but she wasn’t the type to hop into bed with just any man. She lived with the man she’d been with for five years, but according to sources, she didn’t want to get married, and he did, so that ended the relationship.

Logan couldn’t take his eyes off her as she laughed and joked with the customers. As she headed back behind the bar, she glanced around and her eyes widened when she saw him, making him grin. He raised his beer bottle to her and nodded.

She set the tray down and walked toward him. Folding her arms on the bar, she smiled at him.

“Hi,” she said.

Logan touched the brim of his hat. “Hello, Ms. McCarthy.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “I’m surprised you remembered my name.”

“Come on now, Dixie. A woman as beautiful as you? How could I forget?”

“What a charmer you are.” She laughed.

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