It took him a full minute to stop staring and step closer to take her hand. His hands were as big and masculine as everything else on him and she steeled herself for a bone-crushing shake. Instead, he held her hand gently in his huge paw, as if it were a flower he was worried about crushing, and released it quickly.
“Nice meeting you, Deputy Meri—”
Queenie started to scratch at her carrier to get out. Dixie tried to cover it up by talking loudly. “What can I do for you, Officer Hayes?”
He stared at the desk as he answered. “I stopped by to check on things. Being a new deputy, I thought you might need some help.”
The last thing she wanted was another arrogant man bossing her around.
“As you can see,” she waved a hand around, “I’m doing just fine and dandy. Simple isn’t really a hot spot for crime, now is it? So there’s not a whole lot to do besides make my morning and evening rounds.” Not that she had been doing her morning and evening rounds. Simple might not have a lot of crime, but if some criminal activity did take place, she’d just as soon not be around for it.
He studied her for a moment before he cocked a jet-black eyebrow. “And give yourself a facial.”
“Excuse me?”
He made a loop around his face with his finger. “There’s some kind of blue goop hanging off your face.”
She wanted to stomp her foot again. But a beauty queen never threw tantrums or showed her frustration in front of people. Or owned up to her flaws and mistakes. “Oh, that. It’s just a new sunscreen—the sheriff’s department is big on protecting their officers from the damaging rays of the sun.”
“Are they also big on their officers painting their toenails dark pink while on duty, Deputy Meriwether?”
Her eyes widened. She glanced at the window, but the shades were drawn tight so he couldn’t have been spying on her. Then how had he known she was painting her toes?
As if reading her thoughts, he looked down at her hand. “There’s a smudge of nail polish on your right thumb. And more on the desk calendar where your feet must’ve rested as you painted them. Couple that with the strong smell of nail polish and the goop on your face and it wasn’t difficult to figure out that you were playing spa day.”
Great. She had gotten the Sherlock Holmes of the Texas Rangers.
“You know a lot about spa days, do you, Officer Hayes?” she asked.
“Only that a deputy could get fired for enjoying them while on duty—especially in the office of their immediate supervisor.”
Most people would be scared at this point and start begging for their job. Dixie Leigh wasn’t most people. She had grown up with a hardheaded daddy and a steel magnolia mama who taught their only daughter to fight rather than give in. So she fought. “I don’t believe I read anything in the sheriff’s manual about spa days. But I did read that officers should practice good grooming at all times.”
His other eyebrow swept up. “Does it also say it’s okay to bring your pet to work?”
“A pet? What pet?”
He picked up the bag of cat treats that Dixie had completely forgotten to hide. “You like Kitty Heaven tuna treats, do you?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. They’re tasty and high protein.”
“Really?” He held out the bag. “Then you won’t mind proving it.”
A dare? Ha! He didn’t know who he was dealing with.
She didn’t hesitate to take the bag, open it, and pop a cat treat in her mouth. It was a little too salty, but overall not so bad. He looked nonplussed for a second before he tipped back his head and laughed. Everyone always said that Dixie had the sweetest nature this side of the Mississippi. But if there was one thing that could dissolve that sweet nature in a hurry, it was being laughed at.
No longer concerned that she didn’t have her boots on, she moved from behind the desk and held the door. “If we’re through here, Officer Hayes, I need to get back to work.”
He sobered. “Okay, Deputy Meriwether, I’m going to let your complete disregard for the sheriff’s department slide this time. After being Willaby’s deputy, you probably needed a little down time. But from now on, you better keep your beauty salon and your cat at home.”
He stepped closer and she wished she’d had her pageant heels on because she had to tip her head back to keep eye contact. “Your job is to protect and serve, and it’s a job that needs to be taken seriously. Simple might not have a lot of crime, but that doesn’t mean people can police themselves. Everyone needs to be reminded of the rules, and it’s your job to do the reminding.” His dark eyes pinned her. “Have I made myself clear?”
She nodded, but it wasn’t enough for the arrogant man.
“Have I made myself clear, Deputy Meriwether?”
“Yes,” she snapped.
“Yes, sir.”
She really wanted to tell him where he could stick his “sir.” But she knew if she did, she’d be looking for another job. He might not be her direct boss, but he was her indirect one. Texas Rangers’ jurisdiction covered the entire state. And while she had no intentions of being a deputy for much longer, she had to keep at it for at least a few more months. Or until her daddy caved. If she wanted to win with her daddy and realize her dream, she needed to give into Lincoln Hayes.
She pinned on a smile. “Yes, sir.”
His gaze lowered to her bare feet. “Let’s hope you’re better at law enforcement, Deputy Meriwether, than you are at paintin’ toes.” An annoying smile tipped up the corners of his mouth before he glanced at the computer sitting on the desk. “Now I need to take a look at Sheriff Willaby’s files. We’ve been working on a missing persons case together and
