“The secret is in the chili powder,” Lucas said. “Use too much and you’ll burn a hole in your gut. Use too little and it doesn’t have enough punch.”
“This certainly has enough punch and I’m just shocked that some woman hasn’t scooped you up already. Handsome and a great cook.”
Lincoln moved into the doorway of the kitchen and found Lucas grinning like a fool. And so was Chester. The brothers were seated on either side of Deputy Meriwether and looking at her like she was a royal princess who had graced the peasant farmers with her presence.
Lincoln understood why.
Deputy Meriwether had cleaned all the blue goop off her face and beautiful wasn’t a strong enough adjective to describe her looks. Stunning. Exquisite. Breathtaking. Those words all came to mind as Lincoln’s gaze took in the cat-like slant of her deep green eyes, the perfect slope of her petite nose, and the rosy flush of her high cheekbones. Her long, thick hair fell around her face and shoulders in waves that ranged in color from deepest butterscotch to lightest sunshine.
She had a body to go with the face.
In Sheriff Willaby’s office, it had been hard not to notice how well she filled out her deputy’s shirt and slim-cut jeans. He’d also noticed her height. While he felt like a giant to most women, Deputy Meriwether was no petite flower. Even in bare feet, she’d been no more than six inches shorter than he was.
It was too bad she was as fake as a plug nickel.
“I can’t believe you’re not married either, Chester,” she gushed. “Why the women of Simple must be blind not to know a good catch when they see it. Two good-lookin’ cowboys who own their own ranch and have the manners of true gentlemen. And finding a gentleman who knows how to treat a lady is impossible these days.” Her gaze shifted to the doorway. “Hello, Officer Hayes.”
He skipped the pleasantries. “What are you doing here, Deputy Meriwether?”
Her smile kicked up a notch, displaying a set of even white teeth that could be in a toothpaste commercial. “Just doing my job and checking up on the people in my county . . . sir.”
Before he could reply, Lucas cut in. “Where are your manners, boy? Get that hat off. There’s a lady present. And get those boots off too. You weren’t raised in a barn.”
If it had been anyone else, Lincoln would’ve ignored him and gotten to the bottom of why Deputy Meriwether was there. But he couldn’t ignore Lucas or Chester. He respected them too much. He turned and headed to the bench in the entryway. As he hung his hat on a hook and then sat down to pull off his boots, he listened as the conversation continued in the kitchen.
“So tell me more about this boys’ ranch,” Deputy Meriwether said. “How many summers did it go on?”
“Only one,” Chester grumbled. “After that, the town got up a petition and banned us from doing it again. They thought the boys were responsible for all the mischief that took place in the town that summer.”
“And were they?”
Lucas chuckled. “I’m sure they were responsible for some. Boys will be boys. And our boys weren’t saints. But they weren’t sinners either. They were just troubled kids who needed a little extra love. Like Lincoln there.”
“Officer Hayes certainly looks like he could use a little extra love. Exactly what did he do to get sent to a boy’s ranch?”
Lincoln got up and walked into the kitchen before Lucas could answer. “I had problems keeping my fists to myself. I was what you’d call an angry kid. Now if you don’t have any more questions, Deputy Meriwether, I’ll see you out.”
“Lincoln!” Both Chester and Lucas said at the same time.
Deputy Meriwether quickly got up. “That’s okay. I do need to be going.” She gave each man a hug like she’d known them forever. “It’s been a pleasure to meet you two sweet gentlemen. I swear you remind me of my Grandpappy Meriwether. And I’m just kickin’ myself that I didn’t come out and meet y’all sooner.”
Lucas snorted. “We don’t blame you at all. Not with that horse’s as—behind Willaby as your boss.”
“He is a bit of a horse’s patootie, isn’t he?” She winked at him. “But now that’s he’s on extended leave, if you have any problems at all—I mean any problems—you just give me a call and I’ll come right out.” She flashed a wide-eyed innocent look at Lincoln. “After all, a deputy’s job is to protect and serve her community.”
“That’s real sweet of you,” Chester said. “But I’ve got a double-barrel shotgun that works just fine for dealing with trouble.”
Lincoln mentally cringed as Deputy Meriwether’s eyes widened. “Really? Have you had to shoot anyone?”
Before Chester could answer, Lincoln took her arm. “This way, Deputy Meriwether.” He planned to walk her right out the door. But like him, she was in her socks. So he stopped at the bench and waited while she tugged on her boots. They were Lucchese handmade and no doubt cost more than he made in a month. Either she had money, or she just spent foolishly. It had to be the latter. He couldn’t see someone with money choosing a job as a sheriff’s deputy. Unless there was another reason she had chosen it.
“Why law enforcement?” he asked.
She stood. With the stacked leather heels, she was even taller. It was disconcerting to be so close to those cat-like green eyes. They reminded him of a marble he’d cherished as a kid. He used to hold it up to the sun to try and see inside. When she leaned in closer, he could see splashes of spring green surrounding her dark pupils.
“I have a thing for handcuffs,” she whispered.
Desire flared, but he snuffed it out quickly. “What are you doing here?”
She took her hat off a hook and pulled it on. “Just being neighborly.” She turned
