“I didn’t look at you as if you were slime. I didn’t want you to die in the heat. It was one-hundred-thirteen degrees out there today. I was doing my job.”
She took the step he’d put between them. This time his lips tightened, yet he stood his ground. She smiled. She reached up and touched a bead of sweat on his brow. His dark hair waved temptingly just above where she touched him. She took a deep breath. He smelled like sweat and something else. Something manly. “I guess it’s…hot.”
He didn’t budge, even when she rubbed her bare leg against his trouser leg. But he licked his lips. His nostrils flared as if he was catching her scent, as well. “It’s hot all right.”
She hoped he couldn’t feel her leg trembling. She hadn’t felt the flare of honest desire in a long time. Hadn’t allowed herself to stray off course. A course chosen for self-preservation. Seemed he might be more dangerous to her than she to him.
“You saved me….” This time her voice shook. He threw her off balance. Made her feel things.
“I was just doing my job.” It came out husky. His eyes slid down the length of her body.
She abruptly pulled away. She didn’t need the distraction of an affair right now. She needed to get her head on straight. “Your job’s done, Farmer John. Don’t worry about me. I put in a call to my father. He’s going to wire money and some paperwork to the Goat Herder’s Bank of West Texas. I’ll be moving along before I can infect your town with my evil ways.”
“It’s Ranchers Security Bank.” He sounded angry.
She went to the side of the bed and collected her sunglasses. “Yeah? I’ll remember that when I go looking for the right bank. This town probably has a slew of banks to choose from. I’ll bet you folks even got a Wal-Mart and a laundry called Duds and Suds, or something equally charming.”
“At least we don’t have to send for Daddy’s money to bail us out when we’re irresponsible.” His voice sounded mild. “And we don’t have a Wal-Mart.”
It took her a moment to feel the sting.
“I guess you never had to call Daddy to bail you out of trouble.”
“Not since I was fifteen years old.”
“Yeah? Well I’m not so perfect. In fact I’m amazingly full of flaws. You name the mistake and I’ve made it. My dad might be a very busy lawyer, but these days he makes me a priority. Even if I need bailing out like a fifteen-year-old.”
“He must have some patience.”
She remembered how her father would set her on his lap when she’d been in trouble, and patiently explain why she was supposed to listen to her governess. “He does.”
“Then you shouldn’t go out of your way to worry him.”
Roxy smiled. Worrying her father had been the only way to get his attention back in those days. “I didn’t do it on purpose.” At least not this time. “And I can take care of myself. You don’t have to worry about anything. Your little ole town is safe from big bad me. I have no intention of staying more than a day or two.”
“Good. I don’t know if Red Wing can stand the excitement. But I’ll drive you over to the Cozy Daze.”
“That’s okay. Apparently my car’s at Larry’s gas station, right down the street. I’m grateful you had it towed into town. I’ll just walk over there and get it.”
“It’s hot out there.”
“I’m from Dallas. It’s hot there, too.”
“It’s still over ninety degrees.”
She looked at him in honest surprise. “Really? I thought it’d be cooler.”
“My tires sucked at the road as I drove in—asphalt’s still oozy from the heat.”
“Find anything interesting out there? Coyotes, scorpions, stranded women?”
“Nope. You’re the only one today. Do you want a ride or not?”
“I guess so.” She ran her hands over the front of her shorts. Why did she suddenly feel so vulnerable? Was it because she didn’t want to rely on anyone? Especially not him? “What day of the week is it?” She tugged on a long lock of hair hanging over her shoulder. Let him scoff about her disorientation. She’d fillet him.
Farmer John didn’t scoff. “It’s Thursday. The bank will be open first thing in the morning.”
She smiled faintly. What would he say if he knew how many times she’d lost track of the date? Whole weeks had disappeared in an alcoholic stupor. If he knew he’d walk away from her in disgust.
Without another word he turned and walked out of the room. She followed. The two people on duty ignored them as they went by. It didn’t surprise her. It was unlikely she was the only one who’d objected to spending the night. If Farmer John was any indication, they grew them hardheaded in this part of the county.
He opened the door of the cruiser for her and held it open like he was escorting her on a date. She couldn’t help but smile at him. “Thank you, Sheriff.”
He smiled. “You’re welcome, Miss Adams.”
She settled herself amongst all the technology, radios and other cop things. Then, when he sat down beside her she admonished him. “Call me Roxy.”
He shook his head.
“Do you prefer Farmer John or do you intend to be formal? Didn’t your parents give you a first name?”
“I’m always professional when I’m doing my job,” he said, ignoring the rest of her comment.
“I thought you were doing me a favor. It’s after hours. Or are you checking up on me? Did you put my name on the list or something?” Her voice rose.
“No, this is just a favor to someone from out of town. I didn’t do a records search on you, because you didn’t break the law. However, right this moment you don’t have a car or any money, so I thought you might accept a helping hand. Graciously.”
“You expect me to be gracious when you won’t even tell me your name?” She turned away tugging on her hair, unwilling to show her relief that he didn’t know about her record. Even though it wasn’t much more than a couple of drunk and disorderly charges. Drunks were usually content to hurt themselves and her daddy had enough money to smooth her way.
“My name’s Luke.”
Grateful, she turned from those ugly memories and smiled at him. “See, Luke, that wasn’t so hard.”
“Are you always like this?”
Roxy put a hand to her heart with a dramatic flourish. “Oh, my goodness, he told me his name,” she teased him. “His reputation as a hard-hearted sheriff’s ruined forever.”
He flushed again.
His ability to flush might be endearing, but she wasn’t letting him off the hook so easily. “I might have to rent some space on a billboard. I’ll tell the town what a marshmallow you really are.”
“You’d have trouble finding a spare billboard in this town.”
Luke looked downright human when he fought a grin, which was good enough for her.
She turned to study the town. The buildings around them were a hodgepodge of materials and styles, some were stucco and others brick. A few stood vacant with boards where the windows would have been. Others appeared to be closed up for the night. She spotted a convenience store and a restaurant with a line of trucks in the parking lot.
She guessed the taverns must