Chapter Four

Logan sighed as he watched a car speeding by. He pulled onto the road, flipped the lights on, and hit the siren. He called the license plate in and swore when it came back to Dixie.

She pulled onto the shoulder of the road and stopped. Logan took a deep breath, put his hat on and stepped from the vehicle. He saw the driver's side window lower as he placed his hand on top of the car, then leaned down.

"Do you do this on purpose?"

"Do what on purpose?" Dixie asked.

"Irritate the fuck out of me," he snapped.

"Oh, sure. I knew you'd be out here."

"Do you have any idea how fast you were going?"

"Isn't that your job?"

"Could you, just once, stop trying to bust my balls?" he growled.

When she shrugged, he slapped the top of the vehicle, making her jump, then he stepped back.

"Get out of the car."

"Why?"

"Get out of the car… now , Dixie or I'll drag you out."

She opened the door, stepped out, and leaned against it.

"You were twenty miles over the posted speed limit. Do you have a death wish?"

"I loved you at one time, didn't I?"

Logan stepped closer to her and narrowed his eyes.

"I am so sick of going over this with you every time I see you. I know you don't like me—"

"Don't like you? I hate you."

"Yeah, I fucking get it. I lied to you, I hurt you, and you'll never forgive me. Do you think I don't know all of that? I had a job to do—"

"And you could have done it without me," she shouted.

"I wanted to! I tried. It was too late since we had met. They couldn't take me off the case and send another man in because it would have looked suspicious to you. I lied to you about a lot of things, Dixie. Things I'm not proud of, but I never, never , lied to you when I told you I loved you. I fell for you the minute I met you and I requested to be removed from the case because I didn't want to hurt you." He shook his head. "I had no choice. I couldn't let your father go just because I fell in love with you, or I would have. You just don't get it. I had a job to do and although I lied to you, I did the right thing by arresting him." Logan stared at her and saw tears rolling down her face, but she wouldn't meet his eyes.

"Go. Just go." He took a deep breath, walked back to his vehicle, climbed in, and after checking for traffic, he made a U-turn, and drove back to town.

****

Dixie watched as his vehicle disappeared down the road. She wiped the tears from her face, got back into her car, but didn't move. How in the world would she survive living in the same town as him?

Logan was the love of her life, but there could never be anything between them again. She could never trust him. He not only broke her heart, but he had also shattered it with all his lies.

Taking a deep shuddering breath, she checked for traffic, then pulled onto the road and drove home. She had to work tonight, so she wanted to get home and relax a little bit. Maybe the bar would be so busy that Logan Townson wouldn't cross her mind.

Dixie narrowed her eyes at the drunk man seated at the table, his hand boldly placed on her rear. The stench of alcohol radiated from him and his three equally inebriated companions, who snickered and jeered as they watched the confrontation unfold.

Her voice cold and steady, Dixie warned the man to remove his hand or face the consequences. In response, he slurred out excuses, insisting that they were just having some harmless fun. But Dixie was in no mood for games.

Without hesitation, she turned to leave, but not before another hand smacked against her ass. Fueled by anger and adrenaline, she spun around and delivered a swift blow to the man's head with her tray. The sudden and unexpected violence caused the entire bar to fall silent, including the band.

The man stumbled backwards, ready to retaliate until Noah intervened, grabbing hold of him while his friends attempted to pull Noah away.

Amidst the chaos, Dixie reached out to grab one of the men's arms, only to freeze when sirens wailed outside. As if on cue, Logan appeared through the crowd, with Mark close behind him. She saw him hesitate and roll his eyes upon spotting her before pushing through the crowd and approaching her.

"What's going on?" he demanded.

"I want to press charges! That bitch—" the man began before being cut off by Logan's sharp tone.

"Try again," Logan snapped.

The man cleared his throat nervously. "That... woman hit me with her tray."

Logan turned his attention toward Dixie, raising an eyebrow expectantly. Despite everything, she couldn't help but remember how much she used to love to see him do that.

"Is that true?"

"Yes, but—" she started before he interrupted her with a shake of his head.

"There is always a ‘but' with you, Dixie. So, why did you hit him?"

"Because he couldn't seem to keep his hands off my ass," she retorted, glaring at the drunk man.

"Noah, you can let him go, but make sure he sits in that chair over there," Logan instructed before turning back to face Dixie. "The rest of you, sit down." He directed a stern look at the drunk man's friends before focusing back on him. "What's your name?"

"Dennis Stagger," the man slurred, "and she's lying. I never laid a hand on her. "

"So, she hit you for no reason?" Logan asked as Mark quickly ran the name through dispatch.

"I... I don't know why she hit me," Dennis stammered.

"You didn't touch her or say anything inappropriate?"

"No, I swear. Ask them." He pointed to his friends.

Dixie watched as Logan turned to face the three men, confirmation dawning on his features as they all denied any wrongdoing. Deflated and frustrated, she braced herself for the inevitable consequences.

"Do not move," Logan warned them before walking over to her with a sigh. "Dixie, why do you always manage to find trouble?"

"He touched my ass, Logan," she growled in response. "I warned him multiple times and said if he did it again, I would hit him with my tray. And when he did it again, I followed through with that threat." She shrugged nonchalantly as Logan ran his hand over his mouth, likely trying to hide a smirk, then he sighed as he looked at the man again.

"Do you want to press charges?" he asked, his voice hard and serious.

Dixie's eyes blazed with anger as she turned to face the man who had just had his hands all over her moments ago.

"Yes, she hit me," the man shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at Dixie, then to his forehead where a stream of blood ran down his face.

Logan looked at Dixie, a mix of frustration and sympathy in his eyes. "I'm sorry, but I have to take you in."

"Are you serious? He touched me inappropriately," Dixie hissed through clenched teeth.

"I understand that" Logan replied calmly. "But there are no witnesses to support your claim. You cannot take matters into your own hands. He has his drunk buddies backing him up and no one else saw him do anything. I have to arrest you for assault."

Dixie slammed her tray down on the table, causing everyone in the bar to jump at the loud sound. Her frustration and anger were physical.

"Can I at least get my purse?" she asked, trying to maintain some sense of control.

"Yes, ma'am. Mark, go with her," Logan said.

Dixie let out a sharp breath and gritted her teeth. "I don't need an escort. I'm not going to run."

"It's protocol," Logan replied with a hint of regret in his voice.

"You know what you can do with your damn protocol, Logan Clinton Townson," Dixie spat before pushing through the crowd and down the hallway toward the office. She entered and walked straight to the safe, retrieving her purse from inside. As she stood up to leave, she noticed Scarlett entering the room.

"Dixie, are you alright?" Scarlett asked with concern etched on her face.

"No, I'm being arrested," Dixie replied bitterly, shooting a glare at Mark who kept his eyes glued to the floor .

"For what?" Scarlett asked, shock evident in her voice.

"Assault. I hit him and there are no witnesses to support my claim. A bar full of people and no one saw a thing. He had his hands all over me, Scarlett. I know we deal with this kind of thing a lot, but that man was way out of line. His buddies lied for him." Dixie shrugged helplessly. "So, now I'm being arrested."

With one final scowl directed at Mark, Dixie made her way out of the office and back to where Logan stood, still watching the group with a stern expression, while the group of men sat laughing in the corner. She fought the urge to smack every single one of them as she walked by. She stopped in front of Logan and glared at him.

"Turn around, place your hands behind your back," he said.

"Is that necessary?"

"Yes, ma'am." He motioned for her to turn her back to him.

"And you wonder why I hate you," she murmured.

"I'm just doing—"

"Yeah, I know, you're just doing your job. That's your answer for everything."

Once the handcuffs were on, she marched through the crowd and out the door, not caring if Logan followed her or not.

****

As they stepped outside, Logan took her elbow in his firm grasp, but she shook it off with a fierce jerk.

"I do not need your help," she said, her voice laced with irritation and defiance.

"Tough. I can't risk you making a run for it," he replied calmly.

Dixie laughed derisively. "Yeah, like I could outrun you." She tried to pull away again, but Logan spun her around to face him.

"Don't make me add resisting arrest to the list of charges, Dixie," he snapped sternly.

"Oh, you'd love that, wouldn't you?" she retorted sarcastically as he led her toward the SUV cruiser.

"You have the right to remain silent, so shut the fuck up," he muttered, then continued reading her Miranda rights to her. He opened the back door and nodded for her to get inside.

"Watch your head," he warned, placing a hand on top of her head to guide her in. But she just glared at him instead of accepting his help, causing his heart to race from the close proximity and the faint scent of her perfume driving him crazy.

Letting out a heavy sigh, he slammed the door and took a deep breath before removing his hat and getting behind the wheel.

Starting the engine, he drove toward the station while occasionally glancing in the rearview mirror to see Dixie staring pensively out of the window at the dark night sky. Knowing better than to try and talk to her in this mood, Logan focused on driving.

"Will I be able to post bail?" Dixie suddenly spoke up after some time spent in silence .

"If there's a judge available."

"And if there isn't?"

Logan shrugged nonchalantly. "Then you'll have to spend the night in a cell until one is."

"I am not staying in a cell tonight," Dixie stated defiantly.

"Dixie, you physically assaulted someone. You can't expect that to be taken lightly," Logan replied firmly.

"Well, him touching my ass wasn't exactly a light matter either," she snapped back.

Logan didn't respond as he continued driving to the department. When they arrived, he parked, got out of the vehicle, and then opened the back door for Dixie. After he unhooked her seatbelt, she stepped out, and he took her arm, but she immediately pulled away from him. Frustrated with her behavior, Logan grabbed her arm once again and spun her around to face him.

"Enough with this attitude," he growled through gritted teeth.

"I don't want you touching me," Dixie hissed in return.

"That's just too fucking bad. You're under arrest, not on some leisurely stroll through the woods," Logan retorted firmly.

"Fuck you, Logan."

"Just shut up. I gave you the right to remain silent. Use it! The sooner I can get you inside, the sooner I can go home and get the fuck away from you," he muttered as he led her toward his office.

Once inside, he pushed her down onto a chair, making her glare at him before striding around his desk and sitting down. Removing his hat, he hung it up on the rack before taking a deep breath and starting to type his report.

"What are you doing?" Dixie asked curiously, leaning forward in an attempt to see the screen of the computer.

Logan turned his head and glared at her sternly. "I'm making my report. Now sit there and keep quiet." He narrowed his eyes at her. "You do know how to keep quiet, don't you?"

Dixie muttered a curse under her breath. "Can't you at least take off these damn handcuffs?"

"No," Logan replied without hesitation or sympathy.

"They're hurting me, Logan."

"They're not even tight. I'll take them off when I put you in the cell."

"God, I hate you."

Logan sighed and shook his head as he stared at her.

"I know. You make sure to remind me every chance you get," he snapped back. He glared at her for a few moments before returning to his report.

She had always been a thorn in his side, but he couldn't deny that he still loved her deeply. It didn't matter in the end though. They would never be a couple again because Logan had done his job and lost the woman he loved in the process.

Once he finished his report, Logan stood and walked over to her. He took her elbow and led her to a cell, opening the door and motioning for her to turn around so he could remove the cuffs.

Dixie entered the cell rubbing her wrists, then sat on the cot against the wall. Logan closed the door and locked it.

"Logan?" Mark's voice called out.

"I'm back at the cell, Mark."

"Those men don't have any records."

"Nothing?" Logan asked with surprise.

"Nope." Mark glanced over at Dixie. "Is she going to be okay?"

"Yeah, she's tough. I just hope she can bond out."

"Me too."

"I'm heading home. It's been a long day."

"Alright, I'll see you later."

Logan turned to leave when Dixie's voice stopped him.

"Where are you going?"

"Home."

"I don't want to stay here alone, Logan."

"You won't be alone. Mark is here."

"But—"

"But what, Dixie? At least you don't hate him, so maybe your temper can calm down with me gone."

Without looking back at her, Logan strode out to the lobby and then out of the building. Once outside, he took a deep breath, exhaled, and headed home. He knew it was going to be a long night.

****

Dixie's eyes followed Logan as he stormed out, her heart heavy with disappointment and anger. She winced when the outer door slammed shut, the sound echoing through the empty hallway. Letting out a sigh, she leaned back against the cold, hard wall.

It wasn't fair. That drunk had no right to put his hands on her.

"Dixie?" Mark's voice broke through her thoughts, interrupting her internal turmoil. "Do you need anything?"

"No, thank you, Mark."

"I'll check on your bail for you. I'll be right back."

"Okay," Dixie said, sighing. She hoped her bail wasn't too much, but her funds were low, and if she couldn't pay it, she'd be stuck in jail. It was Friday, too. She hoped Mark wouldn't take long and she'd be able to go home.

The radio crackled and she heard a call about a car accident. She heard Mark walking toward her, so she stood and walked to the door of the cell.

"Dixie? I have to leave. I'm sorry to leave you here alone, but Logan is on his way back."

"I don't need anyone here."

"We can't leave you here alone. He should be here in a few minutes."

"Why can't he just go to the accident, and you stay here?"

"He lives in the opposite direction of the accident. I can get there quicker. I'm sorry, I have to go." He quickly walked back toward the front. She heard the door open and close.

Dixie blew out her breath and sat on the cot again. She leaned back against the wall, pulled her legs up, and waited for Logan to get back. She hated seeing him. It just reminded her how much she loved him, and the pain he had caused.

As she checked her watch, she wondered where Logan was. Just as that thought entered her head, she heard the door open and close, then bootheels walking in her direction.

He stopped in front of the cell, stuck a key into the lock, and opened the door.

"You're free to go," he said.

"I didn't pay any bail…"

"He dropped the charges."

"He did? Wait. Why?"

"Why what?" Logan frowned.

"Why did he drop them? And how do you know he did?"

"Can't you just let it go?"

"Okay, I don't care why, but how do you know he did?"

"I will give you ten seconds to get your ass out of that cell, or I'll leave you here for the weekend."

Dixie glared at him, and when he raised an eyebrow, she wanted to slap him.

"Don't even think about it," he murmured.

She shook her head. He always seemed to know what she was thinking. She took a deep breath.

"Five seconds," Logan said.

She stepped out of the cell, and jerked when he shoved it closed, making it clang loudly.

"Thank you."

"I'll drive you to Dewey's so you can get your car."

"Okay," Dixie agreed, feeling a sense of relief wash over her at the thought of not having to walk to the bar alone. She followed him outside and had trouble keeping her eyes off his ass. Those Wranglers hugged him in the right places.

He opened the back door for her, closed it, then climbed behind the wheel and drove her back to Dewey's. He pulled up beside her vehicle and stepped out to open the back door for her.

"Thank you," Dixie said gratefully as she got out of the car.

"You need to go straight home, Dixie," Logan instructed her.

"I can't go back inside?"

"No. Those guys are still in there, and we don't want any more trouble tonight."

Dixie tilted her head. "How do you know they're still in there?"

"Damn, you are a pain in my ass," he said, then sighed. "Instead of heading home after I left the department, I came here to see if they were still here. They just happened to be coming out the door, so I parked before they saw me. When they drove out of the lot, I immediately pulled them over for drunk driving." He shrugged.

"And?" she asked.

"And what?"

Dixie shot him a look, and bit her lip to stop a grin when he glanced away but she saw the beginning of a smile.

"I told them if they went back into the bar and sobered up, I wouldn't arrest them, but only on the condition that the charges be dropped. So, he dropped them."

"I appreciate it, Logan. You didn't have to do that."

"That prick touched you, Dixie, so, yes I did."

"You believed me?"

"Of course, I did. I know his type."

"Well, thank you. I'll head home now."

"Be careful." He tipped his hat and climbed back into the SUV cruiser, driving away.

Feeling frustrated, Dixie unlocked her car and settled into the driver's seat. She would have still been working if that man hadn't touched her without permission. It didn't matter if he was drunk or not; it was never okay for someone to touch any woman like that.

She certainly appreciated Logan doing that for her. She should have known he believed her. Otherwise, he would haven't gone to the bar to find the men, and she'd still be sitting in jail.

A week had passed, and she found herself back at her usual spot behind the bar. The last time she saw Logan was when he arrested her, and in a way, she was glad for the distance between them. It wasn't because she truly hated him like she claimed, but because seeing him only brought back memories of their past love, making it hard to move on. Her words of hatred were meant more for her own protection, and she had to constantly remind herself of that fact.

****

Logan's grip on the steering wheel tightened as he navigated the winding road. Thoughts of Dixie clouded his mind, making it hard to focus. Why did she still have such a hold on him? He couldn't understand it. His frustration grew at her stubbornness; she refused to see things from his perspective. It pained him to know that their relationship could never be mended. If only he could turn back time and change things.

But now, all he was left with was regret and a deep longing for the love that had slipped through his fingers. No matter how many times he tried to explain himself, she wouldn't listen. She saw only betrayal and deceit, not the love that still burned within him.

Dixie had ruined any chance of him finding happiness with someone else. She was his one true love, and he couldn't imagine being with anyone else. If only he had known how things would turn out, maybe he would have handled things differently. But now, all he felt was regret and a yearning for a love that could never be again.

He pulled up to his father's house, parked, and made his way inside. After hanging up his hat and coat, he headed to his father's bedroom. Pushing the door open slowly, he saw his father watching TV with a smile on his face. Logan hoped this memory would stay with him forever.

"Hey son," his dad said when he noticed him.

"Hi Dad." Logan greeted him before glancing at the nurse, who smiled warmly at him. "What are you watching? "

"One of my favorite movies."

Logan chuckled as he looked at the TV screen showing Jaws playing for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"How many times have you seen this movie?" Logan asked.

"Too many to count." His dad laughed.

"He's been reciting the lines along with it," the nurse added with a grin.

Logan rolled his eyes. "That's why I can't watch it with him."

"So that's why you always ask for a different movie," his dad said, grinning at him.

"Yeah, I like the movie, but I don't need to hear you saying the lines," Logan joked.

Clint laughed. "Okay, okay. Sit down and we'll find another movie to watch."

"I'm going to take a hot shower first. It's freezing out there and I want to warm up."

"Sure thing, son. We'll pick another movie after you shower and eat."

"Yes, sir." Logan nodded at the nurse. "I won't be long."

"It's alright, I can wait," she replied kindly.

Logan quickly made his way to his room and closed the door behind him before heading into the bathroom. As he stepped into the hot shower, he couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and relief wash over him. The water felt good on his cold skin, soothing any tension he had.