Jackie dropped his gaze to the liquid in his glass. “Probably.”
“Probably?”
Jackie glanced up at the surprise in Boone’s voice. “If it gets too bad, I’ll leave.”
“I don’t want you to leave, Jackie, I just… I’m the sheriff. How can I protect you when I don’t know what’s chasing you?”
Jackie shrugged.
“What can you tell me?”
“My name is Jackie.”
Boone narrowed his eyes. “Oh, you’re a hoot.”
Jackie laughed as he grabbed the bottle and poured some in Boone’s glass again, and then his own. “So, Sheriff, what happened to your nose?”
“Saw that, did you?”
It was kind of hard to miss. Boone’s nose was swollen and reddish purple.
“I had to break up a bar fight earlier tonight.”
Jackie lifted his eyebrows. “With your face?”
Boone shrugged. “Hazards of the job.”
“Do you like being sheriff?”
“Most of the time.” Boone gingerly touched his nose. “Not all the time.”
“Do you want some ice for that?”
“No, it should be fine as soon as I sh—” Boone’s eyes rounded.
“As soon as you what?” Jackie asked.
“As soon as I get some sleep.”
That wasn’t what Boone had been about to say. Jackie would bet his life on it. But, considering he was withholding information from the man, he didn’t feel as if he had the right to pry.
“Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask,” Jackie replied. “I can’t promise to answer.”
“Do you always paint your nails hot pink?”
Jackie smiled as he glanced down at the vivid pink color. “Not all the time. These just happen to be this week’s color.” Jackie lifted his leg, wiggling his bare toes. “They match my toes.”
He looked up quickly when he heard Boone gulp. The man was staring at Jackie’s toes as if mesmerized. Jackie wiggled them again.
Boone flushed and glanced away. “Sorry.”
“Do you like my toes, Sheriff?” Jackie had no idea what made him ask that, but the words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.
“They are very pretty,” Boone replied.
“They look better in my high heels.”
