How to Land Her Lawman (2 page)

“I know. And you're right. But I wish you'd warned me.”

Kim shook her head. “Surprise was better. Your reaction had to be natural. Unscripted.”

April wanted to crawl into a hole when she thought about how it had gone seeing Will again. She hadn't been prepared and preparation was her thing. When she got in the car, she mentally plotted the route to her destination. Writing a grocery list started on aisle one and ended at produce. For a photography sitting she always had cameras, lenses, backdrops and props ready.

Even though he lived in Chicago, she knew Will would return to Blackwater Lake from time to time because his family was here. Kim had always warned her when he was visiting and she'd successfully avoided him. In fact she hadn't seen him at the hospital when his dad had surgery, but she knew he'd been there. She managed to stay out of his way. None of that stopped her from picturing how a meeting between them would go and in her imagination she'd always been less tongue-tied, her wit sharp as a stiletto. Her moment to make him sorry he hadn't waited for her.

“I don't know about unscripted,” April said ruefully, “but it was unsomething.”

“How was it? Seeing him again, I mean?” Sympathy gathered in Kim's eyes.

“He looks good.” Really good. April hated to admit it, but he'd been right that she hadn't wanted to tell him so. “And it's nice of him to put his life on hold and come back to help the family.”

Kim nodded absently. “Don't get me wrong. I love my brother. But I think there's something going on with him. Career-wise, I mean. There have been family crises—God knows I was one. Being an unwed teenage mother certainly qualifies for family-crisis material. Mom was killed in that car accident not long after he entered the police academy. It's not to say he doesn't care because I know he does. But he never put work on hold to be here for us before.”

“Has he said anything?”

The other woman shook her head. “No. He just seems edgy, tense. Different. I don't know. Maybe I'm seeing ghosts where there aren't any.”

“Maybe you should talk to him about it.” April didn't have the right to be involved in his life and it annoyed her that she couldn't shut off her concern. “Get him to open up.”

“You know better than anyone that my brother doesn't talk about stuff. Right now getting Dad back on his feet is the most important thing. Will stepping in for him as sheriff means Dad won't worry about this town and can focus on getting strong again.”

“That's true.” But April's life would be far less complicated if the sheriff trusted someone besides his son. No matter how well Chicago PD trained its officers. On top of that Will knew Blackwater Lake inside and out. There was no doubt he would take good care of the town. “I just wish I knew how to get through the next three months with Will here.”

Thoughtfully, Kim tapped a fingernail against her wineglass. “A statement like that makes me think you're still in love with my brother.”

“No. You're wrong. It's been a lot of years.” April rejected that suggestion with every fiber of her being. “That would just be stupid. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

“Hmm.” The woman stared at her. “Where there's smoke, there's fire.”

“A cliché? From Blackwater Lake High School's favorite honors English teacher?”

“Clichés work because they convey a lot of truth. In this case, you seem to have strong feelings about seeing Will again. That doesn't happen if you don't care.” She finished the wine in her glass. “Hence, smoke and fire.”

“I can assure you that what I feel for Will isn't love. It's ancient history. I've had relationships since him.”

“But you make sure they never work. You always find an excuse to not take things to the next level. As soon as a guy even hints at getting serious, you shut down and blow him off completely.”

April shrugged. “So sue me. I want something special, to be swept away. Settling for less isn't an option for me. And you have to kiss a lot of frogs...”

“Maybe.” Kim didn't sound convinced. “Or maybe you need closure with the first frog. Maybe you never moved on after Will hopped away.”

“Finding him with another woman seemed like closure to me.” But, darn it, today he'd looked genuinely sorry about what had happened.

“Then why did you call me over here to talk? What's the problem?” Her friend didn't sound annoyed as much as frustrated that she couldn't help.

“I guess the problem is that I really want to hate him. That would make this summer so much easier and less awkward. Hate is simple, straightforward and sensible. I can deal with hate. But he was
nice
.”

“Rest assured I'll give him a stern talking-to about that.” There was a teasing look in Kim's eyes.

“You know what I mean,” April protested.

“I do. And I still say your problem is about closure.”

“I wish I could be the opposite of a bear and hibernate in the summer. Go to sleep and wake up after Labor Day. If I haven't gotten closure by now, I'm never going to.”

“Maybe there's a way.” Her friend had a familiar expression on her face, the one that hinted inspiration was knocking on the door.

“Enlighten me.” April's interest was piqued.

“Seduce him.”

“What? Are you crazy?”

“In the best possible way, or so my fiancé says. That Luke is a keeper,” she said with a sigh.

“No argument. But can we go back to where you just told me to seduce your brother in order to find closure?”

“And then dump him. Did I leave that part out?”

“Yes.” April sat up straighter. “How does that give me closure?”

“Your last breakup was situational and one-sided. Your emotions are stuck in neutral. Flirt with him. Have a fling. When he's putty in your hands tell him Jean Luc, your winter-ski-instructor-lover, is due to arrive any day and you have to end your summer dalliance.”

“On top of the fact that there is no Jean Luc, I don't think I can do that.”

“Don't you see?” Kim said, warming to her proposal. “You finally have your chance for revenge. Of course you can do it.”

April shook her head. “I'm not that person.”

“Look, I know you're really nice. It's why I love you and why we've been best friends forever. But, trust me on this, you need to get some perspective and the best way to do that is to take control.”

“But he's your brother,” April protested.

“All the better. I give you my permission. If I approve no one can judge you harshly.”

“But I'm not very good at seduction.”

“You'll be fine. And I have a feeling it won't take much effort or finesse. You need this and revenge is swift and satisfying. Humility would give Will a little character.”

April was starting to weaken. “But he married Miss Naked-Under-His-Shirt. And now they're divorced.” Surely she could be forgiven for feeling the tiniest bit of satisfaction about that. “I would think that gives him a lot of character credits.”

“No. He left her, remember?” Kim made a face. “I never liked that woman.”

April loved her for that. “Still, it seems inherently dishonest. Because it is inherently dishonest.”

“If you flirt with him and he responds, how is that dishonest? It would be if you hated him, but you said you can't do that.”

This whole scene tipped into weird territory because that actually made a twisted sort of sense. “So you really don't think this is a despicably underhanded thing to do? Intentionally flirting with every intention of dumping him? That's the very definition of premeditated.”

“You're so overthinking this.” Kim sighed. “Just get my brother in bed, then say goodbye. He's moving back to his life in Chicago at the end of the summer anyway. The two of you have a good time and it ends. Things will work out. Trust me.”

Famous last words.

But a lot of what her friend said made sense. It was a proactive way to deal with the problem. If he felt nothing for her, no way would there be sex. That in itself would be confirmation they'd never have worked out. Pretty much all she had to do was be nice to him and see what happened.

She leaned over and hugged her friend. “That's why I needed to talk to you.”

“Happy to help.”

“You definitely did,” April said.

And now she had a plan.

Chapter Two

A
pril pulled the chicken casserole out of the oven and smiled at the cheerful bubbling around the edges of the perfectly browned noodles. The crispy parts were her favorite.

“Okay, then,” she said to herself, “Operation Poke the Bear is officially under way.”

And officially time to get in touch with her inner flirt. Hopefully she still had some of that mojo although that would presuppose she ever had any in the first place. Anything too obvious would be, well...too obvious. It would be a dead giveaway if she walked up to him and said, “Hey, Mr. Sexy Pants, come on up and see me sometime.”

When she started to hyperventilate it was a signal that she needed to get a grip. Less than twenty-four hours ago Kim had floated this idea. A slow start didn't mean she'd lose the race and as long as she didn't do anything out of character, no warning flags would be raised.

“Okay. Here goes.” She put a lid on the dish, then slid the whole thing into a casserole carrier and food warmer.

April grabbed the dish and went out her kitchen door, stepping onto the patio. She looked around at her neatly trimmed grass and the flowers in cheerful bloom. A sidewalk led to the alley and she smiled, remembering that her mother put it in because there was already a worn path in the grass from April going to Will's house. Or him coming here.

That seemed like a lifetime ago, but still a stab of sadness went through her. She still missed her mom and probably always would. Seeing Will again had stirred up a lot of memories, some good but a whole lot of them not.

Sighing, she walked across the alley, up the three steps to the Fletchers' back door and knocked loudly.

Moments later it opened and Will stood there. “April. Hi.”

“Hey. I made a casserole for your dad. And everyone.” Oh, God, her mind was going blank. “I've gotten in the habit of doing this since he got out of the hospital. It was a helpless feeling not being able to do anything for him, so I made food and brought it over. This is heart-healthy. Low fat. Whole-grain noodles.” She was babbling.

When the horrifying thought sank in, she pressed her lips closed and ground her back teeth together. And oh, right, she was supposed to be flirting. So she batted her eyelashes.

“This is very nice of you.” Will took the container she held out and met her gaze. Frowning, he asked, “Is there something wrong with your eyes?”

“Oh. No. I mean—” She blinked furiously. “I think there was something in one, but it's fine now.”

“Good.”

Doggone it! This flirting thing wasn't easy. It just felt awkward and dishonest. She should cut her losses and run for cover. “Okay, then. I'll see you around.”

“Come on in.” Will moved the door open a little wider with his shoulder. “Unless you've got plans.”

“No.” Jean Luc was busy tonight, so she was free to flirt.

She walked into the house that was as familiar to her as her own. The door opened into the family room with a leather corner group and a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. On the other side of a granite-covered bar was the kitchen with its large square island, stainless-steel appliances and plentiful oak cupboards.

She looked around. “It's awfully quiet. Where is everyone?”

“Kim is out with Luke.” He set the casserole on the island and looked at her. The expression on his face said his sister and her fiancé weren't out so much as staying in and having sex.

April's already pounding pulse kicked up a notch. “What about your dad and Tim?”

“They went to a movie.”

“Okay.” The house was empty. In theory that worked for her plan except that she wasn't very good at flirting. “Well, then, now you have dinner. Enjoy.”

He slid her a questioning look. “Have you eaten yet?”

“No.”

“What are you doing for dinner?” he asked.

“Oh, I have a frozen thing in the freezer.” She cocked a thumb over her shoulder, indicating the general direction of her house, freezer and the frozen thing.

Will leaned back against the countertop and folded his arms over his chest. The tailored long-sleeved khaki-colored sheriff's uniform shirt fit his upper body like a second skin. Matching pants showcased his flat stomach and muscular legs to male perfection. She was the one with a seduction plan, but if this was being in control, she'd be better off flying by the seat of her pants.

“So,” he said, “you put in time and effort on this food and you're going to eat something that's been in a state of suspended animation for God knows how long?”

“Yeah, pretty much. I do it all the time.” She could have bitten her tongue clean off for saying that. How pathetic did it sound that she often ate by herself? Next he'd be asking how many cats she owned.

“Not tonight you won't,” Will insisted. “You're going to stay and have some of the meal you made.”

Per the plan she had to strike the right balance between reluctance and giving in. It wouldn't do to appear too eager. The problem was that having dinner with him was tempting and it was awfully darn difficult to tamp down her enthusiasm. Because, gosh darn it, she did eat alone most of the time and the prospect of companionship at a meal was awfully appealing. And she told herself any companion would do. Herself almost bought into that thought.

“I don't know—”

“Did you put poison in the casserole?”

“Of course not. Wow, you can take the detective out of Chicago, but you can't take the suspicion out of the detective.”

“And you didn't put a gallon of hot sauce in there to sabotage it and get even with me?”

“It was for your dad. I didn't even know you'd be here. The goal is to make Hank stronger and
not
give him another heart attack.”

“So stay. It smells pretty good. Have dinner here.” His blue eyes darkened with challenge while the beginning of a grin curved up the corners of his mouth.

“If that law-enforcement thing hadn't worked out, you'd have made a pretty persuasive lawyer.” She happened to be looking at him and saw the shadows cross his face. They were there for a moment, then disappeared. “I'd like that.”

“How about a glass of wine?”

“Sounds good.” It actually sounded fabulous, but again, balance. Not too eager.

He opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of Chardonnay, then found two wineglasses in the cupboard. After removing the cork, he poured and handed her a glass.

“Can I help with something?” she asked. “There should be a touch of a green. I could throw some salad together. Microwave some broccoli.”

“Yeah, broccoli would be easiest. But I can do that. You've already done more than your fair share.”

“Can I at least set the table?”

“If you insist.” He'd already opened the freezer and glanced over his shoulder at her.

The look zinged right through her. “I do.”

“Okay.”

April was here so often she knew where everything was stored. So she got out plates, utensils, napkins and water glasses, then arranged them all on the round oak table in the nook. She and Will moved around the kitchen as if this meal was a meticulously choreographed ballet. But instead of dips, twirls and lifts, they managed to avoid even the slightest touch. Was he on edge, too?

She put hot pads out, then took the casserole from the food warmer and set it in the center of the table with a serving spoon. The bubbling had stopped but the dish was still warm and smelled yummy if she did say so herself.

Will set a steaming bowl of broccoli beside the noodle dish and said, “Let's eat.”

April sat across from him, then put food on her plate and dug in. Macaroni and cheese was world-class comfort food, but noodles and chicken came in a close second to her way of thinking. Since Will had come back to Blackwater Lake, comfort was in short supply. Now here she was sharing a meal with him and feeling decidedly
un
comfortable.

“I can't remember the last time we had dinner together,” she said.

Will took a sip of wine, then his mouth pulled tight. “I'm sorry, April.”

“The thought just popped into my mind. I didn't say that to make you feel bad,” she assured him.

“I know. And yet I do.” He toyed with the stem of his glass, those big hands dwarfing the delicate crystal that had been his mother's. “I should have told you that I was dating someone. It was a lie of omission and I'm not proud of how I handled it.”

April put down her fork and picked up her wine, then took a sip. He was sincerely sorry about what happened and that confused her. The goal was to seduce him and be the one to walk away, but this contrite Will made her question the mission. It was for closure, she reminded herself. That didn't mean she couldn't meet him halfway.

“Look, Will, it takes two to make a relationship. You're not the only one responsible for the way things turned out. If you remember back, communication between us had dropped off by a lot. You're not entirely responsible for that. Phone calls and messages go both ways and I didn't hold up my end of that either.”

“Still, I should have—”

“Let it go. Really. Do whatever you need to in order to work through this because I don't see you as good martyr material.”

“No?” His mouth twitched.

“Let's file it under ‘Not meant to be.' Thinking about that time and wondering what if will drive you crazy.” She shrugged. “We'll never know what might have happened if my mom hadn't gotten sick.”

“I suppose.”

“No supposing,” she said. “It's true. That part of our life is in the past. But this is a new time. Maybe there's a chance to salvage a friendship.”

“I'd like that.” He held up his glass. “To being friends.”

She touched the rim of her glass to his. “Friends.”

They drank, then smiled at each other. She might be a flirting failure but friends was a start. She could work with that.

* * *

Sometimes it was hard for Will to believe he was filling in for his father as the sheriff of Blackwater Lake. Granted it had been less than a week, but that didn't change the fact that he had big shoes to fill. Hank Fletcher had always been his hero and Will wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps. Any law-enforcement job was a big one, but compared to what he'd seen in Chicago, this gig was like maintaining order in the land of Far, Far Away.

The office had one main room with a couple of desks for a single deputy and the dispatcher/clerk. Clarice Mulvaney was in her midfifties, a plump, brown-eyed brunette, friendly and efficient. Deputy Eddie Johnson was Will's height, but skinny. He was barely twenty-one but looked about twelve. Or maybe that was just because Will felt so old. Still the kid was smart and eager to learn.

In the back of the room there was a door that led to two six-by-eight-foot cells, empty at the moment and since this was Tuesday there was a very good chance they would stay that way. Things got a little extra exciting on the weekend when someone was more likely to be drunk and disorderly. Although every day was a weekend now because the official kick-off of summer had been last Saturday. So there was no taking weeknights for granted with tourists all over the place for the next three months.

As acting sheriff, Will took the private office off to the right, which had a closing door. Rank had its privileges.

The phone rang and Clarice answered. “Blackwater Lake Sheriff's Office. This is Clarice.” She listened for a moment then said, “Is everyone all right?” After grabbing a pen, she jotted down notes. “Okay. Sit tight. I'll send someone right away.”

“What's up?” Will asked.

“MVA on Lake Shore Road. Two cars involved.”

Will moved in front of her desk. The sheriff also coordinated fire-department services. “Do we need to roll rescue and paramedics?”

“No. Everyone was out of the cars and there are no apparent injuries. But neither of the vehicles is drivable, so we need to alert McKnight Automotive that there will be either a tow or flatbed truck removal.”

“Okay. Can you take care of that?”

“Sure thing.”

“Eddie,” he said to the blond, blue-eyed deputy. “Take the cruiser out there and evaluate the situation. Talk to everyone involved and make a report. Radio in with your recommendations.”

“Yes, sir.” In a heartbeat the kid was out of his chair and ready to go.

Will held out the keys, and the deputy grabbed them on his way out the door. It didn't escape his notice that the kid's smooth face barely required a shave. Must be a thrill to drive a cop car. If there was another call Will would take his SUV. He stood beside his dispatcher and both of them watched the deputy put on the cruiser's lights before pulling away from the curb. As he'd been trained to do.

Will knew Clarice had worked with his father for over twenty years and was a valued member of the small department. Hank had always said she made him look good. When the resort was completed, the town was going to grow and law enforcement would have to keep up with it. Not his problem, he reminded himself. After the summer he was out of here. But his dad was going to have to deal with it and that would mean more stress. He would need dependable, dedicated employees.

“What do you think of Eddie?” he asked.

Clarice looked thoughtful for a moment. “He's a good kid. Coolheaded, smart, conscientious. Your dad has an eye for talent.” She grinned. “After all, you're here.”

“Not because of talent. It's the training.”

“Could be both,” she said. “And your dad figured Eddie could benefit from your experience and training.”

“While I'm here.” Will didn't want to give the false impression that he was staying for good and put a finer point on her statement.

“One day at a time.” She had a mysterious Zen expression on her face.

“Right.”