How to Land Her Lawman (6 page)

He walked over and shook hands with the man, who stood up. “Been a long time, Cabot.”

“Yeah.” He indicated the pretty woman beside him with the light brown, sun-streaked hair. “This is my wife, Katrina Scott.”

“It's Kate Dixon now.” She smiled. “Nice to meet you, Sheriff.”

“Will,” he said. Pieces of stories he'd heard fit together. “You're the woman who showed up at the Grizzly Bear Diner in a wedding dress.”

“Guilty. I don't suppose I'm ever going to live that down,” she said, not looking the least bit bothered.

“Probably not,” Will agreed. “It's one of those legends that will be passed on from generation to generation and immortalized with a hammer and chisel on cave walls.”

“I was sort of hoping for a Facebook fan page,” she teased.

“She's the best thing that ever happened to me.” Cabot put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in closer to him. “Other than Tyler, of course.”

“How old is your son now?”

“Going on ten. He's over there.” Cabot pointed to a group of boys in an open grassy area playing soccer. “I heard you were the new sheriff in town.”

“
Acting
sheriff. It's temporary.” No matter how much his dad might want him to be permanent.

His friend looked around the idyllic
setting. “This must be really different from Chicago. Will is a detective with CPD,” he explained to his wife.

“It's the polar opposite of what I'm used to,” Will agreed.

“Must be boring here,” Cabot guessed.

“Excitement can be highly overrated.” He shrugged. “I keep busy. Today alone I've confiscated enough illegal fireworks to take out a good-sized city.”

“Teenagers?”

“Of course.” He grinned and his friend returned it. “We did our share of that when we were their age.”

“And your dad always caught us.”

“Every year,” Will confirmed.

“You guys tried it more than once?” Kate's blue eyes went wide.

“It was worth a shot,” Will and Cabot said together.

“Men.” She shook her head. “They get bigger but never stop being little boys.”

“It's basic training,” her husband explained, brown eyes teasing. “When Ty gets to be a teenager, he won't be able to get away with anything because I've done it all.”

“My nephew complains about that. And he's living with two cops. He'll have to be twice as good as we were to be even half as bad.”

“If they're going to pull stuff, and they are,” Cabot said, “at least there's a lot less trouble to get into here in Blackwater Lake.”

He and Kim had turned out okay and her son was doing great, Will thought. “I suppose it's a good place to raise kids.”

“Sure hope so.” Cabot looked at his wife who nodded slightly. “Just found out we're having another one.”

“Congratulations.” Will shook the other man's hand again. He saw the expression of pleasure, pride and excitement on his friend's face and felt a stab of envy.

“We're very excited,” Kate said. “Ty is going to be a wonderful big brother. Although he's very vocal about not wanting a sister.”

“I know how he feels. Mine's been a pain in the neck since she was born,” Will teased.

“You don't mean that,” she said.

“You're right. Kim is the best and that reminds me. Her son is fourteen and I need to make sure he's not doing what Cabot and I would have been doing at his age.”

Cabot laughed. “Good luck with that. It was really great to see you again.”

“You, too.”

Will walked away and found his nephew shooting hoops with some friends while a group of teenage girls watched. Judging by the hormone-drenched looks going back and forth between Tim and one of the young ladies, the talk Will had promised to have with the kid should happen pretty soon, he thought.

Keeping his eyes and ears open, he moved through the crowd, saying hello to old friends and being introduced to recently relocated residents. Learning what was going on. Sydney McKnight was engaged to Burke Holden, who was involved in building the new resort up on the mountain. His cousin and business partner, Sloan, was engaged to widow Maggie Potter. Her brother, computer millionaire Brady O'Keefe, had married his executive assistant.

Envy hit him again, smacked right into him like a bug on a windshield. Perspective was a funny thing. He'd run to something for his career and somehow felt as if he'd been left behind. He figured that feeling was as temporary as filling in for the sheriff.

Keep moving
, he thought, making another circuit through the park. He was nearing the parking lot and saw the fire department's red hook-and-ladder truck parked there. In preparation for the holiday, he'd coordinated with fire and rescue to mobilize for the community celebration in the park. There was always a chance that Will would miss confiscating some banned fireworks and they could escalate into a big blaze during the dry summer months. Or someone shooting them off could get hurt.

Walking closer, he saw the fire captain he'd worked with. Desmond Parker. Nice guy who'd been recruited from Lake Tahoe, California, to expand the department as necessary to deal with the resort development.

He looked closer and saw that Des was chatting up a woman in a familiar red-striped, spaghetti-strapped knit top and denim shorts. It was April and she was smiling. Worse, she was looking at the guy the way she'd looked at Will when they were at Bar None, as if she was having a good time.

That started a slow burn in his gut and no high-powered fire hose was going to put it out.

Will stepped off the curb, onto the parking lot asphalt, and walked over to them. “April.”

She looked pleased to see him just before her expression shifted into neutral, as if she'd caught herself and dialed down the reaction. “Hi, Will.”

He held out his hand to Des. “Good to see you.”

“Happy Fourth.”

“You two know each other?” April looked at him, then the other man.

“We met at a community preparedness planning meeting,” Des explained.

“Oh. Right,” she answered. “Of course you would.

Will was no expert on what women found attractive in a guy, but he could see where this particular one could appeal. He was tall, blue eyed and sandy haired with a strong jaw and muscular build. Then there was the dark blue pants and shirt making up the uniform. He knew from personal experience that women liked the uniform.

And damn it. He hadn't sized up a guy like this since... Hell, ever. Even worse, he actually liked Des Parker. He was a stand-up guy and knew his job, but the thought of April with him was infuriating. Will knew why. He was jealous.

“How's it going?” Will asked him.

“So far, so good. On your end?”

“Quiet. I've got a lot of unauthorized pyrotechnics in the trunk of the cruiser. I'll turn them over to you tomorrow.”

Des grinned. “The guys and I will have fun getting rid of them.”

Will knew they were going to shoot them off. The difference was firefighters knew how to take the necessary precautions and do it safely. He couldn't stop a reluctant smile. “I'm sure you will.”

Des looked at his watch. “Speaking of shooting off fireworks, I have to go. We're staging for the town's display now.”

“Let me know if you need any help,” he offered.

“Will do.”

“Thanks for letting me get some photos of you with the truck, Des.”

“Anytime.” The other man smiled at April. “I'll call you.”

“Okay.”

Watching the man walk away, Will wished there was some town ordinance prohibiting a guy he actually liked from hitting on another guy's ex-girlfriend. But if that was the case, the sheriff's department would need a lot more deputies.

Alone at last, he thought, looking at April. Was he the only one who felt something simmering between them? Detectives were trained and on-the-job experience sharpened gut instinct about people. He didn't think she was disinterested and it was time to find out if he was right.

“You've been busy today. Taking pictures, I mean.”

“Yeah. People enjoy seeing themselves in the paper.” She glanced at the crowd in the park. “I should go set up to get some pictures of the fireworks.”

“Before you go, there's something I'd like to ask you.” Will realized he was nervous. He hadn't been nervous asking a woman out since he was a little older than his nephew.

“Yes?”

“We could both use some R & R after a busy day. I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me tomorrow night.”

She looked at him for several moments. “It's very nice of you to ask. But I don't think so.”

“Okay.” He was about to ask for an explanation, but she turned away.

“I have to go.”

Will stared at the sway of her hips as she walked toward where the whole town was gathered. Well, slap him silly if that didn't make him hotter than a sparkler even though she'd just rejected him.

Women, he thought, were beyond the understanding of mortal men. Detective skills were not useful in unraveling the mysteries of a woman's mind and that was damned unfair.

Chapter Six

“W
hat's all this crap?” Will had just rolled out of bed and headed downstairs for coffee. Now he stared at the mound of files and paperwork that covered every square inch of the kitchen table. He gave his sister, who was sitting in front of it, a patented Chicago PD glare.

She didn't look the least bit intimidated. “This, dear brother, is my wedding. Files for every phase from reception menu to flowers. Receipts, invoices and samples that combined will make it a perfect day.”

He was not in the mood for perfect anything, especially a wedding. Yesterday April had turned him down flat. It wasn't ego talking. Okay, maybe a little. But more troubling was that he might be losing his edge. He couldn't believe he'd read her so completely wrong.

Leaning his back against a counter with his arms folded over his chest, Will wasn't ready to let this drop. “How is a guy supposed to sit at the table and eat breakfast? And forget about opening a newspaper to read.”

“Stand up and eat cereal the way you usually do,” she snapped back.

There was nothing she could do to make him admit she was right about his normal pattern. “What about the other people in this house who might want to sit down to a leisurely meal?”

“Dad went somewhere with Josie. And Tim isn't up yet.” She glared right back at him. “You're certainly in a mood.”

“This isn't a mood. This is an attempt to stand up for male freedom and equality in this house. We have a right to use the table. The good of the many outweighs the good of the one.”

“Oh, for Pete's sake. This won't be forever. Just a few more weeks then I'll be out of your hair.”

“It won't matter then. I'm going back to Chicago right after that.” Without getting a chance to spend time with April. That realization did not improve his mood.

“What's wrong?” Kim studied him intently.

“Nothing.”

“Come on. This is me. Does your mood have anything to do with April?”

His gaze snapped to hers. “Why?”

“That was just a shot in the dark but I obviously got it right.” Her eyes narrowed on him. “You asked her out and she said no.”

“She told you.”

“No. I swear.”

His people radar was malfunctioning and he couldn't be sure, but she looked just a little too innocently sincere. “She must have said something to you.”

“I haven't seen her since yesterday at the town picnic in the park,” Kim vowed.

“She could have called. You two are BFFs. You tell each other everything.”

“Yes. But this is breaking news. She didn't tell me she shut you down.”

He winced. “Way to make me feel better.”

“I'm sorry, Will.”

“Go ahead and say I told you so.” Kim had also told him he had nothing to lose by asking but it didn't feel that way right now.

“I would never do that. Not when you're so upset.”

“I'm not upset. Why would I be? It's no big deal. April and I are friends and I thought it would be a good idea to hang out. She didn't want to. I'm over it.”

“Epic shutdown, Uncle Will.” Tim walked into the kitchen wearing a gray T-shirt displaying in black letters
Blackwater Lake High School Football
. His hair was sticking up and there was enough stubble on his jaw to prove he was closer to fifteen than fourteen. Clearly he'd overheard that April had said no. And now he was staring at the table where his mom was sitting. “What's all this crap?”

“That does it.” Kim gave them both the hairy eyeball, then let her hostile gaze rest on Will. “You barely know your nephew. Take him and go do something.”

“Are you throwing me out?” Will asked.

“Look at it as an opportunity to bond.”

Tim backed away. “I think we better do what she says, Uncle Will, or her eyes will turn red and her head might explode.”

“Yeah, kid. Sounds like a plan.”

Looking like two rejects from a suspect lineup, they left the house. After stopping at the Grizzly Bear Diner for take-out breakfast sandwiches, Will drove out to the Blackwater Lake Marina.

“Do you like fishing?” he asked his nephew.

“It's okay.”

“Let's rent some gear at the marina store.”

“Cool.”

They walked in and looked around. There were circular racks of T-shirts and lightweight outerwear. A cold case against the wall was packed with soda and water with a display case of chips and snacks beside it. Another wall held fishing equipment from poles to lures. Will recognized Brewster Smith standing behind the cash register at the checkout counter. The man had worked there as long as he could remember.

“Hey, Brew.”

“Will Fletcher.” This guy was close to sixty if he hadn't already rung that bell. He had a full silver beard and a head of hair to match. “I was wondering how long it would take you to get out here. Heard you were back.”

“Temporarily. Are you ever going to quit this job?”

“Nope.”

“I'm sure Jill Beck appreciates your loyalty.”

“Don't work for her anymore. And she's Jill Stone now. She married a doctor from Mercy Medical Clinic and had a baby girl. They sold the property, marina and all, to a famous writer fella and built a big house in that fancy development overlooking the lake.”

“Who's the writer?”

“Jack Garner.”

“No kidding?” Will had read his book
High-Value Target.
It was a big hit. Spent months at the top of the bestseller lists.

“Yeah, but I don't see him around much. He keeps to himself.”

“Must be working on the next book.”

“I guess.” Brew grinned at Tim. “Hey there, young fella. Been a while since I've seen you out here with your grandpa. How's he doing?”

“Good. Thanks for asking, Mr. Smith.”

“Glad to hear it.” The older man rested his hands on the counter and looked at them. “What can I do for you?”

“Do you still rent fishing gear?” Will asked.

“Sure do. I'll fix you fellas right up.”

The man was as good as his word and fifteen minutes later they had set up at the lake's edge and were sitting side by side in folding chairs that had holders for their fishing poles while waiting for a fish to bite. Their lines were in the water. The sky overhead was a perfect shade of blue and the sun was shining. Uncle and nephew ate their breakfast in silence.

Will figured he was the adult and it was up to him to break the silence that was growing more awkward by the second. When nothing that wasn't lame came to mind he realized two things. First, Kim was right about him not knowing his nephew. Second, the only kids Will had contact with were in trouble with the law. If Tim had been caught stealing or with an illegal weapon he would have plenty to say to him. But he was a good kid.

He looked over. “Are you sure you don't want a soda?”

“No. I'm good. Mom doesn't like me drinking too much of it.”

“Right. Good call.” Will had been amused earlier that the kid had the same reaction to her pile of wedding stuff on the table as he did. That sparked a conversation topic. “What do you think about her getting married?”

“It's cool.”

Will waited for more and when it didn't come, he asked, “So you like Luke?”

“I sort of fixed her up with him. He's the football coach and I'm on the team.”

“Don't they both teach at the school?”

“Yeah. But nothing happened until she started picking me up from practice. I hung out in the locker room longer than I needed to and they started talking.” He shrugged his thin shoulders. “The rest is history.”

“But you like him?”

“He's a pretty cool guy.”

“I'm glad to hear it.”

Another awkward silence fell. This was not a good time to remember that he'd promised Kim he would have
that
conversation with her son.
Here goes nothing
, he thought.

“You're a pretty good basketball player.”

“Thanks. How do you—” Then the light went on. “At the park yesterday.”

“Yeah. I saw you in that pick-up game. There were some girls watching. One of them was a cute redhead and she had her eye on you.”

Tim didn't look over but his face turned as red as that girl's hair. “Lexie.”

“Do you like her?”

“She's okay.”

The kid's body language elaborated. There was so much tension he looked ready to snap like a twig.

“I think you like her a lot,” Will said. “Have you kissed her?” There was no answer and that was answer enough. “Do you have any questions about anything?”

“Such as?”

“What happens after kissing?”

Tim shook his head. “I know about that.”

“What about birth control?” Will figured this would be quicker and easier on both of them if he was more specific. “Condoms.”

“What you're saying is that I shouldn't put a girl in the same situation as my mom was with me.” His voice was tinged with hostility and a bit of resentment thrown in.

“Yeah. That's what I'm saying.” This kid was smart and would know if Will wasn't being completely honest and up front with him. “Just because your mom was young, that doesn't mean she doesn't love you more than anything in the world. I know for a fact she does.”

“Yeah. She tells me all the time.” He looked over. “And the guy who got her that way ran out on her. And me. He left town and disappeared.”

“He did.” The rat bastard. But letting his nephew know how ticked off he still was wouldn't help. And he didn't make the same offer he had to his sister to use his detective skills and find him. Will didn't want to put ideas into the kid's head. If he came up with it himself and Kim was on board he would do everything possible to find said rat bastard.

“The thing is, Tim, you and your mom were better off without a guy who would leave like that. And you're lucky. You have family who love you. And that's the most important thing.”

“I guess.”

“So, if you need condoms...” Will stopped until the boy looked at him. “There are a lot of people for you to turn to. Your mom. But I know that would be weird. Granddad. Luke. Me.”

“Okay. Got it.”

“Good.”

“Can I ask you something, Uncle Will?”

“Sure. Anything.” But he braced himself.

“What's the deal with you and April?” Tim glanced over and there was a definite protective expression on his freckled face.

“That's a good question. I wish I knew the answer.”

“So you don't know why she turned you down when you asked her out?”

“Nope.” Will stuffed the paper their breakfast had been wrapped in back into the bag.

“Well, I like her,” the boy said. “And you keep telling everyone that you're only here in town temporarily while Granddad recovers from his surgery. And you said me and my mom are better off without a guy who would walk out on us.”

“That's right.” It was a good thing he'd braced himself. Will had a feeling he wasn't going to like what came next.

“Maybe if you're not staying you should just leave April alone.”

“That would probably be the wisest course of action,” Will admitted.

“So, are you going to back off?” Tim asked.

“Can't lie to you, son. I'm not sure.”

Because he had a problem. April's rejection made him want to see her even more. Did that make
him
a rat bastard?

* * *

After a long day at work, Will walked into Bar None for a beer. It was crowded, apparently the happening place on a summer evening in Blackwater Lake. But, like a heat-seeking missile, his gaze went to a bistro table in the far corner where his sister was having a glass of wine with April. Both women acknowledged him, but April smiled and waved as if she hadn't rejected his dinner invitation a couple nights ago on the Fourth of July. Then she turned her attention back to Kim, clearly shutting him out.

So he headed for the bar and took the only empty stool, which, as luck would have it, afforded an unobstructed view of that corner bistro table where April was pretending she hadn't been acting weird.

Delanie Carlson, the owner of the bar, walked over. The curvy redhead was somewhere in her twenties and had inherited the place from her father. “Hey, Sheriff. How are you?”

“Good.” Maybe. He glanced over at April, who was still not looking at him. Forcing a smile, he asked, “You?”

“Oh, you know. Can't complain.”

“Looks like business is booming.”

“Yeah.” Her blue eyes darkened a little as she scanned the place. “What can I get for you?”

“Beer.”

“Bottle or tap?”

“Bottle.”

“Anything to eat?” When he shook his head, she said, “Okay. One beer coming right up.” She walked over to a refrigerator under the bar and pulled out a long-neck bottle. After twisting off the cap, she set it on a napkin in front of him. “Enjoy.”

“Thanks.” Will didn't want to but couldn't stop himself from looking at April again. If only he could stop dreaming about her, dreams so hot his sheets were practically smoking. He needed a distraction and Delanie was busy.

He glanced at the guy sitting beside him, who was also sipping a beer. Will had never seen him before. “You a tourist?”

“No.”

“New in town?”

“Not that new.” There was a blank expression on the newcomer's face before he resumed staring at the bottle of beer in front of him.

Will sized him up. He was fit and rugged looking, roughly two hundred pounds with black hair and blue eyes. There was a tattoo on his forearm.

He was starting to get a complex. First April rejected him and now this joker didn't want to talk. It was strictly stubbornness and bad temper that made him pursue this line of questioning. “How long have you been here?”