Teresa Southwick - How To Land Her Lawman

“Can I ask you something?”

“As long as it has nothing to do with my dad making me feel twelve years old.”

“No.” She laughed. “I don’t know if you heard what one of the boys said. You were herding stray cats.”

“What?” he asked.

“I said the graduated seniors probably didn’t care but I was going to end the passing-the-torch tradition if they didn’t follow my rules. He, Mike, confirmed that he didn’t care and couldn’t wait to get out of this small town, get a taste of the big city.”

“Young and stupid,” Will muttered.

“So you didn’t feel that way when you were around his age?” she asked.

“No, I did.”

“But you just said he’s young and stupid. Do you regret moving to Chicago?”

He was quiet for several moments. “I just meant the big city isn’t just about excitement.” His mouth pulled tight for a second. “In a place with so many people there’s a lot going on, both good and bad. The years give you perspective to see both sides.”

“I guess so.”

April had the oddest sensation of disappointment, as if she’d hoped he would admit he had regrets about leaving Blackwater Lake, and her, behind. And wasn’t that just silliness. It was a reminder of why she was here with him in the first place and romance was definitely not involved.

She’d foolishly believed that she and Will would be together always and deliriously happy. They would have kids and be the family she’d always longed for. He was right about years giving you perspective because she no longer had stars in her eyes. As far as she was concerned the only stars on her radar were in the sky and that’s where they were going to stay. There was no way she would get sucked in to romance again.

Her assignment was to have a fling with Will and this time be the one to end things. High school had been happy because of Will, but now she had to put it, and him, behind her.

It was time for phase two of the plan. “Do you want to stop at Bar None for a drink? I’m buying. Call it a thank-you for your help tonight.”

He didn’t say anything for a few seconds and she braced for rejection. Finally he said, “That sounds good.”

Here goes nothing, she thought. A friendly drink and that was it. She wasn’t going to blow this chance for closure.

* * *

The morning after helping April with her teenage photo shoot Will was still trying to forget how beautiful she’d looked in the moonlight. And how eager he’d been to have a drink with her. There’d been a part of him hoping it would lead to more, but no such luck.

“You didn’t have to come with me to see the doctor, Will.”

“Hmm?” His father’s voice pulled him back to the moment.

“I said, I could have brought myself here to the clinic. You didn’t need to tag along.”

“If I didn’t, you know as well as I do that Kim’s head would explode.”

His dad laughed. He was sitting on the exam table in one of the patient rooms at Mercy Medical Clinic, waiting to see Adam Stone, the family-practice doctor on staff. Adam had consulted with the cardiologist and cardiothoracic surgeon who’d performed the bypass surgery and was now handling the follow-up checks. In fact, he’d stabilized Hank after the initial heart attack, before transport to the medical center in Copper Hill, which was over an hour away.

“Your sister is something of a control freak.”

“That makes it tough when she can’t be in two places at once.” Sitting in a chair against the wall, Will grinned at his dad. “It was either doctor duty or her appointment with the manager at Fireside restaurant to consult on the food for her wedding reception.”

“I’m glad she picked that one,” Hank said. “This wedding is really important to her. And she’s been through a lot of tough times. She’s way past due for a chance at happiness.”

“Yeah.” Will couldn’t agree more.

“The thing is, she would have put wedding prep on hold to come to this appointment with me if you weren’t here, son.” His dad’s gaze was unflinching.

Will did his best not to squirm like a twelve-year-old in the hard plastic chair. Since coming back to Blackwater Lake it seemed guilt was his new best friend. His sister had carried all the family stuff, including being a teenage single mom while going to college and becoming a teacher.

And then there was April and how he’d treated her. At least he’d squared one out of those two guilt trips. She didn’t seem to be holding a grudge about the past. He’d had a great time last night and it seemed as if she had, too. Bygones went bye-bye. She was friendly and, if he didn’t miss his guess, a little flirty.

Since that lightning-rod moment all those years ago when her full mouth and curvy body had grabbed him by the throat, she’d always had the power to get his juices going. As much as he wished that was a bygone, too, it had happened again last night.

But this doctor’s appointment was about giving his sister a break so she could finalize details for her summer wedding.

“I’m happy to help, Dad.” Will really meant that. “And I hope Kim enjoys everything—up to and including her wedding day. She deserves all the good stuff.”

“Who’s holding down the fort while you’re here with me?”

Will had no doubt this was small talk because Sheriff Hank Fletcher still knew exactly what was going on in his jurisdiction. “Clarice and Eddie. They know how to get me if something comes up they can’t handle.”

“What do you think of Eddie? Professional assessment.”

“Hard to tell. I haven’t been here long enough to see him function in a crisis. But he seems bright, eager. He brings a lot of energy.”

Hank nodded. “I thought so, too. Things are going to change when the resort and building development are finished. More people will move here, which is a blessing and curse. We’ll do our best to anticipate potential problem situations but life has a way of throwing the unexpected at you just when you think you’ve got it all figured out.”

Will didn’t miss the sadness in his father’s blue eyes and knew he was thinking about losing his wife in a car accident. He’d come home for the funeral but couldn’t stay long. He had to get back to his job and proving himself to the seasoned veterans in the Chicago Police Department. Or was that just what he’d told himself to shut down the guilt he’d felt for leaving the people he loved?

He and April had hooked up and it was the last time they were together. Considering they’d just buried his mother, it was probably the best and worst night of his life. She had made him forget the pain for a little while.

“It’s good for Eddie to have you here,” Hank said.

“Why?”

“You have a lot of big-city experiences. Blackwater Lake won’t be on that scale, but there’s a lot you can teach him that I can’t.”

“I’m happy to do what I can, Dad, while I’m here. But—”

There was a light knock on the door then it opened and the doctor walked in. In his white lab coat over light blue scrubs, Adam Stone greeted them both and shook hands.

“It’s good to see you, Will.”

“You, too.” They’d met a couple months ago during his dad’s health crisis.

“So, how’s the patient doing?”

“Feeling great, doc.” Hank pulled his T-shirt off as the doctor removed the stethoscope worn draped around his neck.

“Take a deep breath.” Adam pressed the round thing to various places on his dad’s chest and back, carefully listening each time he moved it. “Sounds good. Strong heartbeat and your lungs are clear.”

He carefully inspected the scar on Hank’s chest and nodded approval. “This looks awesome.”

“Chicks dig scars,” Hank joked.