How to Land Her Lawman (11 page)

“I really hope you're not profiling brides,” she teased.

“Not at all. I'm just making a case for having a drawer at your house.”

Her heart skipped and her stomach fluttered, which apparently shut down all the early warning signals from her brain. “I think that can be arranged.”

He grinned. “You just saved my life.”

“And don't you forget it. Let's put those away.” April went into the bedroom and cleared out a space in her dresser for his clothes. Then they went back to the kitchen and she asked, “Do you want some breakfast?”

“I was hoping you'd ask.”

“What would you like?”

“Besides you?” The heated look flashed through his eyes for the second time that morning.

Be still my heart
, she thought. “If eggs aren't okay, we'll be making a trip to the Harvest Café because I don't have much of anything else. Getting supplies in here is quickly becoming a priority. I have to start a list.”

“Do you still make those enchiladas with the green chili sauce?”

She hadn't for a while. Mostly she'd made them for him because he liked it so much. That brought back memories of him coming over when her mom had a girls' night out. April would cook and they loved being alone. It was a preview of what their life together would be like and she'd looked forward to that so much. But it had only ever been a preview, because they never had a life together.

“April?”

“Yes.” She shook off the dark memories and concentrated on right now. He was planning on spending a lot of time here and she would focus on enjoying it. “I can make the enchiladas. Anything else I should put on the list?”

“Not unless you take me with you to lug the bags and chip in for the groceries.”

“Sounds like a deal.”

“I'll clean off the table.” He was looking at the take-out containers and plates still sitting there from last night. “We got a little distracted.”

“I won't tell if you won't.” She met his gaze and grinned, not the least bit sorry that the lingering mess was her fault. The truth was, all things being equal, she would do the same thing again. “I'll make omelets.”

It was really tempting to just stand there and watch him. The play of muscles across his back and shoulders when he worked was mouth-watering. That black Chicago PD T-shirt pulled tight around his biceps could occupy her attention for hours. And don't even get her started on the way his butt looked in those worn jeans.

She'd given him space for some of his clothes and they were going food shopping, splitting the bill. This was one notch below actually formally agreeing to move in together. It felt natural and right, like it should have been the first time.

Better than she'd imagined it could be before she'd found out they wouldn't last forever.

But this time she had a safety net. The relationship had an expiration date and their Labor Day breakup appointment was coming faster than she wanted to think about.

That was a reminder, as if she needed it, that she'd better hold on to her heart with both hands.

Chapter Eleven

“H
oly crap.”

Will looked at the calendar on his desk in his office and whistled. It was already August. Time flew when you were having fun and he definitely was. Days were busy, filled with the routine problems of the summer tourist season when the population in Blackwater Lake doubled. Nights he spent at April's. It had been several weeks since she'd given him a drawer in the dresser and the empty space beside her in the bed.

Mostly they hung out in the middle, wrapped in each other's arms.

Too bad it couldn't last. And looking at the calendar he could see in black-and-white how short his time in town was. And more significantly, his time in her bed. It had been perfect. Had him thinking about things he hadn't for a long time. But they couldn't make it work before and the same issues still stood in the way. If he was being honest there was another one. He'd failed at marriage and taking another chance wasn't high on his list.

He could only make the most of the time he had left. And speaking of that, through his open door he saw April walk into the outer office. They'd ridden into town together this morning because her car was at McKnight Automotive for an oil change. It was just about quitting time for him, so she must have locked up her shop for the day.

Will shut down the computer, grabbed his keys from the desk drawer and walked out of his office, closing the door behind him. He met April in front of Clarice's desk.

“Hi.” He leaned down to kiss her lightly.

“How was your day?” she asked.

Better now
, he thought, but didn't say that out loud.

“Busy.” He looked at his dispatcher, who was observing them and approving of what she saw if he didn't miss his guess. “Just ask Clarice.”

The woman nodded. “A couple of car accidents. Drunk and disorderly on the beach at the lake. Illegal fireworks in a restricted area. Must have been left over from the Fourth.”

“That's not good,” April said. “It's been too long since we had a really soaking rain, and the hills and mountains are pretty dry. The last thing we need is a forest fire.”

“That's for sure,” Clarice agreed. “Dry lightning is dangerous enough. We don't need stupid humans messing up. There was a bad one about twenty years ago that came too close to Blackwater Lake for comfort.”

“I remember.” Will's dad was the sheriff and didn't come home for days because he was setting up detours and keeping curious spectators away for their own safety.

“That was before I moved here.” April met his gaze. “But I came from Southern California and there were some scary fires there.”

“The locals in this town watch out for the flakes who aren't paying attention.” Will didn't say it out loud, but there was no way to prevent some nut job who waited for the perfect set of circumstances—windy weather, motivation, opportunity—and deliberately set a fire. But he'd meant what he said. “Folks are vigilant and pick up the phone if they notice suspicious behavior.”

“They watch out for people in general,” April said. “I'm a perfect example. Your family sure took my mom and me under their wing.”

A couple years after the Kennedys moved in across the alley from him, Will
really
watched April. That old bedroom window of his was a great vantage point to observe the cute little girl who had suddenly grown up and blossomed when he wasn't looking.

Then he'd gone and messed it all up. In a million years he never would have expected to even kiss her again, let alone be invited into her bed. It was a relief to have a plan in place so he didn't hurt her like last time. They were enjoying each other with no strings attached. Although, for reasons he didn't really understand, turning that page on the calendar just now had put a knot in his gut.

“You ready to go?” he asked her.

“Yup. Oh, I almost forgot—” She met his gaze. “I talked to Tom McKnight and the car has to stay there. He noticed the timing belt was slipping and he had to order the part he needs. It could take a couple of days to come in.”

“No problem.”

Will wouldn't put it out there for the nosy woman in front of them to spread around town, but they were going to the same place. Heck, now that he thought about it, Clarice probably already knew that, too. His sister, father and nephew were aware that he wasn't sleeping under the same roof they were. Again he was relieved that there was a plan in place to save April from being pitied by her well-meaning neighbors.

“Let's roll,” he said.

The phone on the dispatcher's desk rang and Clarice picked up. “Blackwater Lake Sheriff's Office, Clarice speaking. How can I help you?” She listened for several moments then frowned. “Where?” After writing something down, she said, “I'll send someone over to check it out.”

“What's going on?” Will asked when she hung up.

“That was Jeannie Waterman. A couple of teenagers are acting suspiciously. In your neighborhood actually.”

“Did she recognize them?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact. Doug Satterfield and Mike Hutak.”

When law enforcement knew your name it wasn't a good thing and he recognized these two. He held out his hand for her notes. “I'll check it out since I'm going that way. See you in the morning.”

“Bye, Clarice. Say hi to your hubby for me,” April said.

“Will do.”

They walked to the rear of the office and went out the back door of the building. Will's SUV was parked right there and he opened the front passenger door for April. After she climbed in, he shut the door and walked around to the driver's side.

He got in, then turned the key in the ignition. “I really hope Jeannie Waterman is overreacting. That it's a couple of boys just hanging out.”

“Me, too.” She flashed a grin. “I feel like a sidekick. Can I be yours?”

“My what now?”

“Come on, Will. Don't be a stick in the mud and go all law enforcement-y on me. Every hero has a person he can count on in a crisis. A sidekick. You have one in Chicago.”

“Yeah. But I call him a partner.”

“Same thing.” There was pleading in her voice. “Please. Don't drop me off. That will cost you precious time.”

He had to admit she was right about that. A minute either way could mean catching these kids—or not. But if they'd really done something wrong, they were probably long gone. “Okay, you can come with me. But stay in the car.”

“It's hard to be an efficient sidekick from the right front seat of a vehicle,” she protested.

“Take it or leave it.”

“You're very bossy,” she said.

In the part of town where Will and April lived the houses fronted well-traveled streets with an alley in back for the garage. Unless these kids were complete idiots, that's where they'd be pulling their crap. So, he drove slowly up and down the back ways near the address Clarice had given him.

“There,” April said, pointing.

Will didn't see anything. Hedges in this area were nice for privacy, but could easily hide mischief in progress. “What did you see?”

“Believe it or not, an egg went flying through the air.” She peered steadily through the front window then pointed again. “There,” she said again.

“Okay. I saw it.” He pulled the SUV to a stop several houses away. “Stay in the car. I mean it.”

He got out quietly, then soundlessly picked his way to the hedge that was almost as tall as he was. He peeked around it and sure enough the teens in question had egged the car in the driveway and were working on the garage door. Parked just two houses down was a beat-up old truck that he knew belonged to the sixteen-year-old Satterfield kid. Hutak didn't have a driver's license yet.

Will walked into the open and stopped in the best place to block their exit if necessary. “Hey, boys.”

They both whirled around and the younger one dropped the cardboard egg carton in the driveway, breaking the few that were left. The two of them looked guilty as sin.

“Don't even think about making a run for it. I know where you live.”

“Are you going to arrest us?” Hutak was skinny, blond and scared.

“Maybe.” Will watched their body language for any sign of running. “You want to tell me why you did this? You got a beef with someone who lives here?”

“Maybe.” Satterfield had black hair and eyes with an attitude to match.

Will didn't miss the fact that the kid threw his own words back at him. “Smart ass.”

He shrugged. “Or maybe we were bored.”

That was probably more like it, Will thought. “Well, before I call your parents, you're going to be busy cleaning up the mess you made.”

“No way—”

Will held up a hand to stop Hutak's protest. He liked these two for the profanity-laced graffiti on the barns, too. “Before your mouth writes checks you can't cash, I've got another question. If I search that truck of yours, Satterfield, am I going to find cans of spray paint?”

The two exchanged another guilty glance. “That's what I thought,” he said. “Seems like you're going to have a lot to do for the rest of the summer painting over the stuff on the barns you vandalized.”

“You can't make us,” Hutak said.

“You're right about that,” Will agreed pleasantly. Behind him he heard the sound of sneakers and figured his “sidekick” had disobeyed orders. “But I can make the alternative to it feel like the lowest level of hell. Now let's get this mess cleaned up before it dries and you're looking at charges.”

He marched the boys to the back door and a woman he didn't know answered. After he calmed her down and explained the boys needed soap, water and rags to undo what they'd done, she was more than happy to oblige and leave him to supervise them.

Satterfield hosed eggshells and slime off the garage and car. “Slave labor is against the law, you know.”

“This is more in the neighborhood of punishment fitting the crime.” Will folded his arms over his chest.

“You're not really going to call my parents, are you?” Hutak was looking pretty sorry for himself. “If you do, I'm never going to get my driver's license. I'm not even going to have time to learn to drive because I'll be grounded for the rest of the summer.”

“Look on the bright side. You'll only be grounded when you're not painting barns,” Will said. He heard laughter from behind him.

“My life is over,” Hutak said to his friend. “I'm never listening to you again.”

“You're such a candy-ass.” But Satterfield didn't sound quite as defiant anymore.

When they'd finished, returned the cleaning supplies and apologized to the woman, Will called the parents. Within ten minutes both sets showed up. None of them gave him any excuses for their sons' behavior. They expressed regret and appreciated him taking the time to teach the kids a lesson, saying they had the situation from here.

After they left he joined April in the SUV. “You didn't stay in the car.”

“In sidekick school you'd flunk out for not backing up the hero.” She didn't look intimidated like the teens. “I was making sure you didn't need help.”

And speaking of help, the parents of those kids had thanked
him
for helping their children. He'd responded that he'd been happy to do it. Just now he realized that was the honest-to-God truth. It was the second time in the past few weeks that he'd found satisfaction in doing his job.

He shouldn't get used to the feeling. Since he'd arrived, he never missed an opportunity to remind people his status was temporary.

His sidekick was temporary, too, besides being a whole lot cuter than his partner in Chicago. And wasn't that a bitch and a half.

* * *

Will wasn't quite sure how his dad had talked him into going fishing on his day off, but here they were at the Blackwater Lake Marina. He parked his SUV in the paved lot and they both got out. Just up the small rise he saw the house where the previous owner had added on an upstairs apartment to rent out. Jack Garner owned the whole property now and word was he used one unit for an office and lived in the other one. Just then the bestselling author walked out the front door following after the ugliest dog Will had ever seen.

Jack glanced over, lifted a hand in greeting, then headed in their direction. He stopped in front of them and shook hands. “How are you, Hank?”

“Better. Best shape of my life according to my daughter.” He bent to pet the dog's homely, hairy head. “What kind of dog is this?”

“Chinese crested. Harley, say hello.” He grinned when the dog barked.

Will stared at the skinny creature that was hairless, except for his head, tail and paws. “Seems...good-natured.”

Jack met his gaze and there was something just shy of warning in his dark eyes. “That's like telling a woman she has a good personality. I know he's not the handsomest canine in the kennel, but he picked me out. And I wasn't even looking for a dog.” Harley took off. “We're finished being neighborly. Gotta go.”

“The writer doesn't waste words.” His dad watched Jack follow his dog around the lake.

“I guess you've met him before,” Will said.

“Yeah. In town. Never met the dog, though.” He shook his head. “Let's go fishing.”

They walked up a couple of steps and into the marina store. Brewster Smith was putting Summer Clearance signs on the racks of T-shirts, tank tops, bathing suits and lightweight jackets. Will didn't much appreciate the reminder that summer was quickly coming to an end.

It meant saying goodbye to April and he was nowhere near ready to do that. She was sunlight and magic and heat. Chicago winter was gray and dark and cold. Who wouldn't want to stay here longer?

“How are you, Brew?” Hank greeted the other man.

“Dandy, thanks. You're looking fit as a dang fiddle.” He checked Hank out from head to toe. “Recuperation agrees with you.”