Kitabı oku: «The Bachelors of Blackwater Lake»

To Kate Carlisle, Christine Rimmer and Susan Mallery, the best plot group ever. You make it so much fun to play “what if?”

Contents

Cover

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Will Fletcher would rather face an armed felon than have the conversation he was about to have with his ex-girlfriend. But, as the saying went, this town wasn’t big enough for the both of them. For better or worse, this summer he was the acting sheriff in Blackwater Lake and she was a freelance photographer who occasionally did work for the department. She also had a studio on Main Street across from his office.

There was no way he wouldn’t see her and the sooner this confrontation was behind him the better.

He’d been watching the Photography Shop all morning, waiting for her to be alone, and now stood on the sidewalk in front of the sheriff’s office ready to head over. Hesitation was costing him a hell of a lot of time when there was work to do. He looked left, then right before crossing the street. Her window had big, fancy letters telling the establishment’s name, then smaller print in the right hand corner proclaiming April Kennedy, Photographer. There was a list of services in the right corner—Portraits, Family Sittings, Weddings and Special Occasions.

Will stared at the displayed dance-hall girl and gambler forms with cutouts where the tourists put their faces for a fun souvenir picture of a visit to Blackwater Lake, Montana. Technically he was a visitor but definitely not a tourist. Born and raised in this town, he was only here to help out and would go back to being a detective for Chicago PD in three months when his dad, the real sheriff, got a clean bill of health to resume his job.

“Man up, Fletcher,” he muttered. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

She could cry. The thought made him cringe.

He’d seen her do that and it ripped him up. But that was a lot of years ago. He didn’t know whether or not she’d still be angry but the first face-to-face since then was no doubt going to be awkward.

Will braced himself and pushed open the glass door. The bell above it rang as he walked inside. There was no one in the front but a familiar female voice called out, “I’ll be right with you.”

It was cheerful and sweet and the sound echoed inside him, stirring the cobwebs of tucked-away memories. It was impossible not to notice the framed photos displayed on the walls, examples of her skill as a photographer. There were individuals, families, babies. Some were black-and-white portraits, dramatic and really good. There’d always been something about April that people responded to, something that made them relax and allowed the camera to capture a special look or smile. The only black-and-whites he usually saw were cop cars, so this was a pleasant change.

“I’m so sorry I kept you waiting—” April Kennedy came through the open doorway and froze in her tracks when she saw him.

“Hi,” he said.

At one time they’d practically been engaged, but Will felt as if he was seeing her for the first time. Her shiny long brown hair was pulled into a ponytail with wisps coming loose around her face. She was wearing jeans and a purple Photography Shop T-shirt that clung to every sweet curve. Big hazel eyes stared back at him and right now they were more green than brown, which meant she wasn’t happy to see him. He couldn’t blame her.

“Will.”

“You look really good, April.”

“Thanks. So do you.”

“I’m pretty sure you didn’t want to tell me that, so I’ll take it as a compliment.”

“Gotta be honest.” She shrugged.

“And I’ve always liked that about you.”

“I heard you were coming back to Blackwater Lake.”

He didn’t have to ask how she’d heard. April was best friends with his younger sister, Kim. She and her teenage son lived with their dad and Will had moved into his old room for the summer. One big happy family again. The backyard of April’s little house was separated by an alley from his dad’s rear yard. Hank Fletcher had watched over April and her single mom because it was the neighborly thing to do. And, unlike himself, his dad had been there when April’s mom died of breast cancer. The Fletchers had kind of unofficially adopted her, so of course they would warn her that he was coming back.

“The thing is, this is a small town,” he started.

“As opposed to Chicago.” Her voice was as icy as a Windy City blizzard.

“Right. There’s no way we won’t run into each other and I wanted to make sure the first time wasn’t public and uncomfortable for you.”

He’d checked one out of two boxes. This wasn’t public but she had to be as uncomfortable as he was.

“Kim told you to do this.” She wasn’t asking a question.

“My sister mentioned that it would be better if the first time we saw each other it was just the two of us, without a big crowd of people looking on. And talking about it.” Because the only thing folks in Blackwater Lake were better at than being neighborly was gossiping.

“Still, you didn’t have to take her advice. It’s actually very thoughtful of you, Will.” Her tone implied his consideration was unexpected.

Or maybe it just sounded that way because his conscience was passing the words through the guilt filter. Either way, he figured it was a good idea to clear the air. “I don’t think I ever apologized for what happened in Chicago.”

“You mean the time I came to surprise you and a woman answered the door wearing nothing but your shirt?”

“Yeah. That.” He was staring at her mouth, the way she pressed her lips together. It had always made him want to kiss her and unfortunately now was no exception. Normally it was comforting knowing things didn’t change but this wasn’t one of those times.

“You tried to apologize, actually.” She met his gaze directly. “But I wasn’t speaking to you, so that made it kind of hard.”

“Well, let me say it now. I’m sorry for what happened.”

“Let it go, Will. I have. That was a long time ago. It was my idea not to be exclusive when you went to Chicago and entered the police academy. It seemed the right thing to do since I couldn’t go with you and everyone knows long-distance relationships are a challenge. We found out the hard way how true that is. Technically we didn’t have a relationship and it still fell apart.”

Will remembered trying to talk her into going to Chicago with him, but her mom had just been diagnosed. April had never known her dad and wouldn’t abandon the mother who had raised her daughter alone and always put her first. She’d suggested they date other people but keep in touch and after a year reevaluate things between them. He was glad she hadn’t forgotten that.

“I didn’t expect you not to date,” she said. “And you did.”

“For what it’s worth, you were right about everything.”

“Things happen for the best. Water under the bridge. Let bygones be bygones. And any other cliché you can think of to put this behind you.” She shrugged as if it made no difference to her.

“Okay, then.”

Will felt oddly dissatisfied with her response. Maybe the altitude was getting to him. That was the best explanation he could come up with for why he wasn’t completely relieved that she didn’t scream or cry or seem the least bit emotional about what had happened. Or maybe he was simply an egotistical jerk who expected her to still be a little bothered about something he’d done six years ago.

Possibly his reaction was colored by the fact that he’d married the woman wearing nothing but his shirt and it had been a failure. On top of that, he’d always had the nagging feeling that what he’d done to April was the biggest mistake he’d ever made. For a man who hated to fail, doing it twice at the same time didn’t sit very well. And it was kind of annoying that she seemed completely at peace with how things had turned out.

“So, if that’s all—” She cocked a thumb over her shoulder toward the back room, where a camera sat on a tripod.

“Just so you know, I’ll be here until the end of summer while Dad is recuperating from his open-heart surgery.”

“That was a scare.” She put her hand to her chest. The first honest emotion she’d exhibited since he’d walked in. “First the heart attack, then surgery. It was like watching the Rock of Gibraltar crack. Your sister has been his diet-and-exercise drill sergeant ever since he got out of the hospital and started cardiac rehab.”

“Kim is hard to say no to.” He was here talking to April, wasn’t he? “The sheriff has always protected the citizens of his town first and himself a distant second. Maybe he saw God when the doc put him under for the procedure because right after he got out of the hospital he asked me to fill in for him. Then he got the mayor and town council to approve my temporary appointment.”

“It would be just like him to push himself to go back to work too soon. I’m sure your family is glad to have you here.” Her tone said she felt differently. “And a good thing you could take extended leave from your job.”

Maybe the job needed time off from him. Between that and his sister nagging him to not be an ass and do it for Dad, he had decided to take one for team Fletcher. All he was willing to say was, “I have a lot of days on the Chicago PD books.”

“So you’re the sheriff now.” She folded her arms over her chest.

“Acting, but yeah. And I wanted to make sure I can count on you for freelance work when needed.” Sometimes there were multicar accidents that required photos with more detail than an untrained photographer could capture with a cell phone. Insurance companies were funny that way when a settlement was involved. Mug shots were part of the official record.

“Of course I’ll continue the arrangement. It’s important that Hank knows everything will go smoothly in his absence. Just as if he was at the wheel.”

“So you’re doing it for Dad.”

“Absolutely. After you and I didn’t work out, you got what’s-her-name, but I got your family. I’d do anything for them.”

“They’re lucky to have you.”

“No.” She shook her head and her ponytail swung from side to side. “I’m the lucky one.”

The weird feeling in his chest felt a lot like envy. He was jealous of her loyalty to his dad, sister and nephew even though he’d given up any right to her commitment. He might not have cheated officially but it was a betrayal of spirit. And he still didn’t feel as if the air was cleared.

“I should have told you I was dating someone, but I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“And that worked out so well.” She smiled, but it didn’t turn her hazel eyes from green to warm. They went almost chocolaty brown. “Golly, this has been fun, but I have someone coming in for a sitting and need to get things set up.”

“Okay. I didn’t mean to keep you.”

“No problem. I appreciate you stopping by. Now when we run into each other it won’t be awkward at all. See you around, Will.” She turned and walked into the back.

“Bye, April.”

He left her shop and felt like gum on someone’s shoe. Kim had said seeing her would take the heat off, but she couldn’t have been more wrong. The heat was on and it had nothing to do with their history and everything to do with the beautiful, sexy woman April Kennedy still was. And when had she gotten so confident and sassy? So independent?

That was different. She was the same—but different.

Man, it was going to be a long, hot summer.

* * *

April heard a knock on the sliding glass door in her kitchen and hurried to answer it. Kim Fletcher was standing on the back porch and she yanked the other woman inside.

“Thanks for coming. I’m glad you didn’t have plans with Luke.”

“I’d have canceled if I did. You said it was vital that we talk. What’s up?”

Her friend was engaged to be married this summer to another teacher at Blackwater Lake High School, where she worked in the English Department. Luke was the football coach in addition to teaching science. Her son, Tim, played freshman football and approved of the man his mom was going to marry. She’d found her happily-ever-after and April was glad at least one of them had.

“Did anyone at home know you were coming over here?”

Kim gave her a “really?” look. “News flash. My father, brother and son are guys. They don’t pay any attention to me. I could announce that I was going to be a fire eater in the circus and they’d say ‘Have a good time.’ I’m invisible to them.”

“Okay.” With Will in Chicago all this time, April had forgotten how inconvenient it was that her best friend and her ex were siblings. Who now temporarily lived together under the same roof. All she’d thought about was her own personal emergency and made an SOS call to her bestie. “I need to talk to you and the conversation calls for wine.”

“Twist my arm.” Kim held it out. “I promise I won’t say no.”

Kim Fletcher was pretty and for a long time April hadn’t thought about how much she looked like her brother. Same blue eyes and brown hair, although her friend’s was heavily highlighted, making her look more blonde. The thought of manly, masculine Will with highlighted hair almost made her smile.

After April poured Chardonnay into the two wineglasses waiting on the kitchen island, they carried them to the family room and sat on the sofa.

Kim scooted back and tucked her legs up beside her. “You saw Will.”

April sipped her wine then nodded. “I’d say you’re psychic except that he admitted the meeting was your idea. To avoid an awkward, public encounter.”

“You’re welcome,” Kim said.

“Hold it. I’m not on the gratitude train yet.” April had been jittery and uneasy ever since seeing him again. She liked status quo and really wanted it restored but wasn’t quite sure how to stuff all the emotional junk back in the jar. “It might have been better to take my chances. Maybe I wouldn’t have run into him at all.”

“Seriously?” The other woman gave her a you’re-kidding-yourself look. “This town is the size of a postage stamp. The sheriff’s office is right across the street from your shop. He’s living not very far from your back door. If you really believe your paths won’t cross in the three months he’ll be here, you’re in serious denial.”

“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.