The Bachelors of Blackwater Lake

“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

April 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 uncomfortable.

“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.”

He was looking out the window and saw the door to the Photography Shop open and April walked out. She turned and locked up, then crossed the street and headed toward the sheriff’s office. It was possible she was going somewhere else, but he hoped not. The sight of her lifted his spirits just like she’d done last night when he found her on his porch with a casserole in her hands. It wasn’t fancy food but turned out to be the best dinner he’d had in a long time.

That had little to do with the cooking and everything to do with the company. Like every situation, he analyzed it and figured he’d enjoyed the evening because any lingering guilt about hurting her was gone. There were other things that kept him up at night but not her. At least not guilt about her, because he’d lost some sleep wondering if her mouth still tasted as sweet as he remembered.

April walked into the office and saw him standing by the dispatch desk. “Hi.”

“Hey.”

She looked at the older woman. “Hi, Clarice. How’s the family?”

“Everyone is doing great.”

“Are you a grandmother yet?” April asked.

“Sandy’s due after Labor Day.”

“I didn’t know you were going to be a grandmother,” Will said.

“Because you never asked.” Her tone was only marginally disapproving. “She and her husband live in California, a suburb of LA. He’s an attorney for a big law firm there. Sandy works at a preschool, at least until the baby’s born.”

“Congratulations,” he said.

“Thanks, boss. By the way, I’ll need some time off after she gives birth.”

“My father will be back then. I’m sure he already has you covered and it won’t be a problem.” Then Will remembered she had a son, too. What was that kid’s name? Oh, yeah. “How’s Mark?”

“Good. I’m surprised you remembered his name.” She hadn’t missed the slight hesitation. “He’s getting a doctorate in marine science from the University of Miami.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah. A nerd like his dad.”

Will knew her husband taught chemistry at the junior college located about twenty-five miles from Blackwater Lake. Where April had gone to school. Damned if even after all this time he didn’t still feel a twinge remembering that she hadn’t gone with him to Chicago.

Will looked at her now. “So, April, how can we help you? Are you here to report a crime?”

She laughed. “More like crime prevention.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. Would you mind if we talked in your office?” The words were for him, but April gave Clarice a shrug that was part apology, part I-know-you-understand.

“I’ve got work to do,” the dispatcher said.

“Okay. In my office, then.” He turned and headed in that direction with April behind him. When they walked in the room he asked, “Do you want me to close the door?”

“Not necessary. I just wanted a little privacy for this conversation.”

“Okay.” He indicated the two chairs in front of the desk. “Have a seat.”

“Thanks.” She sat down and the wattage on her smile was probably visible from space. Plus she was doing that weird thing with her eyes again. “I could use your help.”

“With what?”

“Crowd control. More specifically teenage make-out prevention.”

“A little more information would be really helpful.”

“Yeah. Sorry.” She laughed again, but the sound seemed more nervous than anything else. “Every year just after school gets out the high school kids get together in that open field a half mile from the high school. The seniors who ruled the school pass on the power, symbolically of course, to the juniors, who are now incoming seniors.”

“Okay. But why do you need official backup?”

“That’s the thing. It’s not official, not technically a school function, so no chaperones are required. But these are teenagers and extra surveillance is the smart way to go.”

“Why are you doing the asking?” Apparently his guilt wasn’t completely gone because there was a part of him surprised that she would request anything from him.

“I take pictures that always make their way into the yearbook. It’s an annual thing they do. Every year.” She cringed. “I already said that, didn’t I?”

“Yeah.”

“The thing is, I don’t want any of them having sex on my watch.”

“I guess not.” He couldn’t stop a small smile.

“Glad you think this is funny.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do,” she challenged.

“Maybe a little.” He shrugged.

“Come on, Will, be serious. These kids are drowning in hormones and they’re sneaky.”

He remembered. Partly because there was something about April that made him feel like a randy teenager again. The reaction could have been because she mentioned making out and sex, but he didn’t think so. It was all her. The playful ponytail, curves that had grown curvier with time and a mouth that would drive a saint insane.

“What time is this photo shoot?”

“Tonight. Eight o’clock. I know what you’re thinking,” she said.

“I don’t think you do.”

“You’d be wrong. You’re thinking that it would be better to schedule this earlier in the evening before the sun goes down.” She shook her head and pressed those plump lips together. Then she seemed to remember something and forced a big smile, followed by some eyelash batting. “The problem is that a lot of the kids have summer jobs and aren’t available earlier. Not to mention that I have a business and later is better.”

She was wrong. That wasn’t what he’d been thinking. His thoughts ran more along the lines of finding a secluded place to get her alone in the dark. “I see.”

“I thought you would.” Her eyes took on a pleading expression. “So, can I count on you?”

Will was conflicted about what to do. He didn’t want to turn her down. This behavior of hers was surprising. First dinner last night and now a request for assistance today. She smiled a lot and did that weird thing with her eyes, which he didn’t recall, but they’d toasted to friendship last night. And today she’d voluntarily come to see him and ask for assistance.

On the flip side, it probably wasn’t a good idea to be out with her after dark, what with his mind going randy teenager on him. Still, the kids would be around and that would cool his temptation. Friends helped each other out.

“Okay. I’ll give you a hand.”

“Thanks, Will.” She smiled again, but it was the first natural one since walking into his office. And it was a stunner.

He really hoped this wasn’t a mistake.

Chapter Three

It was a beautiful night for taking pictures. April had her digital SLR camera on a tripod set up in the meadow and was snapping pictures of the outgoing senior class student-body officers passing a plastic toy torch. Someone held up a handmade sign that said “Class of 2017—we rule the school!” She stopped and scrolled through the images, then adjusted the shutter speed in order to make the shots clearer while allowing for the light from a full moon.

And speaking of that... She counted heads for the umpteenth time. There were supposed to be ten and she tallied eight. “Where did Trevor and Kate go?”

She looked at the group of teens and every single one looked guilty as sin. “Come on. You know my rules. No getting frisky and pairing off during this shoot. I know the seniors who just graduated don’t care. But listen up seniors-to-be, if you want me to take pictures next year you’ll tell me where they went. Otherwise this tradition will just be a sad memory.”

April looked at them and they stared back at her without speaking. “Anyone? Now would be a good time to speak up. You really want to spoil the fun for the other classes coming up behind you?”

“You’re right. We don’t care.” That was Mike Espy, a good-looking football player who’d received a football scholarship to the University of California, Los Angeles. “I can’t wait to get out of this two-bit nowhere town. It’s big-city excitement for me.”

“Oh, don’t be such a jerk.” Patty Carnegie, a pretty blonde cheerleader who was looking forward to senior year and being captain of the squad, gave him a withering look. Then she met April’s gaze. “They took a walk.”

Red alert. That was code for finding a place to be alone and unleash all the teenage hormones raging through them. Will was out there somewhere. She knew because they’d come here together in his SUV. Part of her had expected him to back out, but he’d been right on time.

She wondered if he’d felt the same way Mike did about not being able to shake the dust of Blackwater Lake off his shoes fast enough. That didn’t really matter now, though. She had two unaccounted-for teenagers who could be getting into trouble on her watch.

“Look who I found wandering around in the woods.” And there was Will, walking the two wayward kids back to the group.

There was a lot of good-natured hooting and hollering but Trevor and Kate looked unrepentant. “We had to try,” he said.