How to Land Her Lawman by Teresa Southwick Read Free Book Online Page B

was even better looking than when she’d loved him.
    â€œTry to keep up,” she said and increased her speed.
    Will stayed right with her and it was easy for him because his legs were muscular and so much longer than hers. If he wanted to, he could leave her in the dust. But he didn’t, so it wasn’t a stretch to assume he didn’t mind her company. She would go with that working theory.
    â€œHow’s your dad?” She happened to look over at him and saw his mouth pull tight. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œHe’s fine.” With the baseball hat and aviator sunglasses it was impossible to read his expression. “Had a checkup the other day and doc says he’s the poster boy for how to recover from a heart attack.”
    â€œOh, good. You scared me there for a minute.” That was a relief. Hank Fletcher was the father she’d never had. “It’s just that you had a weird look on your face and I went to the bad place.”
    â€œSorry. Didn’t mean to send you there. Dad passed everything with flying colors. Doc even said if he keeps up the good work he’ll get the green light to go back to the job at the end of summer.”
    â€œThat’s great.” Then she noticed the muscle in his jaw flex and wondered what he was leaving out. “So why do you look like someone disconnected the siren on your cop car?”
    He met her gaze and one corner of his mouth quirked up. “Because someone disconnected the siren on my cop car.”
    â€œOkay. Roger that. You don’t want to talk about it.”
    April remembered a time when he told her everything, but obviously things had changed. It shouldn’t bother her that he no longer confided in her. The fact that it did even a little was evidence that getting closure was the right way to go.
    For about a mile they ran without talking. Then Will broke the silence. “How’s business?”
    â€œGood. Summer tourist traffic in the shop is up significantly from last year. Plus weddings keep me busy. ’Tis the season for them.”
    â€œAre you taking the pictures when my sister gets married?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œBut you’re her best friend. Who’s going to be her maid of honor?” Will asked.
    â€œI don’t think she’s having one.” She and Kim had sort of danced around this. If her friend had chosen someone else April would know. “I’m doing the bridal shower and everything the MOH is supposed to do before the actual ceremony. I’ll just be too busy commemorating the important moments for posterity to actually take part in the important moments.”
    As they finished the loop around Blackwater Lake Elementary and headed back, Will asked, “Does it ever bother you to miss out on stuff because you’re documenting memories?”
    â€œI love what I do.” If she missed out it wasn’t because of taking pictures. People left her. Her father did before she ever knew him. Her mom died. Will... He found someone else.
    â€œNow you’re the one with a weird look on your face.”
    As their feet hit the asphalt in a rhythmic sound she glanced over, annoyed again. This time because he still knew her well enough to know when something bothered her.
    â€œI have cramps,” she said.
    â€œDo you want to slow down? Walk the rest of the way?”
    â€œNo.” She kicked up her speed again, enough that it kept them from talking.
    April had done this route so many times she knew to start slowing down at the intersection of Deer Springs and Spruce. By the time they got back she was walking and stopped at the edge of her grass to stretch her muscles so she didn’t really get cramps. Instead of saying goodbye, Will did his postrun stretching alongside her.
    Again she couldn’t help noticing how masculine he looked, his T-shirt showing darker spots around his neck and arms from the sweat. And, doggone it, that was