Free How to Land Her Lawman by Teresa Southwick Page A

up.”
    â€œOkay,” April said when the young woman was gone. “How do you know he’s going to ask me out?”
    â€œHe told me. Practically.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?” This felt a lot like junior high, but April couldn’t seem to shut off the need for details.
    â€œHe was asking questions. Like are you dating anyone. And I said of course you were since you’re gorgeous and smart.” Kim took a breath. “Then he put a finer point on it and wanted to know if you were exclusive with anyone, so I told him about Jean Luc, your winter-ski-instructor-lover. Same-time-next-year sort of thing.”
    â€œThere is no Jean Luc.”
    â€œHe doesn’t know that.” Kim’s grin was wicked. “He didn’t look happy.”
    Was it wrong, April wondered, that inside she was pumping her arm in a gesture of triumph? “Then what?”
    â€œHe asked what I thought about him inviting you to dinner.”
    â€œAnd you said?” April held her breath.
    â€œI told him you probably wouldn’t be interested, but he had nothing to lose by asking.”
    â€œYou didn’t.” Of course she was interested.
    â€œYes, I did. You don’t have to thank me.”
    â€œGood, because I wasn’t planning to. What if I am interested?”
    â€œOf course you are. That’s what this plan is all about in the first place.” Kim stopped when the waitress brought a tray with their salads and drinks, then set everything on the table.
    â€œAnything else I can get you?”
    â€œJust the check,” Kim said.
    â€œYou got it.”
    April picked up her fork. “So you don’t really know if he’s going to ask.”
    â€œOh, he is,” her friend said confidently. “And when he does, you need to play hard to get.”
    â€œWait a minute. Isn’t this the goal?”
    â€œWell, sleeping with him is the goal, but this is a start. But it shouldn’t be too easy. Not only would that make him suspicious, men never appreciate anything they didn’t have to work for.” Kim took a bite of her salad.
    â€œI don’t know,” April said. “And I already asked him to go for a drink after he helped me out.”
    â€œThat doesn’t count. And this way you’ll keep him guessing. Trust me, sweetie. The end will be much more satisfying if you string him along just a little.”
    â€œLook, Kim, you know me better than anyone. You know I don’t play games.” She pushed the greens topped with dried cranberry, egg, bacon, blue cheese crumbles and avocado around the bowl. “The thing is I want to go out with him. Pretending makes me uncomfortable. Don’t you think it’s time to just be up front with Will?”
    â€œAbsolutely not.” Kim gave her a don’t-you-dare look. “Remember why you’re doing this in the first place. If you play this my way, everyone in Blackwater Lake will be talking about you and Will.”
    â€œBut we had our chance and it wasn’t meant to be,” April protested.
    â€œDid I say anything about my brother proposing?” She shook her head. “I did not. This is all about you moving on. That’s going to happen when you get a chance to tell Will that you’re not into him. Do you trust me, April?”
    â€œOf course I do. You’re the sister I never had. I know you wouldn’t steer me wrong.”
    â€œDarn straight.” Kim smiled. “This is going to work. I just know it.”
    April hoped she was right. She wanted to put Will Fletcher behind her before he went back to Chicago and put Blackwater Lake behind him.
    * * *
    Will had forgotten what a Blackwater Lake Fourth of July was like.
    The shops in town were dripping with red, white and blue decorations. American flags flew on lampposts and residences. There had been a morning parade on Main Street with horses, cars, wagons and kids from elementary to high