How to Land Her Lawman by Teresa Southwick Page A

there to visit his family.”
    â€œDo you keep in touch?” Definitely an edgy sarcasm in his tone.
    â€œNo.” She poured cream in her coffee, then took the container and put it back in the refrigerator. When she turned back, she caught him staring at her butt and legs. And if her feminine instincts weren’t completely rusted out, she was pretty sure he approved of what he saw. “There was no point. Long-distance relationships don’t work.”
    â€œApril—”
    She held up a hand. “That wasn’t a dig at you. Really, Will. It’s just the truth.”
    He looked at her over the rim of his mug as he took a sip. “Okay.” Then he glanced at his watch. “I have to get going. On duty in a little while.”
    â€œI guess peacekeeping is a seven-day-a-week job,” she said.
    â€œâ€™Fraid so.” He stood. “Thanks for the coffee and muffin. We’ll have to do this again sometime.”
    â€œI’d like that.” She walked him to the door. “Bye, Will.”
    â€œSee you.”
    She watched him walk over to his house and remembered the approval on his face when he’d checked her out. A glow radiated through her and it wasn’t just about the fact that her revenge plan was back on track.
    No, this was about the fact that Will wasn’t completely neutral where she was concerned. It was personally satisfying and she looked forward to more.
    * * *
    â€œI swear Luke and I are going to Vegas for a quickie wedding.” Kim plopped herself down on the couch in the family room.
    Will picked up the remote and muted the sound of the baseball game on TV. He’d only turned it on to keep himself from thinking about April. It wasn’t working very well. The memory of her in those tight black running pants had his mind on things it had no business being on. The White Sox could wait. His sister, on the other hand, was on the verge of a meltdown if not already there.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?”
    â€œEverything.” She threw up her hands dramatically.
    â€œWhere’s Dad?”
    â€œAt the movies with Tim. You’re it, big brother. There’s no one else here to deal with me. I don’t need a big wedding. A small backyard barbecue would be perfect, don’t you think? Or even something at the park. Easy peasy.”
    â€œYou know you want a big wedding,” Will reminded her.
    â€œWhy? What was I thinking?”
    â€œThat you’ve never been married before and you’re only doing this once, so it’s going to be a blowout affair.”
    â€œThat’s a direct quote, isn’t it?” she asked.
    â€œYup.” He looked at her beside him. “You said it the night before Dad had his surgery.”
    â€œTalk is cheap. Making a grand pronouncement is a lot easier than taking the steps to make it happen.”
    â€œTalk is cheap. But I can’t help if you don’t spit it out, Kimmie. What specifically is making you freak out?”
    Tears welled in her blue eyes. “I got a call from the bridal shop. My dress is back-ordered and might not arrive in time.”
    â€œSo pick out another dress.” When big, fat tears started rolling down her cheeks, he knew that was the wrong thing to say. “Hey, come here.”
    She slid over and leaned her head on his shoulder. “It’s just...I w-wanted that dress.”
    â€œAnd it might be fine. Back-ordered isn’t a definite not going to happen . But maybe you can pick out a runner-up just in case?”
    â€œThat’s way too sensible.” She sniffled and probably rubbed her runny nose on his T-shirt. “I just wanted to be bridezilla for a day. Throw a tantrum.”
    â€œAnd it was a beauty, sis. Way to be an overachiever.” He put his arm around her shoulders and tucked her against him. “The thing is, I can guarantee that no one, including your groom, will know that any dress you wear is not your