How To Land Her Lawman. Teresa Southwick

kidding.”

      “You should take a trip,” Will said. “With Josie.”

      “I’d like that, but I feel a responsibility to the folks here in Blackwater Lake. Can’t just turn their welfare over to a rookie deputy, no matter how smart and eager he is. Not with the hotel and condos getting closer to opening every day.”

      “Yeah, I can see where you’re coming from.”

      Will knew this was his dad hinting for him to make this temporary sheriff thing permanent. He remembered what that kid at the photo shoot had said about his hurry to get to the big city. In fact Will had told April he understood where the kid was coming from. But it felt like forever since he’d been obsessed with excitement, getting away from this town to do something more important.

      “I know you do, Will. And I always knew you wanted me to be proud of your accomplishments. You have no idea how proud I am of you, the man you’ve become.”

      “Thanks, Dad.”

      “And you’re older now. Age has a way of making you look at things differently. This town really has a lot to offer a man.”

      Just like that an image of sassy April Kennedy popped into his mind. She wasn’t that skinny little girl anymore, but had grown into a beautiful, confident, accomplished woman. So many of his good memories were wrapped up in her, but she was the girl he’d left behind. It hadn’t worked out for them and no matter what Will accomplished in his career the failure in his personal life would always bother him.

      “Blackwater Lake was a good place to grow up. Tim is thriving here.”

      “Yes, he is. He’s a great kid.” There was grandfatherly pride in his voice, but there was something flat in the tone.

      Will glanced over to the passenger seat and saw the look of resignation on his dad’s face. He should have known the man wouldn’t miss the way Will had deliberately changed the subject. There was no point in taking the idea any further. He would be going back to Chicago at the end of the summer.

      That was just the way it was.