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?”
“I 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.
“Now 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.
“I have cramps,” she said.
“Do you want to slow down? Walk the rest of the way?”
“No.” 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 sexy. If any health-care professional had checked her heart rate right then she could blame it on the run, but that would be a lie. The spike had nothing to do with exercise and everything to do with the Fletcher effect. It wasn’t cause for alarm, just appreciation for a good-looking man. But it was still more evidence that she needed to ratchet up this flirtation in order to put him in her past where he belonged.
“Do you want a bottle of water?”
Will straightened slowly, clearly checking out her legs as he did. She was wearing a stretchy pink shirt over her sports bra and black spandex capris that fit her like a second skin. And she’d give anything to know if he liked what he saw. Darn sunglasses.
“I can throw in a cup of coffee,” she offered, “and a muffin baked fresh this morning.”
“Blueberry? Like you used to make?” There was a husky quality to his voice that amped up the sexy factor.
“Yes. Did that sweeten the pot?”
“Not really. You had me at water.” He grinned. “But I wouldn’t say no to a muffin.”
That was why she’d made them. He’d always raved about her baking. If the spandex hadn’t worked, muffins were her fallback strategy. The way to a man’s heart through his stomach and all that.
“Come on in.”
He followed her into the house, where she grabbed two bottles of water from the refrigerator, then handed one to him. He twisted the top off, then drank deeply, again one of those profoundly masculine movements that made her heart skip.
This was where she got it in a big way that the last time she’d kissed a guy had been longer ago than she could recall. The resulting knot of yearning wasn’t a flaw in the plan, she told herself with a confidence that took some work.
“I’ll turn on the coffee.”
“Can I help?” He sat on one of the high stools at the bar separating kitchen and family rooms.
“No. Thanks.”
Water and coffee grounds were ready to go; she only had to flip the switch. As soon as she did a sizzling sound started and almost instantly the rich coffee aroma filled the room.
“You’ve made some changes since the last time I was here,” he commented.
“Yeah.” She looked around the kitchen. This place was where she’d spent her teenage years. Now it was part of her inheritance, although she’d give it up in a heartbeat to have her mother back. “I updated the cupboards and changed the countertops to granite. Along with the house, my mom left me a little money and after I got the shop up and running there was enough left to do a few things.”
“It looks good.”
“I like it.” She reached up into one of the cupboards and pulled out two mugs—one that said I Don’t Do Mornings and the other sporting the Seattle city skyline, including Space Needle.
“Have you been to the Pacific Northwest?” he asked.
“Yeah. I went with a friend.”
“Anyone I know?”
“Don’t think so. Joe moved here after you left for Chicago.” She poured coffee in the Seattle mug and handed it to him. “Do you still take it black?”
“Yup. Do you still drink yours the sissy way?”
“Of course. Cream and sugar.” She smiled at the memory of how he used to tease her about this. “But these days it’s nonfat and sugar substitute.”
“Why?”
“A girl has to watch her figure.”
“Some girls maybe, but not you. Guys will do that for you.” Maybe it was wishful thinking but it sounded like there was a slight edge to his voice. “What does Joe do?”
“Construction. While he was here.” She handed him a paper plate with a muffin on it.
“Does that mean he’s gone?” He folded the cupcake paper down and took a bite of muffin.
“Yeah. He went back to Seattle. It’s where he’s from. We went there to visit his family.”
“Do you keep in touch?” Definitely an edgy sarcasm in his tone.
“No.” 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.”
“April—”
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.”
“I guess peacekeeping is a seven-day-a-week job,” she said.
“’Fraid so.” He stood. “Thanks for the coffee and muffin. We’ll have to do this again sometime.”
“I’d like that.” She walked him to the door. “Bye, Will.”
“See 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
