Page 6 of Courageous Demands

“Look at Alec’s face.”

“It’s like we are about to see a grown man cry.”

“I bet he did cry if he slept with her.”

“Heck, I’d be sobbing like a baby… and need counseling.”

“Mouthwash. You’d need mouthwash - and counseling.”

“And bleach.”

“Don’t forget the bleach, boys.”

“Maybe acid?”

“That’s so wrong, on so many levels too.”

“I wouldn’t sleep with her using your junk, much less my own…”

“Now you boys are just being rude to old Ruthie…”

“Time to go,” the chief growled, taking the older woman by the arm and pulling her away.

“Take the photos,” Willow snapped hotly at the photographer. “This was for charity and publicity. I’m up for re-election this fall and need this charity event in my back pocket.”

“Re-election? What? What the heck are you talking about? Are you on crack?”

“Alec,” Colton hissed, waving his hand across his neck in a signal to stop. Unfortunately, so was Justin, Captain Marks, and Austin. All of them were looking panicked telling him to be silent.

“Will do,” the photographer began. “Could you step just a little to the right so you are in the same shot? Alec, just please close your mouth and try to look happy.”

“Actually,” Willow interrupted. “Can I get a few more of you guys to jump into the photograph, please? Chief Carpenter, I’ll happily donate another check for the orphanage if you’d like to join us or take Alec’s place.”

“Do what… wait… huh? Take my place? Are you dumping me again?” Alec staggered, looking at her in shock.

“You and I are going to discuss this later,” Willow hissed bossily at him as she waved over two other firefighters to join them. “I need this photograph, Alec – and your mother’s help. Eugene Stevenson is running against me this fall and…”

“Huh?” Alec repeated, thoroughly confused.

“Dude, she’s a judge,” Justin hissed loudly, stepping into place and plastering a smile across his face. “Smile, you moron.”

“She’s judgmental…”

“I heard that, Alec,” Willow growled, kicking the sex toy several feet away in disgust. “Smile, Alec - please. Mrs. Fuller, please take the photo, crop that neon monstrosity out of the shot, and ol’ Eugene can just go suck on a lemon.”

Several of the men around Willow chuckled, but not him. No, he was staring at her in shock as comprehension began to dawn on him. The girl he thought dumped him to go ‘party’ in college… hadn’t. She didn’t party, fool around, or act up at all.

And she wasn’t a teacher.

He heard the click and whirl of the camera, unable to pull his eyes from Willow’s smiling face as she posed. He’d seen the name in town and never put it together, assuming it was her father or a distant relative of hers. No, it was Willow – his Willow – all this time.

She was wearing a very modest red blouse, a blue skirt, and white pearl earrings, and he realized why. Her expression was completely fake, but that was only because he knew her so well. She was putting on a show for the camera, slipping on a mask.

Judge Rushman, Circuit Court Judge.

For the first time in his life, Alec didn’t know what to say.

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