The Perfect Ten Boxed Set

by Dianna Love

  He looked into her eyes. “Repeat after me. Jake is coming home.”

  “Jake is coming home.” Her words were tight, her voice raspy from crying.

  “I know it in my heart.” He tapped her chest. “And in my mind.” He tapped on her forehead.

  “I know it in my heart and mind,” she repeated.

  “I’ll pray for his safe return, and know that God will bring him home.”

  “I pray for his safe return. God will bring him home,” she said, squeaking out the last few words, her voice trembling.

  “And in the meantime, Scott is really hot and such a great guy. How could I go wrong?”

  She laughed and punched him in the gut playfully.

  He feigned injury and let out a hearty laugh. “Can’t blame a guy for trying. You okay?”

  She nodded. “Yeah. For now.” She shook her head. “You’re not funny.”

  “Yes, I am. Come on, admit it. And by the way, tears don’t scare me away. So just let them fall. They make your eyes sparkle pretty, anyway.”

  And one did fall, right down her cheek to her lips.

  “Let’s go.” He tugged on her sleeve. “The fish are waiting on us.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Scott loaded the fishing gear, then steadied Kasey as she crossed from the dock into the glittery boat and settled into the red-and-white leather seat.

  “Am I going to be scared? You aren’t going to go real fast, are you?”

  “This isn’t a speedboat. It’s a fishing boat.”

  “It’s got a huge motor.” She cast him a suspicious glance.

  “Relax, that’s just for tournament speed. We’re just going to chill. Today is all about relaxing.” He tossed her a hat and she tugged it down on her head.

  She leaned back and prepared for the ride. He used the quiet trolling motor until they got out to open water, then he started the big engine. As they paraded slowly along the river, the birds seemed to chirp a hello as they cruised by, and the ripples the boat splashed against the shoreline sounded like applause.

  “I’m going to take you to my favorite cove.” He steered the boat toward the center of the river that widened, then snaked off down small tributaries left and right. In some places, Spanish moss hung soft and gray from the winter trees. A moment later, they slowed. He shut down the noisy motor, letting the boat drift along, as they floated into the prettiest cove Kasey had ever seen. Scott put on a ball cap with a fishing logo on it and started shuffling through the gear.

  “This is pretty secluded,” she said looking around.

  “It’s my favorite fishing hole. I’ve never shared this location with anyone.” He held out his pinky. “Pinky swear that it’s our secret.”

  “Or what?” she challenged.

  “Or I’ll call Deputy Dan.”

  She wrapped her pinky around his and winked. “Your secret is safe with me. Heck, I can barely get to your house. I know I couldn’t find my way down a river to a clump of trees.” That splash along the shore had made her wonder. “There aren’t gators out here are there?”

  “Uh, no. No gators.”

  She relaxed a little.

  “Turtles, muskrats, birds, fish—that’s about all you’ll see out here. No snakes this time of year to speak of.”

  “Good. I wouldn’t want to be gator bait.”

  “No, that wouldn’t be good. But speaking of bait, let’s get these hooks baited and cast a few.”

  “I’m going to need a refresher course,” she said as she picked through dozens of lures and tackle. She picked up one of the rubber worms. It reminded her of the day Nick proposed. She’d been pregnant with Jake then.

  Scott rigged shiny spoons and bright jigs on their lines, then threaded worms on the hooks. He handed her a rod and demonstrated a cast. She watched in earnest, but when she tried her first cast, the lure clanked in the boat right next to her feet. “I’m rusty.”

  “Try again.”

  She did, but with the same results.

  “You’re not rusty. You suck.” Scott tugged on his ball cap. “Here, let me help you out.” He stepped up behind her, held his hands over hers on the rod, and guided her through the motions. “See. Nice and easy. Up and back, and then release when you have it right about…here.”

  “Oh. It’s way easier with you helping me.”

  “There’s more to fishing than just getting in the boat.”

  “Let me try.”

  “Sure. Just reel it in by pushing this button and then spinning this.” He stepped back and let her cast. “Perfect. You’re a natural.” Scott tugged his hat and reeled in his own line to recast.

  Kasey smiled, feeling suddenly hopeful that she could be good at this sport. Once she had the lure reeled back in, she went through the motions and tried a cast. “Crap.”

  “You doing all right back there?” Scott spun around.

  “Well…” She bit her bottom lip and looked skyward. “Unless there are any treefish, I don’t think I’m going to catch much.” She tugged on the line, but it didn’t budge.

  “You’re snagged.”

  “Yep. A little more decoration for my lure. Like camoflouge.”

  “Happens to the best of us.” He stepped over and took the pole from her. He worked the rod back and forth and, by some miracle or maybe years of practice, he was able to tug the bright gear out of the tree.

  She cheered and clapped as the limb bedazzled line splashed in the water.

  Scott squinted. “I don’t want to sound like a pill. But I think you probably just scared all the fish out of my favorite fishing hole with all that noise.”

  She clamped her hands over her mouth. “Oh. Sorry. I knew that. You’re supposed to be quiet when you’re fishing, huh?”

  “Yep.” He didn’t look mad, but she figured he wasn’t thrilled about relocating. He moved toward the trolling motor, started it, and began inching through the water.

  “Sorry.”

  “No problem. I hadn’t caught anything anyway. It was time to move.”

  “I’ll be quiet in the next spot.”

  “Somehow, I doubt that.”

  Kasey didn’t catch a single fish, but Scott caught at least half a dozen.

  She enjoyed the day even though she didn't catch anything. Scott didn't make her bait her own hook and, luckily for her, he was a master at untangling her line. She’d snagged it in at least four trees.

  “Ready to head back?” he asked.

  “Sure. If you are.” She removed her hat and fluffed her bangs. “Scott?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Thank you for being supportive, and thanks for today, too.”

  He nodded. “I love being the hero.”

  “It fits you well,” she teased. “But seriously, thanks for believing me.”

  “I wouldn’t doubt a mother’s intuition.” He stepped away from the motor and sat next to her. “A mother’s bond, her connection to her child. It’s real.”

  Kasey knew exactly what he meant. “Thanks for sharing your secret fishing hole. I wouldn’t have made it through the day alone.”

  “Wanna drive?”

  “I bet I’m a better boat driver than a fisherman.”

  “Well, that’s not saying much.” Scott started the motor, and Kasey moved into the driver’s seat. She maneuvered according to his directions, guiding the boat back down the river to his dock.

  The closer she got to the dock, the more panicky she became. “You better take over so I don’t wreck us,” she called to him.

  “You’re doing fine.”

  “I don’t know how to stop.” She looked around. “There’s not a brake on this thing.”

  Scott came to her side, leaned over her, and took the controls. He eased back on the throttle. He was so close to her she felt his breath whisper against her neck. When the boat neared the dock, he killed the motor and let it drift the rest of the way. He stood and leaped from the boat to the dock, then wrapped a line around one of the pilings.

&nb
sp; Comfortable on the small boat now, Kasey chose not to wait for Scott’s assistance to disembark. She leaped from the boat, but missed the dock completely.

  She screamed as she hit the water with a splash. Maggie came running out of the boathouse barking. Scott stood wide-eyed for a moment as she flailed, reaching for the pilings, pushing her bangs out of her face and spitting water.

  She could tell he was stifling a laugh. “It’s not funny.”

  “Got a little cocky, didn’t ya?”

  “Shut up and help me out.” She held on to the dock with one hand and reached the other toward him. He took her hand. She tried to pull him in the frigid water with her.

  He gave her a warning look. “You want help or not?”

  “Uncle.” She blinked her big brown eyes, trying to look as innocent as possible.

  He helped her out of the water and took her right into his arms. Water splashed against him, getting him almost as wet as she was. “You were going to pull me into the water, weren’t you?”

  She giggled but shook her head, furrowing her brow as if the idea had never entered her mind.

  He hitched her up and cradled her in his arms, his nose to hers. “Really now. I think you better confess.”

  “Never.”

  He leaned in and caught her lip. Not once but twice, and then his mouth opened, warm and gentle against hers. Her lashes batted against his cheeks, then she kissed him back, relaxing into his arms. He set her on her feet, but their kiss didn’t abate. They melted into one another. Tender kisses turned hungry, and the chill in the air was of no concern. Feeling safe, Kasey let herself become lost in his kisses. In his arms, there was hope. He kissed her again. Slowly and gently, without hurry.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Scott opened his eyes, looking into Kasey’s. “You’re beautiful.”

  “I can’t believe I just did that.”

  “It’s not against the law.” He kissed her forehead.

  “Thank goodness. I wouldn’t want to go to jail again. They don’t feed you very well in there.” She shivered.

  “You’re cold.” He held her close again.

  “I feel kind of funny.”

  “Don’t. It felt right to me.” He held her gaze.

  She closed her eyes.

  “It was just a kiss.”

  But it was more than that. Her heart still pounded from his touch.

  “Come on.” He took her hand. “Do you still want to cook up our catch of the day?”

  “I think I want to go home,” she said. “Would you mind?”

  Scott put a warm palm to her cheek. “I didn’t mean to rush you.”

  She pushed her wet hair over her shoulder. “No. It’s not your fault. It’s me. I just wasn’t expecting it.”

  He laughed. “That’s because it wasn’t planned. Come on, let’s release these little guys.” He dumped the fish back into the water, and they floated, stunned for a second, then wriggled away.

  She stood there dripping wet, watching the fish swim away. Freedom.

  He handed Kasey her camera bag then hooked his arm around her waist, and guided her to the boathouse. After he’d wiped down the rods and put them back in the rack, he walked over to the corner of the boathouse and scooped up the little yellow puppy. It wiggled in his arms as he walked to Kasey.

  “Here. She needs some love.”

  “They are so playful.” She snuggled the puppy. “She is the cutest one. She’s feisty, too.”

  “Like someone else I know.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.” She put the puppy down.

  The yellow lab sat and looked up at Kasey, her head tilted.

  “Look. She even poses for me.” Kasey took out her camera and snapped a digital photo. “She is just too sweet. Have you named her?”

  “No, Maggie said there were too many for her to name.”

  “What’s your name, my little friend?” Kasey picked up the puppy and took her back to the pool with the others. Kasey took another picture, then called over her shoulder to Scott. “She’s a camera ham. How about naming her Shutterbug?”

  He walked up behind her and rested his hand on her hip.

  “What do you think about being called Shutterbug?” he asked the puppy, who sank back on her haunches, then leaped, barking.

  “I think she likes it.” The puppy climbed the side of the slippery pool, trying to get back to Kasey. Her little paws hung over the edge, her feet just climbing in place.

  “Shutterbug it is.” Kasey snapped another picture.

  “Let’s head on up to the house,” Scott said as he walked toward the door. Then he stopped and went back and got the puppy. “Come on Shutterbug, why don’t you come up to the house with us for a while?” Scott handed the puppy to Kasey.

  “Maggie won’t mind?”

  “Are you kidding? Consider it a favor. They’re ready to be weaned, anyway. I’ll take her back down to her momma in a little while.”

  “Come on, Shutterbug.” Kasey hitched the puppy up into her arms.

  Scott patted the dog’s head. “There’s nothing like puppy breath to make you feel good.”

  “Maybe I need the whole litter,” she teased.

  “Hey, whatever it takes. A whole river. A whole puddle of puppies. Whatever will help, I’ll make it happen.”

  They climbed the stairs from the boathouse to the back yard, then followed the sidewalk to the deck.

  “You can park your butt right in the middle of the pool with Maggie if it will make you feel better.”

  Scott opened the sliding glass door, went inside and flipped on the lights in the kitchen. Kasey put Shutterbug down so the puppy could explore.

  “Let’s get you dry before you go home,” he said.

  “I’ll be okay.”

  “But the leather interior of your car may not. Come on. It won’t take long to toss your clothes in the dryer and be done with it. I’ll get you some sweats to put on.”

  She looked reluctant, but she shrugged and nodded.

  “Great.” He disappeared down the hall, and came back with a brown sweatshirt with SHERIFF written across the front, and a pair of sweat pants. “They’ll be huge on you, but they’re dry.”

  “Thanks. These will be fine.” She changed in the bathroom and came out with her pile of wet clothes. “Where’s the dryer?” she asked as she stepped back into the kitchen.

  He smiled at the sight of her bare feet. Her bright pink painted toenails looked like Skittles. He tried to ignore the distraction. “Right here off the kitchen.” He pointed the way. “There’s a laundry room and door out to the deck that way.”

  He was waiting by the counter when she walked back into the kitchen. “Here. Hope you like marshmallows.” He handed her a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

  “Of course.” She took a sip and came up with a frothy marshmallow moustache. “The best part.” She ran her tongue across her top lip.

  Scott grabbed a roll of paper towels and Shutterbug. “You never know when they are going to leak.”

  Kasey gave him a funny look. “Oh, you mean the puppy.”

  “Let’s go sit in the living room while your clothes dry.”

  Scott sat on the couch and let Shutterbug run wild across the hard wood floor. She had trouble keeping all four feet under her. Each time she slipped, she’d turn, snarl and yap—not realizing she was causing herself to slip.

  Kasey sat on the floor and drummed her fingernails on the hardwood. Shutterbug turned and raced toward her.

  Being with Scott was less awkward with the distraction of Shutterbug.

  Scott stretched out on the couch on his stomach and reached out his arm, sweeping his hand across the floor. Shutterbug ran between him and Kasey until the dryer beeped, sending her scurrying under the end table, whimpering.

  “Ohhhh. That was pitiful,” she said.

  Scott laughed. He had a great laugh. Deep and real.

  “Not so ferocious now, are you?” he said to the cowering puppy.
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  Kasey crawled over and coaxed Shutterbug out from under the table.

  “Ooops.” Scott tossed the roll of paper towels to Kasey. “Looks like we scared the pee out of her.”

  “It was an accident.” Kasey wiped up the mess. Shutterbug followed her into the kitchen where Kasey tossed the paper towels into the trash and washed her hands, then took her clothes from the dryer.

  Kasey nearly tripped over Shutterbug when she turned around. “Watch out, girl.” Kasey walked through the living room to the bathroom. When she closed the door, Shutterbug whimpered from the other side.

  “You’re breaking her heart,” Scott yelled.

  “I hear her,” Kasey called, then screamed and ran from the bathroom with her jeans and bra on, her shirt held up to cover her.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  “What’s the matter? Are you hurt?” Scott said.

  Kasey slammed into him just outside the bathroom door. “Look. I heard something. And then—” She was frantic, looking behind her, then back to Scott, not making any sense. “And it clanked, and I looked. A giant—there’s a snapping turtle in your tub!”

  “Oh. That. You scared the heck out of me.”

  “I’m serious. Go look.”

  “That’s Turtle Mike.”

  “Who? What? You knew there was an animal in the bathroom, and you just let me go in there? He could have bitten my toes off.”

  “Turtle Mike isn’t dangerous. He’s not a snapper—just a big old box turtle. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. Okay, he would eat a fly, but he won’t hurt you.”

  “What’s it...he...whatever...doing in your bathroom?”

  “He lives there. My nephew found him last summer. He loves that turtle.”

  “How do you bathe?”

  “I have a shower in the other bathroom, but frankly I shower more often at the station or the gym. Tubs are for girls...and turtles.”

  “All-righty then. I guess that makes perfect sense. If you’re a guy.” She let out a breath. “Scared the heck out of me.”

  “Sorry. I don’t even think much about him anymore except to feed him each day. He’s usually pretty quiet.”

  “Yeah, well he scared about four years off my life.” Kasey turned her back to Scott and pulled her shirt over her head. “It’s never a dull moment with you, is it?”