THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

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