THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

new around here.”
    “I am. I need an arrangement. Do you have any pre-made?” she asked.
    The young man hurried around the counter and led her to the glass front refrigerators on the other side of the store. “Heavens, yes. What’s the occasion?”
    “Not an occasion. I wanted to put something graveside.” She shook her bangs away from her eyes. “My husband.”
    He slumped and put his hand on her arm. “I’m sorry. Has it been long?”
    “Not even a year.”
    “Oh, my golly. I have just the thing.” He slapped the refrigerator door shut. “You don’t want something fresh. The deer will just gobble it up or it will wilt and look like crap in a few days. Follow me.”
    He whisked behind the counter. “Come on, you can come back here. I was just finishing this.”
    She stepped behind the counter and into the back room. It looked like a ribbon-and- flower truck had blown up in there. Snippets of leaves and flowers, ribbon, and lace littered the table.
    Ted turned around and held up a gorgeous arrangement. “Tah- dah! What do you think?”
    “It’s perfect.” Almost burgundy-colored roses, gold mums and white carnations fanned out among tons of greenery. “Very masculine. I love it.”
    “It needs a ribbon. What color? No, wait. What was your husband like?” His mouth pursed, as he seemed to size her up, then he gave her a knowing look. “Outdoorsy fellow. Handsome, too, I bet.”
    “Yes. That’s Nick. Very outdoorsy. Farmer, hunter, the whole thing.”
    Ted lifted his shoulders and grinned. “I have something perfect.”
    He turned his back to her. All she could see were his arms flying and scissors snipping. When he spun around, he’d woven a camouflage ribbon through the arrangement and tied a beautiful bow at the bottom.
    Kasey’s jaw dropped. “It is perfect. Better than I ever could have imagined.”
    “Right here,” he said, tapping a finger to his cheek.
    She ran to his side and kissed him on the cheek.
    “That’s what Teddy here lives for. People squealing over flowers.”
    “Thanks,” Kasey said.
    She paid Teddy, then carried the arrangement to the car. She nestled it in the floorboard so it wouldn’t get smooshed during the ride. The smell from the bakery made her stomach growl. No wonder. She hadn’t eaten since...well, she wasn’t sure.
    She got back out of the car. The smell almost made her mouth water as she opened the door and went inside.
    “Good morning, young lady,” a portly man in a white t-shirt and work pants covered by a brightly colored apron waved her to the counter.
    Kasey surveyed the baked goods in the case. “What do you recommend?”
    He gave her a toothy grin. “I’m known for my cinnamon rolls and bear claws. Just took the bear claws out of the oven. They’re still warm.”
    “That must be what smells so good. Give me two.”
    “You must be hungry.”
    “One for me, one for a friend.”
    “You’re my kind of friend,” he winked.
     
    Kasey drove around the block and parked in front of the police station. She walked back to Scott’s office. “How are you?”
    “What a nice surprise.” Scott pushed a stack of paperwork to the side.
    “Are you busy?”
    “Not too busy for you. I was just filling out paperwork to assign some security to the Indian Pow-Wow Festival next month.”
    “Sounds interesting.”
    “It is.”
    “Do you have an Indian name?”
    He laughed. “No. Maybe I could be Fish-While-She-Talks? What do you think?”
    “I think you’re real funny. How about Bear Claw?”
    “I like it. Sounds manly.” He pretended to swipe the air with a claw.
    “Hold up, tough guy. I meant this kind.” She held up the waxy white bakery bag. “I brought you a bear claw. It’s not a doughnut, but I figured it was close enough.”
    “You sure are in a good mood this morning.” Scott leaned back in his chair.
    “Feeling feisty. Ready to face the world today,” Kasey said.
    “Good,” he smiled. “Where are you off to so early?”
    “Heading to see Grem, so I better get going.”
    “Thanks for stopping by—and for the bad joke and good treat.”
    “Anytime.” Suddenly feeling a little nervous, she grasped the leather strap of her purse as if it was a lifeline. “I appreciate everything you’re doing —have done—for me.”
    “You’d be there for me, too.” He got up and came around the desk. “I’ll walk you to the door.”
    They walked outside, and he stood at the curb. “Drive safe,” he called after