THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

wrote that song about you and Jake, didn’t he?”
    “Yes. On the plane when we were on tour. In fact, I knew the melody well before I’d ever heard the song. He’d been working on it on the plane every night while I was reading. He played it live the last night I was on tour with them.”
    Her eyes met his. “That was in Raleigh. That’s where Billy Goodwin saw the picture of Jake and heard about the kidnapping.”
    “Cody is a good friend.” Scott smiled.
    “He is a good friend. But it’s not like our friendship,” Kasey said. Her heart felt full.
    He reached across the table, and she laid her head on his arm.
    Scott stood. “Come walk with me.”
    She popped back up. “Okay.”
    He took her hand and led her to the side of the house.
    “Mommy? Where you goin’? Can I come?”
    “Sure. Bring Shutterbug,” Scott said.
    Jake and Shutterbug caught up just as the big oak tree came into view. The tree was similar to the one that Nick was buried under: strong and tall, with one long, low branch. Two fat ropes hung from the limb with a red, white, and blue wooden seat.
    “You made the swing.” She took both of Scott’s hands in hers. “You are the most thoughtful man in the world.”
    “You like it?”
    “It’s like that one I saw in the magazine that day at your house. I love it.”
    “A swing! Cool!” Jake ran up and jumped in the seat. “Push me.”
    Scott pushed while Kasey smiled and clapped. Jake soared higher and higher. Fearless.
    The swing slowed and Jake leapt to the ground. “That was fun.”
    Scott caught the seat mid-air and bent down beside it. “Come here, Jake’s mom.”
    Kasey gave him a what-the-heck-are-you-doing look but stepped up to the swing.
    He put his hands on the edge of the swing. “Someday. When the time is right.” He tipped the seat of the swing up, the bottom facing her. Painted in bright red letters:
     
    SOMEDAY...
    Will you be my bride? Yes ___  Maybe ___
     
    Kasey tilted her head. “Hedging your bets a little there, aren’t you?”
    “What?”
    “Yes or maybe? I take it you won’t take no for an answer.”
    “Whoops. Sorry. Turtle Mike and Maggie did the editing, they must have missed that.” He put the seat back down and patted it, encouraging her to sit.
    “Scott, you’ve been a true angel in my life.”
    “You are the angel.” He leaned forward, brushing her lips. “I love you, Kasey Phillips. I want you and Jake to be a part of my life always, and in all ways.”
    The words poured like melted chocolate over her heart, sweet and warm. Tears trickled down her cheeks.
    She missed Nick. Her heart broke every day without him, but there was a feeling when Scott said those words. A feeling of joy that her body recognized before she did.
    She put her hand on top of his. “My head isn’t ready for this, but my heart feels it. Something. Someday...when I am....”
    “I’ll be here. Waiting.”
    “It might be a month. It might be five years. I can’t make any promises. But I can’t imagine sharing my heart with anyone but you. My life has been out of focus this past year. It’s starting to become clear again, thanks to you.”
    This must be what joy feels like.
    “Is that a maybe?” His mood seemed buoyant. He glanced over at Jake and Shutterbug, running through the yard with a smile.
    “It’s not a no. So much has happened, I’ve put off dealing with most of it. But if you can be patient with me....”
    “I’m not going anywhere.” He gently pressed her hand to her cheek, kissed the tip of her nose, then pulled her close. “We’ll take it a day at a time.”
     
     
    THE END
     
    ~*~
     
    Join Cody Tuggle and Kasey Phillips again in the Adams Grove novel Pecan Pie and Deadly Lies
     

 
     
    About the Author
     
    Nancy Naigle writes love stories from the crossroad of small town and suspense.
     
    Living on the cutting edge of technology in her day job, Nancy spends each night creating make-believe small town worlds filled with community, heart, and suspense. She hopes readers will accept her invitation to visit Adams Grove and will grow to care about the residents as much as she does.
     
    Stay up to date on releases, appearances and news on facebook, twitter @NancyNaigle and on Nancy’s website:
    www.NancyNaigle.com
     
     
     
    Thanks for spending your time with me in Adams Grove. If you enjoyed OUT OF FOCUS, I hope you’ll leave a short review on your favorite bookseller website so other readers might it in the vast number