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The alarm sounded on Saturday morning, and Mac rolled to shut it off. She groaned when the muscles in her arms protested. She’d practiced casting with Jesse’s rod every night this week, and she was paying the price of an underused muscle group in overused exercise. But, she flipped to her back and laced her fingers behind her head with a satisfied smile. She could now land the weighted line in the center of the pool every time. She also knew that a topwater bait bounced along the surface of the water, making a plopping noise. The bill on a crankbait made it dive into the water while it clicked to attract fish. And a spinnerbait flashed and whirred as it was reeled through the water. She’d even made a trip to a sporting goods store to purchase a spinner with a purple skirt because, if she was going to do this, she was going to do it with style.
She reviewed her plan for the day. The ingredients for fried chicken, potato salad, and chocolate chip cookies awaited her attention in the kitchen. According to Jesse, her main partner in crime, these were some of Dane’s favorite foods. Which worked well for their plan, since they were great items for a picnic basket.
Mac swung her feet to the floor and cringed when a rumble of thunder shook the windows. No, no. Rain is not on the schedule today. She looked up at the ceiling. “Good morning, Father. Can I get a little help with the weather today?”
These little snippets of prayer peppered her days now like a constant conversation with a new best friend. It was a new slice of normal in her life, and she liked it.
An hour later, coffee steamed in Mac’s favorite mug, mingling with the scent of the first batch of cookies as they came out of the oven. Mac snagged two for her breakfast and pulled potatoes out of the bag. Four should be enough. Her phone rang before the blade of her paring knife touched the first spud.
Her nerves skittered when she saw Dane’s number. Calm down. You were expecting his call. She allowed it to ring a second time while she drew in an extra breath.
“Good morning.”
“Right back at you,” Dane said. Mac closed her eyes and savored the smile she heard in his voice. “You sound awake and chipper. What are you doing?”
Mac looked around her kitchen. Not going there. “Just having a bit of breakfast. What’s up?”
“Nothing major, I hope. Riley received an invitation late last night. I know we were supposed to come there for dinner this evening, but...”
Mac let the pause hang for a second. When she spoke, she did her best to infuse her voice with a smidgen of consternation. “I haven’t seen him for two days. What sort of invitation?”
“Benjamin and Sean Conklin, Alex’s boys, are throwing a little party later this afternoon and asked Riley to come. Brinkley is going to be there and—”
“Well, how can a lowly mother hope to compete with that?”
Dane chuckled into the phone. “Get used to it, Mac, you’re raising a teenaged boy. The girls, and there will likely be many, will always come first.”
Mac smiled. Does that apply to older guys? “Thanks for the heads up. How was he yesterday? Did he sleep well last night?”
“He’s great, he’s been great all week. I think you’ll be happy with what his doctor has to say on Monday. So...about the party?”
“Who am I to stand in the way of his social life? Is he up?”
“Sure, hang on.”
Mac dunked a cookie while she waited.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Going to a party, I hear.”
“Yeah. Sorry to miss dinner with you.”
Mac closed her eyes. Riley sounded sincere in his apology. He was going to make it. They were going to make it. Thank you, Father.
“No problem. Have a good time. You can tell me all about it at church tomorrow.”
“Will do. Bye.”
The phone went dead in her hand, and Mac stared at it for a few seconds. She checked step one off her mental list, and focused on the potatoes.
* * *
JESSE SURVEYED THE caravan through her rearview mirror. Mac puttered along behind her with Randy bringing up the rear. She grinned at her reflection. Charley and Alex would have been here as well if the plan hadn’t called for them to occupy other key areas.
She bounced to a stop next to the pretty pond, climbed out of her car, and waited for Mac and Randy to join her. Jesse took in Mac’s choice of wardrobe for the day. Well-worn blue jeans hugged her friend’s hips. A red flannel shirt to combat the spring chill of the overcast day was tied at her trim waist, and a white tank peeked out at her throat, adding just enough lace to keep the outfit feminine.
Mac came around to the driver’s side of Jesse’s car. She leaned against the fender. “What are we going to do if he doesn’t show up?”
Jesse shook her head. She’d left nothing to chance for the day. “He’ll be here.”
Mac raised a brow.
“I called him this morning looking for his help with a loose hinge on a closet door. He laughed at me and offered to bring me a screwdriver on his way to the pond. He said that if I thought he was going to waste a perfect fishing day on a loose hinge, I should think again.” She smirked. “A lot he knows.”
Randy joined them. “It’s good that you verified. Let’s get this set up, so I can go back to the road.”
Mac reached back and pulled her ponytail tight. “Tell me again how this is gonna work.”
“I’m going back to the main road.” Randy rehearsed her part of the scheme. “I’ll wait in the little cul-de-sac just beyond the turn off and call you when Dane is headed this way.”
Jesse pointed to a second trail leading away from the pond. “I’m going to visit with Grandma and Grandpop. They have a window in the attic that offers a great view of the pond. I’ll be up there with binoculars and my cell phone.”
Mac frowned at her. “They won’t find that weird?”
Jesse shook her head. “Nah. I told them we were playing a joke on Dane. They laughed and told me to come ahead. They’re good sports.” She put an arm around Mac’s shoulders and gave a squeeze. “Relax. Have you ever seen the movie Grease?”
“Grease...as in lard?”
Jesse blew her bangs out of her eyes. “Man, we need to broaden your horizons. No, not as in lard. As in boy likes girl and girl likes boy but they can’t find any common ground so her friends help her. Boom...fairy tale ending. That’s what we’re looking for here, but you gotta work with us.”
“One of my all-time favorite movies.” Randy dropped an arm around Mac’s shoulders and gave a quick squeeze. “I better get back to the road, or he’ll get past us.”
“Go,” Jesse agreed. “We’ll get set up here.”
Randy’s car chugged back up the trail while Jesse spread a pretty little plaid throw out on the grass.
Mac brought out a folding chair, the picnic basket, and a small tackle box.
“Are the cookies in the basket?” Jesse asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“Seriously?” Jesse opened the basket, located the container of cookies, and helped herself. “They aren’t just Dane’s favorite.” Her eyes fluttered as she took a bite. “Oh, wow.” Her phone chimed, and she yanked it out of her pocket. “He’s on his way.”
Mac drew in a deep breath.
“It’ll be fine, I promise.” She hugged Mac. “I’m gonna love having you for a sister.”
Mac’s eyes went round. “That’s rushing things a bit, don’t you think?”
Jesse hopped in her car and turned the ignition. “Nope, just a profession of faith.”
* * *
MAC HEARD GRAVEL CRUNCH behind her and struggled to keep her hands steady as she reeled in her line before turning around. The turn put the sun in her face, and she shaded her eyes with a hand. She watched Dane get out of his van and bit her lip when he sent her a frown.
“Mac?”
“Hey.”
“What are you doing out here?”
She swallowed hard and tried to look casual. “Jesse gave me directions and phoned your grandparents for permission for me to come out sometime. Today seemed good, since Riley stood me up.”
A smile spread across his face. “You fish?”
“Well, duh...” She motioned to the rod. “But I can scoot if you want some privacy.” Mac held her breath. He hadn’t moved from the side of his van, and she couldn’t read the fine points of his expression for the sun.
“No, it’s good.”
Bands of nerves released her chest.
“It’s a big pond.”
“Cool.” Mac turned back to the water, made a perfect cast, and started to reel in the line. She jerked her head toward the picnic basket. “I brought food if you’re hungry.”
“As a matter of fact.”
Mac grinned at the water when she heard rustling. Her fishing skills might be a total fake, but she had complete confidence in her cooking.
A whistle sounded from behind her. “You cooked all of this for you?”
“Um...” She searched for an excuse for the full basket. “Um...I thought I was making dinner for you and Riley tonight. There wasn’t any reason not to cook the whole chicken.”
Electricity vibrated across her nerve endings when Dane came to stand beside her with his rod and reel in one hand and a chicken leg in the other.
“Catching anything?”
“Not yet.” And for that favor, she breathed a prayer of gratitude. Jesse’s lessons had not included a tutorial on handling a live fish. If God was smiling on this plan, all the fish would be Dane’s.
“What are you using?”
Sweat broke out on her forehead. “Hmm...?”
“Bait,” Dane said. “What are you using for bait?”
“Oh. I have topwaters and cranks. I’m using a spinner bait right now.” She glanced at him. “I just love the way they sparkle under the water, don’t you?”
He frowned at her. “Do what?”
“You know...they...” Shut up and fish! Mac swallowed. “I’m using a purple one, but I have a white one if you want to borrow it.”
Dane tilted his head and studied her. “No, thanks.” He tapped the rod. “That’s a nice piece of equipment.” He took a final bite of the chicken and tossed the bare bone into a nearby clump of shrubbery. “That was good, thanks.”
“Have all you want.”
Dane retreated to his van. A few seconds later he returned with his own chair and a small tackle box. He picked a place several feet to her left and settled in.
They fished in silence for several minutes. Just when Mac began to wonder how to get some conversation flowing again, she felt her line come to a sudden halt. She pulled at it. Nothing. She gave the stalled line a determined yank and did a little dance as the spinner flew from the water, the bare hooks just missing her head.
“Careful there. You won’t enjoy the process of extracting a hook from any part of your anatomy.”
She shuddered. Not the conversation she wanted.
“You know...” Dane’s voice was thoughtful. “You haven’t caught anything. It might be time to re-bait. I’ve got something you could try.”
She turned as Dane approached.
“Try this.”
Her eyes went wide, and she took a step backwards. Is that a worm? There had also been no instruction on live bait. She held up a hand to stop him. “I’m good, thanks.”
He wiggled it. “The fish really like these.”
Mac retreated another step. “Then go fish with them over there.” She pointed and felt the ground beneath her heel give way.
“Mac!”
She dropped the reel, twisted, and her arms windmilled to no avail. In a blink she found herself thrashing in the shallow water at the pond’s edge. A frog stared at her from a nearby lily pad. Mac didn’t know which of them was more surprised. She jerked back and scrambled to her knees, turning in the water to face the bank. She swiped water from her face as Dane doubled over with laughter.
Mac scowled at him when he held out a hand and she gave a second’s thought to pulling him in beside her. Disappointment soured her stomach as all their careful planning came to an abrupt end. She struggled to her feet, found her balance in the gently lapping water, and brushed past him.
“Mac.”
She stomped to her car. Whatever animals prowled the bank at night could have the food in the basket. She was freezing, he was laughing at her, and she just wanted to go home.
“Mac.”
She fumbled for her keys, pausing when the plaid picnic blanket came around her shoulders and his arms enfolded her.
“Mac, I’m sorry. It was just a plastic worm.”
She closed her eyes and bit her lip.
“See?”
His hand opened and she looked down. It was plastic all right, and purple. She’d humiliated herself, again, and it wasn’t even a real worm. Mac’s shoulders drooped. Was there no way to be anything more than needy or embarrassed where Dane was concerned? Despite Riley’s motivation, her son had stolen from him, she’d tried to seduce him in the middle of the park, and today...? Strike three.
“You made such a big deal out of your purple spinner, I was just giving you a hard time. I didn’t think you’d end up in the water. Forgive me?”
Mac picked at her sodden clothes grateful he couldn’t see her face and the tears that pricked her eyes. “I need to go home.”
He pulled her closer. “You don’t really fish, do you?”
His breath on the back of her neck made her shiver. Mac tried to convince herself that it was the chill of her damp clothes.
“Mac?”
“Nope,” she admitted, embarrassed to her toenails. “Was I that obvious?”
Dane turned her around and lifted her chin until her eyes met his. He picked a piece of water grass out of her hair and tossed it aside. “Well, the picnic for two was a little over the top, but that didn't give it away.” He bent his head and leaned his forehead against hers. “That’s the rod I gave Jesse for Christmas last year.” His eyebrows lifted. “Dead giveaway.”
She might just die of shame. “We...” Mac swallowed. “I thought if we had something in common, you and me, we...” Mac sighed and took a second swim, this time in the frigid waters of honesty. “Jesse told me about Sabrina. I wanted you to think of me as more than just another needy woman.” She pulled her chin away and lowered her head. “I was trying to impress you.”
His chuckle rumbled in her ears as he pulled her close. “You did all this for me?”
She nodded against his chest.
“A total waste of time.”
Mac’s heart sank at his words. She tried to pull away.
He raised her chin a second time and stared into her eyes. “Mac, you had me that first day in your shop when you stared down your nose at me and warned me to take care of your babies. You were so beautiful and so sincere.”
Mac bit her lip and fought tears. She would not disgrace herself again today. “Really?” she whispered.
“Really.”
Dane cupped her face and lowered his mouth to hers. Mac sighed against his lips as his kiss sent her heart soaring toward the middle of the pond in a perfect cast she had no desire to reel in.