I woke up real early today like a kid on Christmas morning, but I wasn’t eager for presents, I was eager for Grace—just to see her, to spend time with her. It was the things she said and the things she didn’t say that drew me to her. She wasn’t like any other woman I had ever encountered. e other girls were like turnips. Sure, they were pretty, but what you saw was what you got, and they were mostly forgettable. Grace, she was like an onion: layered, complex, with so much to o er. Onions could be grilled, sautéed, baked, caramelized, roasted

—heck, even eaten raw. ey could take a dish to a whole new level with all the avor they packed. ey were unassuming but also surprising, just like Grace. I’d even used them as insect repellent in a pinch—sliced them open and rubbed them all over my skin.

Sitting on that porch with her last night, noticing how she was di erent

than anyone I’d met, made me realize I wanted to spend all my nights with her. I brewed a fresh pot of co ee and waited at the kitchen table with the local newspaper. I was ve pages into the paper, but I couldn’t tell you what I had read because my mind could only think of one thing, and that was Grace. I kept glancing at her bedroom door, hoping and willing she’d come out any moment now. I stood outside of it for a while, just listening. e morning chores and some much-needed property maintenance were done, so I had the whole day to devote to her—if she’d allow it, of course. I worried I might be encroaching on her space, but I’d get a good read on her today and decide

whether I needed to take a step back or a step forward.

Finally, the door creaked open, and I heard her soft footsteps pad the hallway. I tried to look as casual as possible, sipping at my co ee, ipping through the newspaper like I hadn’t been waiting for her to wake up. When she entered the kitchen, it was like all the air got sucked out of the room.

“Good morning,” Grace said. Her voice was quiet and raspy like she had just woken from a deep, deep sleep. I’m glad she felt comfortable enough to sleep soundly in my home.

I acted as though I was surprised to see her. “Morning.” Her hair was tied up in a ponytail, and she was still in her little white nightgown. Her face was almost fresh, but she had de nitely put some of that black stu on her lashes because it made her blue, blue eyes pop even more.

“How’d you sleep?” I asked.

She paused for a moment, biting at her lower lip. “Umm . . . ne.”

Shit. Grace clearly hadn’t slept well. Maybe it was the old mattress she was sleeping on. I considered o ering her my bed but stopped myself as that might come o as odd.

“Is it the mattress? I could go out and get you a mattress pad or something.

Just want to make sure you’re comfortable.”

“No, the mattress is ne. But . . . did you hear anything last night?” Her body language changed as she asked it like she was scared of the answer.

“Like what?” I tilted my head. “Around here, you’ll hear all sorts of stu at night.”

She bit at her lower lip again. “A scream.” “A scream? No, can’t say I heard that.”

Grace rubbed her forehead. “I must have been dreaming or something.”

She poured a cup of co ee and leaned her back against the counter. Grace wrapped both hands around the mug and took a sip.

“Maybe you were, but what kind of scream was it?”

“Like a woman screaming,” she said, peering over her mug at me.

“ at was probably an animal. e red fox’s mating call sounds like a

woman screaming. It’s near the end of their mating season too,” I explained.

“It’s rather haunting when you hear it because it sounds human.”

She stared into her co ee, not acknowledging what I said. It was like she was lost in thought.

“ ey’re another animal I gotta worry about. ey come after my chickens too at all times of the day. At least mating season keeps them busy so I don’t see too much of them this time of year,” I said with a chuckle.

Her eyes ickered as she nodded. Grace glanced at the table and then back at me. “What are you reading?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Just the paper.” I ipped a page.

“Anything interesting?”

I scanned the page quickly. I hadn’t read a damn single word of this thing. “Not really,” I settled on. “Got any plans for the day?”

She crossed her ankle in front of the other. “Relaxing, reading, maybe go for a run.”

I raised an eyebrow. “How about some shing?”

“Calvin Wells, are you trying to turn me into a country girl?” she teased.

I folded up the newspaper and placed it in the center of the table. ere she went saying my full name again, sending a shiver right down my spine. I sat tall in my chair. “I just might be.” I nodded.

“Well, I’d like that.” She brought the mug to her mouth again and sipped.

I stood and pushed in my chair. “Go and get your proper dirty clothes on, and I’ll meet you down by the river with the gear.”

She started toward her bedroom, calling over her shoulder, “It’s a date.”

A ush crept up on my cheeks and my heart rate quickened again as I watched her pad down the hallway. Her nightgown just barely covered her backside. I never wanted to see her walk away from me again.

“You’ve got to put a worm on the hook, silly,” I joked.

Grace dropped the line right in the water without casting it or putting anything on it. Her cheeks ushed as she reeled it back in. She was dressed in short shorts, cowboy boots, and a black tank top. I was sure there was nothing underneath it either. Grace de nitely made an e ort to make herself look good. Her lips were pink and glossy, her lashes long and dark, and her hair was slightly curled.

“A worm?” She crumpled up her face as she reeled the remainder of the line

in.

“Yes, ma’am. You ain’t gonna catch much without it.” I set my pole down

and grabbed the little tub of worms beside the tackle box. I pulled out a long, thick one covered in dirt. It squirmed as I tore it in half. I tossed part of it back in the container and held it out for Grace. e other half of it still wiggled.

e tail end would die shortly, so I always used that part rst. e half with the brain would survive and could generate a new tail if given the time.

“Here you are.”

She shook her head and pointed the tip of the rod toward me. Grace made her blue, blue eyes extra big and her lips extra pouty. “Will you put it on?” Her voice was baby-like, and she was de nitely working me to get her way, but I didn’t mind.

“Of course, I will.” I smiled. “With anything in life, you gotta have bait to

catch it. e trick is to get it all the way through from end to end, so it can’t get o the hook.” I poked one end of the worm and threaded it so there was just a half inch hanging o the end. She watched me intently. Her eyes

followed my ngers. I thought for sure she’d look away during this part, but

she was interested in learning. “ is will ensure no sh snags your worm clean o the hook before you get a chance to catch it.”

“ ere you are.” I let the hook fall from my hands. “See, it can still wiggle

but it can’t get o the hook. at’s the key. Now, you’re gonna cast it in.”

Grace held the pole in front of her and faced the river. She icked her wrist forward, but she didn’t open the bail. e threaded worm just spun in circles. She tried again a little harder this time, but once again the line didn’t release. I folded my arms in front of my chest and watched her try over and over, and then I let out a husky laugh.

“Are you laughing at me, Calvin?” She squinted and pursed her lips, but her face was soft.

“I would never.” I stood a few feet behind her. “Want some help?”

She smiled and nodded. Taking a couple steps to her, I felt her back up, pressing her butt right into me. A big whi of her sweet-smelling hair made its way to my nose as I wrapped my arms around her. I put one hand over hers on the handle and one hand over the other on the reel foot with a nger on the bail arm.

“ e key is to ick your wrists quickly, and when you cast forward, you open the bail.”

Grace nodded. She took another small step into me, and I nearly dropped the pole.

“Also, make sure you hold on to the pole rmly.” I laughed.

I created a slight bend in my elbow, guiding her with me, and then icked my wrist forward, releasing the bail. e hook cast through the air, clean across the river.

“I did it,” she said with a slight bounce.

“You did.” I took my hands o , giving her full control, and stepped back. “ anks.” She threw a glance over her shoulder at me.

“Anytime, Grace. Now, reel it in slow, and if you feel a tug, you’ll want to pull up on the pole quick and with force so you hook the sh. en, you bring

him in. e key to catching anything is patience though.” I put my hands in

my pockets and watched her slowly reel the line in. When she nished, she cast it just like I taught her—a perfect cast. I could watch her all day. She was persistent as she turned the handle, concentrating on the feeling of the rod in her hands. Each time she cast the hook back in the water, her face lit up. at was the thing about shing. Every cast was a new possibility of a great catch.

I grabbed two Bud Lights from the cooler and popped them open with a bottle opener. I handed one to her just as she was reeling her line in again.

“It’s not shing unless you have a beer,” I said.

Grace clinked her bottle against mine and we both swigged.

“ is is really nice.” She set the bottle down and cast again. She was a determined woman. I could see that the rst day I laid eyes on her.

I picked up my pole and baited the hook, casting right next to her, careful not to cross lines. “Shall we make it interesting?”

She raised an eyebrow and glanced over at me. “What’d you have in mind?”

“First one to catch a sh, the other one has to jump in this river.” “Let’s make it more interesting,” she said.

“Oh yeah? Like how?”

“First one to catch a sh, the other one has to jump in this river . . . naked.”

ere she was, surprising me again. I couldn’t help but smile.

She cast her line again and looked over, sizing me up. e corner of her mouth lifted in a challenging way.

“You got yourself a bet, Grace,” I said, casting my line in again. Her brows drew together as she focused on her task.

“Hope you like sh because you’re going to be swimming with them,” I teased as I cast another line.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Mr. Wells.” She peered up at me through her lashes and bit her bottom lip. If that was the look I’d get from Grace if she won, I’d lose every day of my life for her.

“Hey,” a voice from behind us called. Over my shoulder, Charlotte walked across the green pasture toward Grace and me. Her long, silky brown hair blew

in the wind, and the sun highlighted her freckles and tan skin. She was dressed

in a pair of shorts and her Dubois Super Foods polo, so I knew she’d come straight from work.

Grace glanced over her shoulder. “Who’s that?”

“ at’s Charlotte. She’s the one I was telling you about that helps out on the ranch.”

“Oh, your girlfriend?” she teased.

“My friend that’s a girl,” I said in a low voice. “She’s pretty.”

I didn’t agree or disagree and just kept my mouth shut instead. It was a trap

I was familiar with.

“Who’s this?” Charlotte asked, raising her chin.

“Hi, I’m Grace, Calvin’s Airbnb guest,” Grace said, extending her free hand while the other held the shing pole.

Charlotte looked at her hand and hesitated before nally nding her

manners and shaking.

“I’m Charlotte, Calvin’s good friend.” She pulled away from the handshake rather quickly. “How long you in town for?” Char asked. Her eyes brie y tightened.

“’Til next week.” Grace ashed a faint smile at me.

e two seemed to appraise one another like I do with my vegetables, deciding whether or not they’re ripe for the picking or, in some cases, rotten from the inside out and needing to be tossed instead.

“ at’ll be here in no time.” Charlotte’s eyes bounced to me. “What are you two doing?”

It was obvious what we were doing. Charlotte was acting funny. It was like

she had staked some sort of claim to me or thought she was being protective. She and I were friends, and we’d always be friends no matter what happened or didn’t happen between us.

“I’m teaching Grace how to sh,” I said proudly.

Grace threw a smile at me. “He’s a good teacher. I think I’ll catch a sh

before him.”

“We’ll see about that,” I taunted.

“I didn’t realize shing was included in your Airbnb package, Calvin.” Charlotte had a sour look on her face.

“I’m full-service here. Complete hospitality and total accommodations.

Whatever my guests want they get.” I nodded.

“You sound like one of them annoying local TV ads.” Charlotte chuckled. She glanced at Grace and then back at me. When no one laughed with her, she cleared her throat. “You mind taking a break and helping me with the eggs?

e store sold out, so I gotta be quick.”

“Of course. You okay for a bit without me?” I asked Grace.

“Yeah.” Grace turned back and cast her line in again. “It was nice meeting you, Charlotte,” she called over her shoulder.

“Likewise,” Charlotte said with a neutral look on her face. When her eyes landed on me, they brightened. “Shall we?”

I nodded and just as I started walking with Charlotte toward the pasture, Grace squealed.

“I got something!”

I quickly turned back. Charlotte let out a hu , but I didn’t care. Grace

icked her pole up and started reeling it in. She struggled to turn the handle. Whatever sh it was, it was sure putting up a ght. I ran over to Grace and wrapped my arms around her, placing my hands on hers.

“Nice and steady.” I helped reel it in with her. She looked up at me brie y and smiled.

“He’s a tough one,” I said as we got the sh right near the riverbank where I’d pull it out. “I like it when they ght.”

“You coming, Calvin?” Charlotte yelled. “I told ya I gotta be quick.”

I glanced over my shoulder. Her hands were on her hips, and her face was twisted up. Char was clearly not pleased, and I wasn’t sure if it was because of me or my house guest.

“Go ahead without me. I’ll be right over.”

She pursed her lips and turned on her foot, marching toward the pond. I

redirected my attention back to the sh and pulled it out of the water. “What is it?” Grace’s voice was full of excitement.

“ at right there is a walleye. He’s big, at least thirty inches, and I can make

some of the best sh fry you’ve ever had with it.” I grinned.

She held the pole while I walked over and grabbed the ice cooler. “We’re going to eat it?” she asked.

“Of course. at’s some good eating right there, a proper meal.” I took the

sh o the hook. He ailed and opped in my hands, trying to get away, but his fate was already sealed. And you can’t ght fate. I quickly stowed him in the cooler and closed the lid. He would die slowly on the ice, making for a tastier meal.

“I can’t believe I caught one,” she said.

“You’re a natural.” I placed an arm around Grace and pulled her into me, patting her shoulder. She wrapped her arm around my lower back and leaned her head against my chest. She t perfectly there like a missing puzzle piece. Fate.

“ ank you,” she said, looking up at me. I rubbed her shoulder. “Anytime.” “Calvin.” She uttered her lashes.

“Yeah, Grace.” My heart pounded, and I felt blood pool to my cheeks. “Hope you like sh because you’re going to be swimming with them.” She

laughed, and I pulled her in a little tighter, a smile stretching across my face.

She had her catch of the day, and I had mine. Grace just didn’t know it yet.

She was my catch.