Chapter 6 #2
She picked up a different rod. “This is a jigging rod. It’s more flexible than the sturdier rods used for deep-dwelling fish. No casting involved. You won’t have to lower your bait to the bottom, just to the depth where Dad says. That’s where the jigging starts.”
Demonstrating, Kylie began moving the rod. “You’re pretending that your bait is injured when you jig your rod. It tempts the fish to bite, and hopefully, they’ll be caught.”
She set the rod down and then tilted her head back, soaking up the sunshine. They didn’t speak again until her dad slowed and then stopped the boat several minutes later.
“We’ll be here a good two hours,” she told the threesome. “No one has been near this spot this season. You’re in for some good fishing. I may even do some myself.”
Ben and Lisa moved their chairs, both wanting to be on the starboard side. Dad appeared with a rod and pulled a chair close to them, and the three older adults began baiting their hooks and talking, old friends enjoying a sunny day on the water together.
Kylie told Zane, “You can stay at the rear if you prefer. Or move around some if you don’t get any nibbles.”
He stood and stretched. Glancing around, he said, “Let’s try port side.”
Zane lifted both their chairs and moved them to the left side of the boat.
She picked up the rod she wanted him to use, as well as the bucket of bait, and joined him, noticing that with the height of the boat, they were out of sight of the others.
It made her wonder if Zane might want to make a move of his own, and she found her heart racing at the idea.
She took her seat and handed him the rod as she set the bucket on the deck.
“You bait it,” she told him. “I’ll judge your technique.”
“Oh, you will?”
“I’m an expert.”
“How was my baiting when we trolled?”
She shrugged. “Seven. Seven-and-a-half, tops.”
His gaze bore into her, causing a shiver to dance along her spine. “I’m used to getting the top number.”
“So am I,” she challenged. “After all, I was the class valedictorian. Where did you rank, Wagner?”
He slipped his bait onto the hook. “Not close to number one. Back in high school, everything came easily to me. I didn’t bother to study much. I’d rather bust my ass on the playing field.”
“Your sports?”
“Lacrosse. Basketball. But my heart was mostly into track.”
“Hmm. I ran track.”
He glanced down. “You look like you still run. You have great legs.”
She wouldn’t let him fluster her and glanced down at his. “Your legs aren’t bad, either. You still run?” she asked, knowing he did from her research into him.
“All the time. When I’m not working—and that’s most of the time—I train for marathons. I’ve also done some triathlons.”
“I’ve never run a marathon. I wasn’t a cross country runner. I usually ran the two and four hundred meters and anchored our relay team. I admire people who can run long distances.”
He pretended to puff up. “Glad you recognize my accomplishments. Seriously, I escape when I run. My body just goes on autopilot. I do some pretty deep thinking when I’m pounding the pavement. Almost all my good work ideas come from when I run.”
“Where do you usually train in New York? I know Wagner Enterprises is based there.”
Zane smiled. “It’s a great place to train.
A great variety of parks and trails. I run a lot in Central Park because that’s out my front door, and it’s got some nice hills.
I also run the Hudson River Greenway along the west side.
It’s flat. A good place to build endurance.
If I’m bored, I’ll cross the Brooklyn Bridge and go to Prospect Park. It’s also full of challenging hills.”
He paused. “But my favorite training ground is Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. The terrain is varied. I’ve found the hilly parts help in training for New York’s Marathon.
I’m going to be running it again this year.
Wasn’t available to compete last year, so I’m eager to get on the course.
Now’s the time to get serious about it.”
Her interest piqued. “This early? When is the race?”
“Early November. Most of the runners base-build starting at twenty weeks out. That way, you increase your mileage and quality of your training gradually. You don’t want to rush and cram in those final weeks. That’s a recipe for disaster.”
“Go on,” she encouraged, fascinated not only by what he was saying.
But by him.
“Hill workouts are really important. NYC is known for big elevation changes, so you have to put in the time with hills in order to be fully prepared. Besides running, I work on leg strength. Different squats. Burpees. I even work on some upper body strength because arm movements affect your leg speed, plus having a strong back helps with your breathing.”
“I think you could be a track coach,” she told him. “You’re really knowledgeable.”