Page 14 of Her Surprise Vacation Date

“The way I see it,” Shane drawls in his trademark lighthearted tone, “the only thing you can fault yourself with is being interested in guys whose names rhyme with the worddread.”

A chuckle bubbles out of me, followed by another, then another. I feel like a can of soda that’s been shaken and opened, allowing all its contents to spill over. Relief replaces my self-pity, and I’m left feeling thankful. Even though this vacation didn’t start out the way I’d planned, God’s been gracious to turn things around. Shane’s sense of humor is like a dose of sunshine that I have the privilege of basking in. It’s not harsh like Arizonian summers, but warm and toasty like socks fresh from the dryer.

My sides are sore and happy tears leak out onto my cheeks. I can’t remember the last time I laughed this much. As I’m catching my breath, I lift my lashes and see the huge grin lighting up Shane’s face. He’s in his element, completely at ease and looking pleased that he got me to smile.

“Okay, that was a good one. I’ve learned my lesson. From now on, I’ll be staying away from any more Neds and Freds.”

“Not to mention the Eds, Teds, and Zeds of the world. Oh, and the Jeds and Reds.”

I roll my eyes. “Yes, I got it.”

“And don’t forget about the Breads?—”

“Shaney!” My hand flies to my mouth. “My bad, that just slipped out! In my defense I plead temporary exasperation! You’re too hilarious!”

“Your plea is accepted.” He blows on the fingernails of his right hand, then rubs them against his shirt. “It’s not easy being so gorgeous and hilarious all the time. You’re making me work on this vacation. I’m going to need some sustenance soon. It’s a good thing we’re almost there.”

“We’re here?” I suddenly realize the scenery outside the car windows has changed. We’re no longer on the highway, but on some local roads, and there’s the makings of a quaint town ahead of us. “We’re here! Don’t worry, Solvang has so much yummy food, I’m sure we’ll find something good for you to eat. The best part is their bakeries. I can’t wait to try an Æbleskiver.”

“A what-ver?”

“An Æbleskiver. It’s a ball of dough the size of a tennis ball that’s fried and then topped with powdered sugar and raspberry sauce! Doesn’t that sound divine?”

He replies with a smirk, “Divine? It sounds kinda doughy.”

“Hey, no dissing it until you try it!” I grab my phone and pull up the itinerary I put together of places to visit this week. “The Danish Mill Bakery is down the road from the inn we’re staying at. Let’s go there after we check in.”

“Sure thing.”

After a few minutes of driving past a giant windmill and many buildings with colorful roofs and trims, we pull up to New Haven Inn. Its cobblestone walls and white picket fencelook like something out of a storybook. The adorable vibe of this place, as well as the whole Danish village, lifts my spirits. I may have lost Amelia’s gift, but I’m sure there’s a store around here with cute merchandise. The thought of strolling the streets with a pastry in hand gives me hope that all is not lost. Having Shane by my side isn’t bad either, even if we have to share a room. I bet that if we set some guidelines, we’ll have no problem being temporary roommates.

“Let me get the door for you,” Shane insists. He’s out of the car and rounding the front of it to my side before I can object. He opens the door and offers me his hand like a perfect gentleman.

I accept it, allowing my fingers to disappear in his warm grasp. “Thank you, Shane.”

He tugs on my hand and leads me a step to the side while he closes the door. “It’s my pleasure.” His smile widens as he places one hand on the roof of the car above me and leans in. “I’ve been thinking, I don’t mind you calling me Shaney. It has a certain appeal coming from your lips.”

“Um, okay. Shaney it is.”

Goosebumps form along my arms and I have trouble swallowing. Did his voice get deeper somehow? And why is he still holding my hand? My senses are on high alert as my legs turn into sticks of Jell-O. Shane’s musky, woodsy scent invades my space, making me highly aware of his closeness. Is he leaning in for a reason? My brain’s telling me not to overthink things, that I must be imagining the unspoken tension between us. This is likely the case since I have a pretty good track record of misreading signals from the opposite sex. Also, the fact of the matter is that there is no way my best friend’s little brother would be flirting with me.

Right?

CHAPTER 8

Shane

“We’re not socks,but I think we’d make a great pair.” ~Unknown

Who knew being an EMT would come in handy when relating to the opposite sex? So far in the time that I’ve spent with Hope, I’ve picked up on a telltale physiological sign that confirms she’s affected by my presence. Every time I get close to her, her pupils dilate. Those black dots grow larger until they nearly eclipse her pretty blue irises. It’s a sure sign that she’s either attracted to me—or that she’s in fight-or-flight mode.

I do hope it’s the former.

We’ve made it to the heart of Solvang, and the town isn’t half bad. The locals are friendly, the tourists seem happy, and my vacation date couldn’t be more pleasant.

Vacation associate, I mean. I know I’m jumping the gun, but there’s nothing I’d like more than to stroll these streets hand in hand with Hope, just like the other couples around us.But for now, I’ll settle for being her glorified shopping buddy instead.

“I was bummed that we couldn’t check in to the inn yet,” she remarks as she gestures for me to enter yet another store, “but I don’t mind so much now. I love wandering these little shops, don’t you?”

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