Page 25 of Her Surprise Vacation Date

CHAPTER 13

Hope

“What didone boat say to the other? Are you up for a little row-mance?” ~Unknown

We head west a couple of miles to the most unlikely of all places for a date—Ostrichland USA. The setting’s quite appropriate considering that the idea of me and my best friend’s little brother hanging out together in a romantic sense is the last thing I expected to happen on this trip. Even more unlikely than me giving my luggage away, then spotting it at the inn—which is saying a lot. Shane is so sweet, amazing, and jaw-droppingly gorgeous and most importantly, interested in a long-term relationship with me. Me! What did I ever do to deserve a guy like him?

Apparently, nothing.

Meeting him again is such an unexpected gift, I can only attribute it to God’s grace. This undeserved favor from the Lord makes me glad that I couldn’t do anything to make Shane like me. It reminds me that so little is actually in mycontrol and that this miracle has to be an act of God. Kind of like hurricanes, tornadoes, and ostriches.

Yes, ostriches, because these birds have got to be the oddest and most fascinating creatures to exist.

“Look at them, Shaney!” I pull him along as we approach a wooden fence that separates us from acres and acres of open land. Dozens of ostriches hang out in the area, some sitting in the dirt while others wander about. A couple of the latter see us coming and eagerly walk over to us like we’re friends. By friends, I mean folks with food. The closer they get, the taller they appear, and I’m forced to crane my neck to see them. “They’re huge! They even tower overyou.”

“They look mighty hungry, too. We better give them what they want beforewebecome lunch.” Wincing, he points to a sign that reads,Yes, we like to bite!He raises the small skillet-like feeding pan that we got from the supply store when we entered, then offers it to the ostriches. Several of them take turns digging in with their big beaks, using so much force that Shane’s hand starts to bop up and down with each bite. He laughs, looking a lot more relaxed than I feel. “This is fun! Come on, Hope, try it!”

“Uh, I don’t know. With my luck, they’ll bite my fingers off.” I back away as more ostriches come our way. I’ve never had problems with birds before, but these guys are a lot bigger than the cactus wren, Arizona’s state bird. We’re talking 8 inches versus 8 feet of difference! I quickly hide behind Shane and his impressive biceps that are getting a workout. “Are you out of pellets? You can give them mine.”

“And let you miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience?” He looks over his shoulder at me with a big grin and a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. Then he tosses his empty feeding pan to the ground. “Come on, Hope, we’ll do it together.”

“Together? That’s really not neces?—”

Shane gently pulls me forward until I’m standing in front of him. I’m soon surrounded by muscles and a musky scent that’s a lot more pleasant than the foul smell of the fowl—homonym fully intended. With both arms, he encircles me in his warm embrace as we hold the pan together. His large hands wrap around mine, steadying my grip and silently reassuring me that everything will be okay. That if anyone’s fingers are at risk of becoming ostrich food first, they’ll be his. But more than that, Shane’s very presence brings a steadiness and a peace to my heart. This man knows me so well and accepts me, ornithophobia and all.

Maybe the two of us together isn’t such a crazy idea.

I feel so grounded, yet free. A joy I’ve never experienced before swells in my heart. My lips curve up in an easy smile. This moment reminds me of the scene fromTitanicwhen Jack holds Rose up on the bow of the ship. While there may not be a drop of water in sight and the breeze blowing in my hair isn’t ocean fresh, I share Rose’s sense of wonder. There’s a vast world out there before us with so much possibility. A world beyond beaks and feathers and two-toed flightless birds who are voracious eaters. “This isn’t that scary after all. Thanks, Shaney.”

“It’s my pleasure,” he murmurs into my ear. “You know what this reminds me of? You’ll never guess.”

“That scene fromTitanicwhere Jack helps Rose fly?”

“How’d you read my mind?”

The rumble of his deep laughter and his warm breath on my skin turn my legs into jelly. I twist my body slightly to look at his face, then smile. “Great minds think alike.”

He grins back, his face just mere inches from mine. “Do you know what I’m thinking now?”

I gulp as his gaze lowers to my mouth, telling me exactlywhat—or who—is on his mind. Shane wants to kiss me! This was so not part of my vacation itinerary, but I’m starting to realize that there’s no way to plan for everything. Surprises come in all sizes and forms—huge, small, crazy, fun, and amazing. This particular one—my surprise vacation date—is a bit of all of the above. And I’m starting to fall for him in a very big way.

I run my tongue along my lips and nod. “I think I have an idea. It’s something Jack and Rose do, right?”

“I would say yes, assuming you’re not talking about the two of us swimming in a freezing ocean?”

“Shaney, of course not!”

“That’s a relief.”

He brings the feeding pan, which I assume is empty now, down to his side and keeps one arm wrapped around my waist. The two of us share a chuckle, reminding me of how much I’ve laughed since we met yesterday. Was it only a day ago that Shane came back into my life? It feels like we’ve known each other forever, yet also not long enough. I lean back until his face is next to mine, and we’re close enough for him to touch the tip of my nose with his. I’ve never experienced an Eskimo kiss before, but I’ve read enough romance books to know how they work. I hold still, wondering if Shane will take the initiative or if I should. This kiss, our first, feels like such a momentous occasion, I don’t want to mess it up. I’m sure I’ll want to remember it forever, the moment when our relationship shifts from just friends to a whole lot more.

Relief fills me when Shane tips his head and touches his nose to mine. I’m filing away every memory as it takes place—the intensity in his hazel eyes, the strength of his fingers as they hold me against his torso, and aboom boom boomthat fills the air around us.

Wait a minute, what in the world is that sound?!

“Listen up, folks!” a man calls out beside us. “You don’t want to miss this!”

Shane and I are suddenly surrounded on both sides by people flocking—pun intended—to check out the thing we apparently don’t want to miss. I sure hope whatever it is, is spectacular and life-changing because it just interrupted a kiss that had the potential to be spectacular and life-changing.

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