Page 85 of The Christmas Romance Wish

Biting my lip, I say, “There’s one more place I’d like to stop before we get to Coco Key.”

“Anything for you.”

“You might not like it.”

“Try me,” Alex says, a great sport about hitting some boutiques and shops as we’ve traveled south.

“I don’t know if it’s your thing.”

“You’remything so whatever you want.”

“Disney?” I say, more a question than a statement.

“That would be a full day stop and have us arriving New Year’s Eve night. How about we go there on the drive back? Don’t forget about that.”

“But I’m going to be over here finalizing the manuscript.” However, getting to Coco Key on New Year’s Eve night is later than my brothers are expecting. Puffing a sigh, I say, “You’re right. Let’s look at our itinerary for the way back and maybe we can squeeze it in.”

“You grew up in Florida, I take it you’ve been to Disney before.”

“Yeah. I’ve, uh, been there.”

Alex lifts an eyebrow. “Why do you say it like that?”

“No reason.”

“There’s a reason.”

“I’ve been there a few times.”

“So three?”

“Several.”

“The general understanding of several is more than two or three but not many.”

“Right. Not many.”

“Emmie, how many times have you visited Disney World?” Alex asks, deadpan.

I sink in my seat. I’m not ashamed, but he’ll know the request to stop is because I’m getting nervous. “I’ve been there umpteen times,” I mumble.

“Fourteen?”

“Umpteen.”

“How many is that?”

Okay, I can’t keep this from him. “I’ve been to Disney seventy-four times.”

He almost swerves the van.

I add, “Not including Epcot and some of the other properties.”

“You were a princess. That’s why you’re nervous for me to visit because as soon as you step into the palace, the crown will appear and I’ll—” Alex pulls off at a scenic viewing area.

“What are we doing here?”

Silently, he gets out of the van and opens my door. Wrapping his hands around my waist, he helps me down. Without a word, he takes my hand and guides me to a vista of a broad marsh, dotted with saw grass and cattails. A stork wades in the shallows and stares at us for a long moment.

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