Kayla decided to call her dad and make sure everything was alright. She dug in her purse and dialed his number.
"Hey dad." She said when he answered.
"Hey sweetie, what's up?" He asked.
"Nothing really, well I'm at Shane's house right now." She said.
"What, why are you in New York?" He asked.
"Well Shane decided I needed a vacation so he brought me here." She said.
"Okay… are you alright?" he asked.
"Yeah I'm fine, would you mind watching the boys until I get back?" She asked.
"Yeah no problem." He said.
"I know this is sudden and all I'm still getting used to it myself, I'll explain later." She said.
"Okay I love you." He said.
"I love you too dad." She said and hung up.
She got up and went to find Shane. She finally found him in what appeared to be a home office. He was hunched over a huge desk scribbling furiously. He had unbuttoned the first three buttons of his shirt and had loosened his tie. His thick dark hair was disheveled from him running his hand through it. His brow was creased in frustration and he was scowling.
"No I can't be there tomorrow. I told you I have something to deal with; I'll take care of it." He said and hung up.
He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. He looked up as if sensing her. She met his troubled gaze and tried to smile.
"Hey." She said uncertainly.
"Hi." He said and tugged at his tie as if it had suddenly become too tight.
"If you need to get back for something go." She said.
"No it's fine, they just like being jackasses, and they're capable of doing it themselves." He said.
"Plus I'm going to make sure you relax for a week." He added.
"Shane I'm a big girl I can take care of myself." She said.
"I don't want to fight Kayla." He said tiredly.
"Okay, we'll talk about this later, how about I make us something to eat?" She asked. "You're supposed to be relaxing." He reminded her.
"I like cooking." She said simply and walked away.
Shane wandered into the kitchen an hour later. He had sat determinedly in his office despite the tempting mouth watering smell that was wafted from the kitchen. Kayla was tossing a salad and there were pots on the stove and something in the oven. She was humming softly to herself.
"What are you making?" he asked leaning against the door jamb.
She looked up startled.
"Fettuccini Alfredo, French bread, and a salad." She said.
"Sounds good." He said.
"It should be done in five minutes." She said.
He nodded and moved to grab dishes. He set the table than washed his hands.
"Can you teach the boys that?" She asked.
He laughed,
"My mom taught me." He said.
"We weren't allowed at the table until we were spotless, she practically made us change." He said laughing at the memory.
"I wish I could do that with Luc and Brandon." She said.
"It was that look and tone of voice. When she gave you that look and spoke in that voice you stopped dead in your tracks and behaved." He said with a shudder.
"If you didn't did she tell your dad?" she asked.
"No, she dealt with us herself; she used to make me wish my dad would punish us." Shane said.
Kayla laughed at his look.
"She wouldn't yell or hit us just that voice and look. She made you feel like a bug." He said.
"Linda she's so nice and friendly." Kayla said.
"Appearances can be deceiving." Shane muttered.
"I guess." Kayla agreed.
She put the salad bowl and bread in a basket and set it on the table. Then she started serving him.
"You didn't have to do that." Shane said.
"Oh, sorry, habit." She said and flushed.
"I don't mind it but I don't expect it." He said.
She sat down and they began to eat. After they had finished Shane insisted on cleaning up.
"So, what do you want to do?" Shane asked after he was finished.
"I don't care, it's up to you." She said.
"I'm not the one on vacation." He said.
She smiled and laughed,
"You're too good to me, Shane." She said.
He cocked a dark brow at her.
"You deserve to be treated like this." He said.
She blushed and looked away.
"No I don't." she said quietly.
He walked towards her and grabbed her chin. He gently tipped her chin up so he was looking at her.
"Yes, you do, Kayla. You deserve so much." He said.
"Shane, I love you. You're so good to me." She said.
He ducked his head.
"I do Shane." She said.
"I know… like a brother." He said.
"All I ask is that you give me time. This is all new to me." She said.
He smiled at her.
"I'd give you whatever you wanted." He said, lightly brushing his lips across her brow. She hugged him and sighed. He wrapped his arms around her and held her to him. They decided to stay in and watch movies and talk. They got everything ready and sat on an oversized couch. By the end of the movie they were cuddling and sharing a blanket. She sighed in contentment, and tipped her head back and looked at Shane. He looked down at her.
"What?" he asked.
She shook her head and nestled against him. He didn't object he started the next movie.
Shane slowly opened his eyes. His eyes adjusted to the blueish glow from the TV. He looked down and seen Kayla cuddled against his chest, his arm wrapped around her. He smiled. He got to his feet and yawn, then turned off the TV and cradled Kayla in his arm. He carried her upstairs.
"Shane?" she asked sleepily.
"Go back to sleep baby." He murmured as he started to lay her down on her bed.
"Don't go." She asked.
"Okay, I'm going to bring you in my room. It has a bigger bed." He said.
She nodded and closed her eyes, and fell back asleep. He laid her down gently and crawled in next to her. He pulled her into his arms and fell asleep watching her. Kayla slowly awoke the next morning, and became aware of her surroundings. She glanced over and seen Shane sleeping peacefully, his arms locked about her waist. She tried to get up but Shane tightened his grip and mumbled. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand and sighed. She wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. It was only 6:30 but she was used to waking up this early for work and with the boys. She laid there staring up at the ceiling and occasionally glancing at Shane. He seemed deep in sleep. Sleep slackened his strong jaw so it didn't look so stubborn, his dark thick lashes concealed his vivid brown eyes and he was smiling. His eye lids flickered as he slowly woke up. "Hey." He mumbled sleepily.
"Good Morning." She said cheerily.
"Sleep well?" He asked and yawned.
"Yeah, did you?" She asked.
"Like a baby." He replied and glanced at the clock then groaned.
"Why are you up so early?" he said.
"I get up at 6 am every morning." She replied.
"Go back to sleep." He demanded.
"I can't I'm used to it." She said.
He groaned and sat up.
"Hungry?" he asked.
She shook her head as he walked into the bathroom. He came out a few minutes later freshly shaved. He had put on a wrinkled white t shirt and walked downstairs. She followed him curiously and watched him put coffee on then dig around in a cupboard and pull out a box of cereal and a bowl. He poured it and began eating. By the time he was done so was the coffee. He grabbed two mugs and handed her one as he poured himself some and drank deeply. She put cream and sugar in hers and sipped at it. They sat in companionable silence while they drank their coffee.
"Shane…" She said tentatively.
He looked up from his coffee,
"Yeah?" he said.
"About yesterday." She said.
"What about it?" He asked.
"Did you mean what you said?" She asked.
"Yes I meant it. Why would I lie about something like that?" He asked.
She could tell she had made him angry again. He was scowling as he gulped the rest of his coffee.
"I don't know." She said quietly.
"Just because some one said it and didn't mean it doesn't mean that everybody lies about their feelings." He said.
"I know it's just…" she said.
"Stop comparing everything I do to him. I'm not a little boy I'm a grown man. I know what I feel and if you knew me at all you'd know I don't lie, especially to people who matter to me. You matter to me Kayla as a friend and much more. I didn't ask to fall in love with you I just did because you're are you." He said.
"What's so special about me, Shane?" She asked.
"Everything… I don't know how to explain it. You're pure, innocent, compassionate, loving, kind, you do more for others than what you do for your self." He said.
"That's just the way I am though it's nothing special." She said.
"That's what makes you so special, you don't try you're just you." He said entwining their fingers together.
She shyly smiled at him. He grinned back at her.
"What do you want to do today?" He asked.
She looked around and shrugged.
"I don't know, what do you want to do?" She asked.
Shane sighed, "I want to spend time with you, whether it be shopping or catching a movie." He said.
"I don't know I've never really been to this area, what's fun to do around here?" She asked.
Shane smiled,
"How about we just wander around until we find something to do?" He asked.
"Okay." She said.
She got up and went upstairs to change. They were ready to leave when her cell phone rang.
"Hello." She said.
"Mommy where are you?" Luc asked.
"Tell her I say hi, Luc." Brandon said in the back round.
"I'm with Shane, why, what's wrong?" She asked instantly concerned.
"Nothing we just wanted to know what you were doing." Luc said.
"Tell Uncle Shane I say hi." Brandon said.
"Hey what are you two doing with my phone?" some one yelled in the background.
"Uh oh!" They both said.
There was a lengthy pause and then
"Hey."
"Hi." She said.
"Sorry about them bugging you, I guess you can't leave them alone for five minutes." Paul said.
She laughed.
"No you can't, are they being good?" She asked.
"Little angels." He said.
"Don't lie to me I know my boys are more than a handful." She said.
"No they're fine I have everything under control, Luc, Brandon put that down!" he said. She laughed again.
"Everything under control huh Paul." She said.
"Hey were fine, have fun, relax don't worry about it." He said.
"Okay, if they get to be to much just call me." She said.
"Okay, well I guess I'll talk to you later, here Brandon wants to talk to you." He said. "Hi mom." He said.
"Hi sweetie." She said.
"I love you mom have fun, and I promise we'll listen to Grandpa, and everyone else." He said.
"Okay sweetie I love you." She said.
"Love you too mom, bye." He said.
She hung up the phone and laughed. Shane chuckled at her.
"What's so funny?" She demanded.
"Nothing." He said as he grabbed her hand and opened her door.