The sun was rising as Travis and Jon stowed luggage and paraphernalia accumulated at the conference in the back of the Suburban, and Kim volunteered for the first driving shift. Travis and Suzanne were in the back, and Jon rode up front with her, phone in hand.

Suzanne expelled a long breath when they left the beautiful hotel grounds behind and headed out on the road home. “I’ve loved every minute of this trip. Except the wreck, of course. Yet right now I’d pay good money for a transporter instead of having to ride all those hours to get home.” Everyone muttered agreement. “I’m sure you’re eager to get back, Kim. Has the flu epidemic gotten any better, or have you heard?”

Kim wouldn’t tell them about the other call, the one from the radiology department. She wouldn’t share that with anyone until she had another mammogram done.

“I talked to my supervisor last night. When I get home, I’m needed at work.”

Travis whistled. “That’s harsh, but I get that they’re short-handed. I know we’ve said thank you lots of times, but really, we’ll owe you a debt of gratitude forever.”

She shook her head, partly to dislodge thoughts of her other task when she got to Serendipity. When her shift was done, and she went to radiology.

“Please, no debt of gratitude, guys. It’s been a good trip. Much-needed time away with beautiful scenery, new people.” She thought of her interactions with Jon. “I’m sorry my attitude stunk part of the time. I’m thankful you invited me. I haven’t taken a trip in a long time. Emily was pushing me to get some rest. So was my supervisor, who may now regret it.”

They had a lot of hours ahead of them, so she relaxed her back muscles and settled in for the drive. “Last vacation I took was unique too. A bunch of ladies I’m in a book club with had a very relaxed, decadent vacation together on a tropical island. Fun in the sand and sun and all that.” She pictured the beautiful Enchanted Island, hoping her mind could relax a little too.

“Oh? That sounds super!” said Suzanne. “With a book club, you say? A local group in Serendipity?”

Now she wished she hadn’t brought up the topic. Jon would, no doubt, have a low opinion of the whole thing. “Actually, it’s not a local group. It’s an online book club, and the members are from all over.”

“Really? I didn’t know online book clubs were a thing,” Suzanne said. “I’ve had my head on work for too many years, I guess. Haven’t belonged to a book club in ages. I used to attend one at our library once a month, but I had to drop out. Partly because I was working so many hours—we both were—that it just felt wrong to be out that evening when we could have spent time together.”

Travis interrupted. “May I interject that I didn’t ask you to drop out. Don’t make me sound like a brute.”

Suzanne laughed. “No, it was my idea. And besides the time crunch, I was at the point of dreading the announcement of the next book we would read. Most members wanted to stick to current best sellers, and we read some gruesome, depressing stuff. I’d suggest something lighter, but my ideas were nearly always overridden. So, yes, my heart wasn’t in the reading or in the meetings. What sort of stuff does your book club gravitate toward, if you don’t mind my asking?”

Kim did mind, but conversation made the miles slip by more quickly. “Romance,” she said softly. “We read romance novels.”

Silence reigned for a long moment.

“You’re kidding,” Travis said. “I was sure you’d say biographies, nonfiction, something—um—”

“Respectable?” Kim hoped her voice didn’t have an edge. “Whatever you think of romance novels, guys, if you haven’t read any, you really shouldn’t judge, you know.”

Suzanne laughed. “Well said, Kim. My husband is like most men, and a lot of women, I’ll wager. Quick to judge the contents of kissing books. I haven’t read a nice, take-me-away romance in way too long. That’s another item to add to my to-do list. So, tell me, what’s your favorite? Historical? Romantic comedy? Suspense?”

The guys were silent for many blissful miles, as Kim and Suzanne discussed favorite romance titles and authors. At one point, Suzanne told the guys they would do well to read some of the books mentioned, to get ideas about romance. Travis seemed almost receptive, but Jon was a lost cause. He’d never care enough to learn what a woman wanted. He’d try, instead, to tell her.