Her heartbeat sped up as she touched the model, but Lacy couldn’t tell if it was from the model of the shark or from her thoughts of Dane.
Dane ran his palm over the model beside Lacy’s hand. Their thumbs touched, and he looked down at her.
“You still okay?” he asked. His eyes darkened seductively as he held her gaze.
“I think so,” she said. Jesus, this is harder than the damn sharks.
“Should we move forward?” Dane asked.
Yes. God, yes. His eyes held her captive.
He motioned to the next model, and Lacy let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She forced her legs to move toward the next model. Get a grip. He’s doing something nice for you and you’re acting like a schoolgirl with a crush.
Lacy followed him to the next model, and when she reached for his hand, it was to settle her nerves.
“I’m right here. You’re okay.” Dane held her hand tightly and took a step closer so his chest was against her back.
Lacy nodded. She leaned back enough to feel the security of him. She stared at the model of the massive bull shark.
“That’s a bull shark. They’re very aggressive,” Dane said.
I’m okay. I’m okay. I’m okay. “One of the most common sharks,” she said.
“Yeah, they’re pretty common in warm waters,” Dane said. He put his hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I think so,” she said. “It was easier to deal with the smaller ones.” She turned to face him. Her eyes were an inch from his chest. She looked up. “I know they’re not real. I’m not sure why I’m so nervous.” Lacy wondered if what Danica thought was true. Was she nervous because of Dane and the sharks, or was her heart beating double time solely because of one or the other?
“Let’s not push it,” he said. He nodded down the hall.
Lacy followed his gaze to a sign that said, meet the sharks. She had to know if the issue was Dane or the sharks. She hadn’t had a panic attack yet, so maybe it had less to do with Dane after all.
“I want to try to go in, but I can’t make any promises,” Lacy said.
“I don’t know, Lace.”
She drew on the advice Danica had given her. I’m fine. They’re in tanks. It’s okay. “I don’t have to go all the way in if I get too nervous, but I think I want to try.”
He held her hand. “It’s your call, but if you feel anything bad, you have to clue me in.”
“Dane, you’ve been watching me like a hawk. You’ll know,” she said with a smile.
He nodded. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. I appreciate it.”
“Okay.” He took a deep breath, as if he were the one who was afraid of sharks. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good,” she lied.
He must have heard the hitch in her voice, because he squeezed her hand. She was thankful for the strength of his grip and the surety of him.
“You can hold my hand, but remember, no falling in love,” he teased.
She nodded, unable to pry her voice from her lungs. I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m fine.
They walked past the last two models without stopping and followed the signs to the shark exhibit. Beneath the arched entrance, Lacy came to an abrupt stop. Before them was a wall of glass, behind which were three sharks passing in quick succession. Lacy held her breath and looked around. The tank wrapped around the room, and the sharks followed a pattern around the room and then back again.
“They can’t touch you, Lace,” Dane assured her. “I’m right here, and I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
Lacy’s eyes were locked on the sharks as they swam a streamlined path around the tank.
“Lace?”
“Yeah?” I can’t do this. “I think I’d do better if they weren’t so big.”
“Let’s go, Lace. No need to push it,” he said.
Face your fears. Lacy closed her eyes and said, “Ask me questions.”
“What?”
She looked up at him, trying not to allow her urge to bolt to take over. “I can’t walk in there, but ask me questions about them. If I’m concentrating on facts, it’ll help.” She held his arm with her other hand. “They can’t touch me. I know that. But my heart is thundering, and I feel like I want to run away. Danica said to face my fears, and I’m trying my best. Please ask me questions.”
“What kind of sharks are they?” Dane asked. His eyes never left her face.
He stepped closer, and Lacy leaned in to his side to settle her shaking body. OhGodohGod. “Um…” She squinted, concentrating on defining the species. She looked at their shapes, their noses, the breadth of their bodies, their tails. “Is that a sand tiger shark?” She couldn’t release his arm to point to the shark as it glided past. She heard the trembling in her voice. I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m fine. “Right there, that one.”
“That’s my girl. Yes, a sand tiger shark,” Dane said.
My girl. Lacy tried to concentrate on what he’d said instead of the anxiety that prickled her nerves. She narrowed her eyes and scrutinized the sharks.
“That one there, I know what that is.” Lacy looked at Dane, then back at the tank. “That’s a…Oh, God, I know this. Oh, oh, a nurse shark, and probably a female, based on the size.”
“You’re right on target, Lacy,” Dane said.
When she looked up, she was met by his proud smile. She couldn’t force a smile to her own lips, but she felt a swell of pride for not running away—or passing out.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I think so. If I’m distracted, it’s much easier,” she said.
“I’ll try to remember that,” Dane said.
She didn’t miss the flirty note to his words.
“I think that’s enough torture for today.” It was a statement, not a request.
Dane guided Lacy down the hall. The minute they passed the large models, she felt the tension in her limbs ease.
He grabbed her arms with a beaming smile on his lips. “That was huge, Lacy. How do you feel?”
She blinked away the fear she’d felt when she was in the room with the sharks. “I…good, I think.”
“I’m so happy for you.”
He embraced her, and in his arms, the rest of Lacy’s anxiety dissipated. God, I love when you hold me.
“Since you did so well, I want to show you something really special.” Dane guided her away from the shark area, through another corridor, and stopped by a door marked private.
“I’m not sure we’re supposed to go in there,” Lacy said. If he thinks I’m going to make out in the aquarium, he’s very wrong. I think…
Dane knocked on the door, and a tall, thin woman with short brown hair opened the door.
“Dane Braden!” She opened her arms and Dane hugged her.
Lacy felt a pang of jealousy. Was this one of his other women? No. He wouldn’t bring me to meet someone he’d slept with.
“Sara, this is Lacy Snow,” Dane said, placing his hand on the small of Lacy’s back. “Lacy’s the one I told you about.”
Told her about?
“Hi,” she said. Dane’s hand remained on her back as they followed the woman into what appeared to be a laboratory, and the intimate touch made her feel special.
“Sara and I have worked on several research projects together. She has the greatest job,” Dane explained.
“So you’re the one who turned Dane’s heart into mush?” Sara said with a bright smile.
Lacy felt her face flush, and when she looked at Dane, she realized that he was blushing, too. The streak of jealousy she’d felt fell away with the love in Dane’s eyes.
“Yeah, I do have a pretty great job,” Sara said with a bright smile. “Lacy, come look at this tank.” She motioned to a tank that was about ten feet by six feet and the height of Lacy’s chest.
Lacy peered into the tank, aware of Dane’s hand, which now touched her shoulder blade. Inside the tank were two baby sharks. Lacy gasped.
“Dane, look,” she said, reaching for his hand.
He came to her side. “I know. Incredible, right?”
“It’s rare for shark pups to be born in captivity, and they usually perish, so we feel very lucky to have our newest little additions. These are sandbar pups. We’re cautiously optimistic about them,” Sara said. “I get to spend my days monitoring these little rascals.”
Lacy didn’t realize she was holding Dane’s arm until they stepped back from the tank. “Can I touch the skin of one? I read all about how thick their skin is, and…” She looked at Dane and drew in a deep breath, still holding his arm. “I think I know how rough it is, but can I just touch it with one finger?”
Sara and Dane exchanged a glance. Dane nodded.
“Normally we wear gloves when we handle the sharks, but Dane explained to me what you’ve been through. I’m glad to see you are interested in understanding our misunderstood friends. If you wouldn’t mind using that special soap”—she nodded at a sink to her left—“then yes, of course you may.”
Lacy’s heart raced. I’m gonna touch a baby shark. A shark! She was surprised by her lack of fear. There were no tremors running through her, her nerves didn’t feel like live wires, and when she looked at Dane and saw the concern in his eyes, she couldn’t help but feel proud.