“Okay. I’m ready,” she said.
Dane held out his hand, and Lacy took it, then went to the side of the tank. Dane’s eyes never left her face, and knowing he was beside her gave her strength. I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m fine. Lacy held her breath. She reached her hand toward the water, and it began to tremble. She took a few deep breaths. Dane let go of her other hand, enabling her to hold the edge of the tank; then he rested his hand firmly on her lower back once again.
“Go slow, Lace,” he whispered.
Lacy nodded, reaching forward again. She broke the surface of the water with her index finger as the pup swam beneath, brushing its rough skin against the pad of her finger. She pulled her hand back to her chest with a gasp, her eyes still trained on the water.
Dane leaned in closer. She felt his warm breath on her cheek. “I’m right here.”
She nodded, then looked at Sara. “May I? One…one more time?”
Sara nodded.
Dane stepped closer, his body against her side, one hand on the small of her back, the other on her hip. She reached in again as the pup swam below, and this time she reached down and closed her eyes. She shivered as the unfamiliar roughness marred the tender tip of her finger; then she drew her hand out of the water slowly.
“You’re trembling,” Dane said. He wrapped her in his arms and held her against his chest. His heart beat against her cheek. Lacy closed her eyes, and pride filled her heart. I’m fine. I did it, and I’m still okay. Dane pressed his arms tighter around her back, and when she looked up, his eyes were suspiciously damp.
Chapter Seventeen
“THAT WAS THE most incredible afternoon. I touched it, Dane. I touched the baby shark, and I didn’t panic. I didn’t pass out or run away in tears. I did it,” Lacy said.
They had spent another hour at the aquarium, and now they were on their way back toward Chatham. The sun hovered just behind the tree line, casting a pinkish gray over Route 6. Lacy hadn’t stopped talking since they’d left the research area, and to Dane, it was music to his ears. The enthusiasm in her voice mirrored the enthusiasm she’d had when he’d first met her in Nassau.
“I’m so happy for you, Lacy,” he said.
“For me? How about for you?”
Dane glanced at her. She’d bundled her blond curls in one hand and secured it with an elastic band at the nape of her neck. The blue of her eyes was vibrant and alive with hope. “God, Lace, you’re so beautiful,” he said. Shit. He was so afraid she’d pull away from him that he quickly covered his tracks. “Sorry. What do you mean for me?”
“Dane, you can tell me you think I’m pretty,” she said. “Thank you. I was surprised that you had told her about me.”
“You’ve been my world for the past year and a half. I told everyone about you, Lace,” he admitted.
For a minute she just looked at him, like she didn’t know how to respond or was waiting for him to say more. When he didn’t say anything more, she said, “This means I can probably get over whatever fear rattled me so badly on the boat.”
Dane wanted to take her in his arms and allow the joy he felt about her progress to sweep them both away, but he didn’t trust himself not to get carried away with her and push their friendship into a relationship, and that was not his call to make. He was determined to let her make that decision without any pressure.
Instead, he said, “That’s true. As I said, I’m happy that you’re conquering your fears. It will allow you to have a fuller, richer life, not hamstrung by fears.”
“Thanks…I think,” she said.
He could feel her eyes on him as he drove toward town. “Should I drop you at your cottage?” he asked.
“I guess.”
He heard the disappointment in her voice. Damn, how am I supposed to navigate this? I want you to fall in love with me, but if I act on my feelings, I’ll scare you away.
“I want to check on Rob,” he said.
“Oh, good idea,” she said. “I hope he’s doing okay.”
“Me too,” he said.
They drove in awkward silence to Lacy’s cottage. He walked her to her door, wishing he knew how to bridge the gap that had formed between them over the past twenty minutes. Damn it.
Lacy’s keys hovered over the lock. She spun around and looked up at Dane. “So, what now? I just follow the itinerary tomorrow?”
“Yeah, that works.” He tried to sound nonchalant, but he really wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her until she couldn’t speak.
Lacy nodded. “Tomorrow’s the Brave Exhibit?”
“Yeah,” he said.
She nodded again, looking down at her keys. “Dane,” she said.
“Hmm?” Invite me in. Let’s have some wine, laugh, talk. Anything. Just don’t say good night.
“I have to check in with my boss tonight. I’ll tell him that it’s a good fit after all.” She turned and unlocked the door.
Dane’s eyes dropped to the curve of her hips, but his mind was still playing over her words. A good fit after all. “Thanks, I appreciate that. I know today was stressful, but if overcoming fears was easy, no one would need immersion therapy.” Dane cringed.
“Immersion therapy?” Lacy drew her eyebrows together.
“I might have called a friend and asked her how to help you through your fear.” Dane looked away, focusing on a tree in the front yard. The muscles in his arms and neck tightened, as he expected her to be angry.
“You did that?” It wasn’t an accusation.
He turned to face her. A breeze swept curls across her cheek, and he reached up and tucked them behind her ear. She closed her eyes for just a second as his finger brushed her cheek, and she smiled, easing his worry.
“I did. I wanted to help,” he explained.
“Dane, I can’t believe you did that. That’s really thoughtful.”
She touched his arm, and his body cried out to embrace her again, but he was too damn nervous now. Baby steps. “I’m glad you’re not upset with me.”
She shook her head. “Just the opposite.”
He smiled. “Good. Tomorrow we’re going to see the Brave Exhibit. No live sharks. I promise,” he said. He kissed her cheek, trying to ignore the pull in his groin caused by the scent of her. “Good night, Lacy.”
He turned to leave, and as he descended the front steps, she called his name.
“Yeah?” he asked.
She held his gaze for so long that Dane almost crossed back the way he’d come to kiss her again.
“Thanks,” she said. “For everything.”
He nodded. “Sure. I only want you to be happy.” He went to his car and watched as she went into the cottage and closed the door behind her. Damn it. He hated the idea of leaving her again, but he took solace in the fact that he’d helped her today. At least that’s something.
He started the car, and before he drove away, he called Rob.
“Hey, Dane,” Rob said. He sounded rested and much stronger and clearer than he had when Dane had left him earlier in the day.
“Hey, buddy. How are you feeling?” He rubbed his temples with his thumb and index finger in an attempt to focus on Rob instead of how much he longed for Lacy.
“Fine. Good, in fact. I called Sheila. She’s going to bring the kids to the Cape,” Rob said. “And I went to an AA meeting earlier. I really appreciate your help, Dane, and I’m not going to let you down. I know how to slay this monster.”
Thank God. “That’s great, Rob, and I’m here if you need me. All you have to do is call. Day or night. I’ve got your back,” Dane said.
“You always do. Thanks, buddy. Are we sailing with your pretty lady tomorrow?” he asked.
Dane smiled and looked at the cottage. “Why don’t you spend tomorrow with Sheila and the kids. Get on better footing. We’ll go out the next day.”
“Man, that would be great. I’ll call Sheila now and let her know. All this crap came on so fast and stole my feet out from under me, Dane, and I’m really sorry. Actually, it seemed to come on fast, but as Sheila pointed out, she’s been after me for two years to leave the business. I’ve just been ignoring it,” Rob said.
“And?” Dane had the feeling Rob was about to drop a bomb he didn’t want to hear.
“Nothing. We’re working it out.”
Dane let out a relieved breath and pushed away the part of him that wanted to nag him for a clearer explanation. He knew when Rob was ready, he’d clue him in on the details.
“Hey, Dane.”
“Yeah?”
“Here’s to a good run,” Rob said.
“Yeah. A good run.” With Lacy and with you.
LACY’S STOMACH WAS doing flips. She’d hoped that Dane was going to at least try to kiss her goodbye, but he made no move toward her. He was a perfect damn gentleman. She hated the stupid promise she’d made. Why had she ever agreed to it? She’d be damned if she was going to be the one to break it.
She sent an email to her boss and let him know that things were going well and she was enjoying the assignment. Then she took a quick shower to clear her mind. Everywhere she looked, she saw Dane. She checked her phone for messages, but he hadn’t called or texted. Damn. She had to stop thinking about him. Lacy took her phone out to the deck and called Danica.