“Oh my god. Oh mygod.” Forgetting all about the people around them, she let out a loud squeal of pure, unadulterated joy as she launched herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“You’re welcome, babygirl.” Pulling back slightly, he fixed her with a stern look that was completely ruined by the grin still tugging at his lips. “But you have to promise to be a good girl and listen to the workers and do exactly what they tell you.”
“I promise, I promise! I’ll besogood, I swear.” The wordDaddytrembled on her tongue, but she had enough awareness to remember to hold it back at the last minute.
“I know you will. Come on, let’s get our food and then we can head back downstairs.”
She wasn’t sure how the hell she was supposed to eat with her stomach jumping from all the excitement, but she wasn’t about to argue and risk him cancelling their plans. Still, she was only able to eat half her chicken tenders and fries, which Daddy sighed and shook his head over, but he didn’t push the rest on her.
When they’d both finished, he cleared their trash and took her hand again to lead her back downstairs. With every step, the excitement built inside her, until she was practically shaking with it.
“Hello!” They were greeted at the designated spot by a bright-eyed man about Dylan’s age. Even with the beard partially obscuring his face, his smile was warm and welcoming. “My name’s Cody, and I’ll be your guide for the shark and ray encounter.”
“Hi, Cody. I’m Dylan, and this is Samantha.” Dylan looked down at her and grinned. “She’sveryexcited to meet the sharks.”
It took every bit of self-control she had not to lose herself in her Little space as she bounced on her toes. “I am! Can I pet them?”
“You can, actually. We’ll have a few rules to go over, but once we’ve covered everything you’ll be able to pet the sharks and even feed the stingrays. Follow me.”
As he led the way to the ‘backstage’ area of the aquarium, Sam followed along, her hand clasped in her Daddy’s as she craned her neck to try and take everything in. She knew she was supposed to be listening to Cody, but being behind the scenes at one of her favorite places was justso freaking cool.
“Samantha Kay.” The quiet rumble of her Daddy’s voice distracted her from her exploration and she looked up at him, her cheeks heating with embarrassment.
“Sorry. There’s just so much to see.”
“I know, baby, but you’re supposed to be listening to Cody. If you don’t listen, you won’t be allowed in the water. Understood?”
Of all the threats he’d issued during their time together, that was easily the most effective. “Yes, Sir.”
After that, she kept her focus locked on Cody as he walked them through the encounter, the rules for interacting with the animals, how their wetsuits should fit, everything. By the time she was standing beside the shallow pool, she didn’t even care that the wetsuit clung to every single curve of her body.
She just wanted to pet a freaking shark.
Linking his hand with hers again, Dylan squeezed to get her attention. “Ready for this, babygirl?”
“I’ve been waiting my wholelifefor this.”
With a loud laugh, he helped her into the water, and they perched on the spot Cody directed them to.
And then the sharks came, and her entire being lit up with pure joy.
A pretty white one came by first, swimming right up to them so she could run her hand over its back.
“Oh,” she sighed, her heart trembling in her chest. “She’s sosoft. I thought she’d feel rougher.”
Cody grinned. “Everyone is always surprised by how smooth they are. Oh, here comes Dotty.”
Dotty, it turned out, was a gorgeous zebra shark covered in black spots. And Sam fell in love at first sight for the second time in her life. The first, of course, being when she’d given birth to Ethan.
It was, hands-down, the most incredible experience of her life, with the sole exclusion of the day she’d become a mother. And even then it was a very,veryclose second.
When they’d pet all the sharks and fed all the rays, they were escorted back to the locker room to change out of their wetsuitsand back into their civilian clothes. They said their goodbyes to Cody and Sam turned to look up at her still-grinning Daddy.
“Did you have a good time, baby?” he asked, sliding his arms around her waist and pulling her flush against him.
“Thebesttime. Thank you.” Wrapping her arms around his neck, she rose up on her toes to press a kiss to his lips. “Seriously. This is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“Good. I want to give you all the romance you deserve, Sam.”
