“Hey, look,” I call out to get their attention and point to the enclosure I’m standing by.
The two of them were just happily walking ahead of me, off in their own little world. And for a moment, the briefest moment, I let myself believe this was something more. I know Max likes me, I know he’s extremely interested in me, otherwise he wouldn’t be here. But seeing him holding Hope’s hand, trying to keep up with her as she skips along—her blonde pigtails swinging to and fro—from back here the two of them look just like the other fathers and daughters walking around here. And it was such a beautiful sight, such a beautiful thought, it hurt.
“What’s up?” he asks as the two of them turn around and walk back to me.
“You’re walking past the best animal here,” I smirk.
Hope drops Max’s hand and walks up, grabbing onto the safety rail. Lifting up on her tiptoes, her eyes scan the cave-like structure. “What animal is it, mommy?”
Hunching down, I wrap my arm around her shoulder and then point to the big brown ball of fuzz curled up in the corner. “There. He’s being a lazy butt, napping in the corner.”
Max snorts behind me, amused.
I cast him a quick glance over my shoulder. “Isn’t he like family? Aren’t you going to say hi?” I ask innocently.
“Nah,” Max says coming up behind me. “You don’t wake a sleeping a bear.”
“I thought the saying was don’t wake a sleeping tiger?” I retort.
“Yeah,” Max rumbles, and he’s standing so close now all the little nerves in my body are suddenly hyper aware. “Don’t do that, either.”
“Look, Mommy!” Hope bounces up and down, drawing my attention back to her.
The bear stretches out on his back, waking up from his nap.
“What do they say about bears?” I wonder out loud as the bear in the enclosure scratches his belly before rolling over onto all four paws. “Oh yeah, it’s don’t poke the bear, right?”
Hope isn’t even paying attention to us anymore. She’s watching the grizzly with rapt attention as it stalks around, straining her little body against the safety bars.
“Yeah, I think that’s what they say,” Max answers, bending over me, his breath hot against my ear.
I shiver and feel myself leaning back, molding against him. His lips brush against my ear and I have to fight back a moan. It’s been a hellish week of seeing him every night for dinner but unable to do anything about all this sexual tension building between us because I had to work.
“This bear can’t stop thinking about poking you,” he whispers.
With a flush of heat, I pull away before I completely forget myself.
It’s insane how he can get me so worked up with so little effort on his part. It’s like my body has this secret dial that gets cranked all the way up when it comes to him. Everything is more amplified, every touch, every whisper, every promise is felt tenfold.
“Mommy!” Hope squeals and backs away from the safety rail as the bear stalks towards us. She’s afraid, and honestly I can’t blame her. From afar the bear is all fat and fuzzy, deceptively cute. But as the beast stalks closer, its size and eyes are fierce and intimidating.
“It’s okay, honey,” I say and pull her closer. “It can’t get to you.”
Besides the safety railing there’s a small ravine carved into the artificial stone separating the bear from us, but still the animal seems determined to reach us. After stalking back and forth and accepting that it can’t cross the ravine, the bear leans back and stands up on his hind legs for extra height.
“Mommy,” Hope whimpers, clutching at my skirt.
“It’s okay—“ I start again but Max steps in.
“Come here, little one,” he rumbles and gently pries her fingers off of my skirt.
She turns to him and grabs at his shirt, clinging to him now. As he swings her up into his arms, she lets out this little sigh like all is right in the world now.
Max chuckles and we share a brief look. My heart is heavy in my throat.
Walking back up to the rail, Max stares the bear down until it lowers down to all fours and wanders away.
“Even if he could get across,” he reassures her as she lays her little head against his big shoulder. “I’d never let him get to you.”