Choices of Fate (Fate Series) by S. Simone Chavous Read Free Book Online Page B

questions and concerns aside and made the decision soak in and savor this whole experience with him.
    While she was lost in thought, Ethan slipped up behind her and slid his arms around her waist. “So which animals would you like to see first?”
    “The dolphins.” Alexa replied without hesitation.  
    “Sounds like a plan,” Ethan said before he turned to the zoo president and asked. “Can you set up an up-close visit with the dolphins?”
    “Of course, Mr. Kellar. If you’d like we can even arrange for you to get in the water with them. I believe we even have wet suits that you can use.”
    Alexa squealed with excitement.
    Ethan laughed, “I guess that means we definitely want to get in the water.”
    Alexa couldn’t even begin to hide her enthusiasm. She was absolutely thrilled. Ethan grabbed her hand as they followed the gentlemen down several pathways and into an employee entrance of the Marsh Dolphin Theater.
    “If you could wait here a moment Mr. Kellar, I’ll fetch one of the trainers to get you suited up and escort you to the enclosure.”  
    Once they were alone, Ethan turned to Alexa who was fidgeting enthusiastically. “This is just a guess, but I get the impression that you are a little excited,” he smiled warmly as he teased, admiring her sweetness.
    “I’ve always wanted to swim with dolphins. It’s kind of silly, but when I was a little girl, I found this book about them in the library where I grew up that I checked out and sort of, uh, never returned.” She glanced at him nervously realizing that she just admitted to being a thief, even if it had been when she was little. Seeing only amusement and warmth in his expression, she continued. “I hid under my bed and would take it out at night and look at all of the pictures whenever I had a bad day or was feeling lonely. I didn’t really have the best childhood, and whenever things got really bad I would imagine that I lived alone on a deserted tropical island with a beautiful lagoon. I would swim there with a pair of young dolphins that got separated from their family, just like me.”
    Surprised with herself, Alexa looked over at Ethan. “I’ve never told anyone that before. It’s a little embarrassing, but that dream got me through some hard times.”
    “Do not feel embarrassed, you have a beautiful imagination. I am sorry that you ever had to feel so alone.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, placing a chaste kiss on her lips. “You can tell me anything, Amor. I want to know everything about you.”
    Alexa felt a rush of elation hearing his desire to know about her and the term of endearment, even if it was in another language. She had taken some Spanish classes in high school and though she wasn’t entirely fluent, she understood a lot of the language. Her elation was quickly followed by a twinge of guilt knowing there was one thing about her he could never know. Her ability had to remain a secret. That was a lesson she had learned the hard way and it was one she would not soon forget.
    Just then, the trainer walked in and they were suited up and climbing into the dolphin enclosure before she could give it another thought. They spent nearly an hour feeding and interacting privately with the dolphins. Alexa felt as giddy as an eight year old as they were introduced to each dolphin and learned the commands to get them do to a wide variety of tricks. She looked over at Ethan several times during the experience, feeling awed at how much his enthusiasm seemed to match her own and grateful to him for allowing her the opportunity.  
    She couldn’t believe how much her life had changed in the matter of a few hours. Though it was overwhelming and quite surprising, she had never been happier.  
    They climbed out of the water and went into their designated areas to change back into their clothes. Alexa couldn’t stop smiling as she stood there ringing her hair out with one of the towels the trainer provided. It was