Page 31 of Stout Bear

Laney felt a complicated mix of emotions. Frustration at being left wanting more, but also a deep appreciation for his consideration. Max pulled her closer, kissing her deeply. She could taste herself on his lips, and her inner fox whined with need.

“I should go,” Max said after a while, though his voice held clear reluctance. “If I stay much longer, I might not have the willpower to leave.”

Laney smiled at that, liking the idea that he found her so irresistible. “Are you sure you have to?” she asked, trailing her fingers along his arm.

“Trust me,” he said, his voice dropping lower, “I want nothing more than to stay. But I want our first time together to be perfect.” He kissed her forehead. “The lodge will be worth the wait.”

Laney felt a surge of anticipation for their upcoming weekend. Max pulled her into one last, deep kiss that left her breathless and wanting.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” he promised.

“You’d better,” Laney replied with a smile.

After Max left, her body was still humming with desire. She thought about the lodge weekend and what it would mean for them both. Part of her wished she had convinced him to stay, but another part appreciated his restraint. It showed he cared about her. She hugged a pillow to her chest, already counting the days until the lodge trip.

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

The town squarebustled with activity. Festival staff were arranging a children’s petting zoo in the center, complete with small pens holding sheep, goats, rabbits, and a donkey. Near the stage, members of the local high school band were setting up their instruments, tuning them with varying degrees of success.

“Morning, boss,” Chris said to Max. “Everything’s on schedule for the final day.”

Max nodded, surveying the activities. He checked in with the food vendors who were preparing for the lunch crowd. His phone buzzed with a text from Gwen, confirming she would arrive with the rest of the family in an hour. Max replied quickly, then scanned the growing crowd for any sign of Laney. She hadn’t mentioned what time she would come, but he hoped to see her soon.

As if summoned by his thoughts, Laney entered the square from the eastern entrance. She wore a simple sundress that fluttered around her knees, her auburn hair catching the sunlight. When she spotted him and smiled shyly, his heart skipped. “Morning,” Max said as she approached.

“Hi,” Laney replied, her voice soft. “The square looks amazing.”

He gestured toward the petting zoo. “Want to take a look?” They walked over to the fence and watched the children pet the docile animals.

“Hard to believe the festival’s almost over,” Laney said.

“It’s been a good run,” Max agreed. “Though I’m looking forward to things getting back to normal. Well, normal plus our lodge trip.”

A faint blush colored Laney’s cheeks at the mention of their upcoming getaway. Before she could respond, the high school band launched into their first number, a surprisingly decent rendition of a popular tune. Families gathered around the performance area, small children dancing to the music.

Max and Laney stood watching, exchanging occasional smiles as particularly enthusiastic toddlers spun and jumped to the rhythm. The scene was exactly what Max had hoped for when planning the festival. It included community members of all ages enjoying themselves together.

“Want something to drink?” Max offered. “There’s a really good lemonade stand.”

“That would be nice,” Laney nodded.

He had just turned toward the vendor when a commotion erupted from the petting zoo. A small child, perhaps four or five years old, suddenly shifted into a fox right in the middle of the animal pen. The sheep bleated in alarm and scattered to the far corners, while the goats jumped and kicked, knocking over a water trough.

“Oh no,” Max said, unable to suppress a small laugh at the chaos.

Festival staff scrambled into the pen, trying to separate the animals while avoiding stepping on the small fox. The child’s mother rushed in, apologizing profusely to anyone within earshot.

“I’m so sorry! She’s just learning to control her shifts,” the woman explained, scooping up the fox pup and cradling it against her chest. “She gets excited around animals.”

The staff assured her it was fine, no harm done, and began restoring order to the pen. Several onlookers laughed good-naturedly at the incident. Max turned to share the humorous moment with Laney but stopped short when he saw her face. She had gone completely rigid, her complexion suddenly pale. Her eyes, fixed on the mother and fox-child, held a mixture of emotions Max couldn’t decipher.

“Laney? Are you okay?” he asked, reaching for her arm.

She flinched away from his touch. “I... I can’t stay,” she mumbled, already backing up a step. “I need to go.”

Alarm bells rang in Max’s head. “What’s wrong? Let me walk you home.”

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