Jesse had a job at the zoo, and when he told me they were hiring, I filled out an application, interviewed well, and managed to land a part-time position. If nothing else, I had all my dad’s lectures and all that Discovery Channel and Animal Planet documentary knowledge to go on when it came to dealing with animals—not to mention I’d survived a mountain lion attack and a run-in with a huge pack of human-harassing wolves.
My first day of work at the zoo was also Jesse’s first day to return after his injuries. He’d told everyone that he had a “family emergency” to deal with, and nobody was the wiser.
I smoothed out my brown, short-sleeved, button-down shirt. It was part of my uniform and had the logo name of the zoo and my name embroidered on it, and it looked kind of cute for safari wear.
As I stood there trying to get a grip on my new job responsibilities, Jesse walked into the room with an adorable baby raccoon in his arms and a bottle of milk specially made for the little creature. His shoulder-length hair was tied back, and while I tried not to stare, I couldn’t help it; he was so absolutely gorgeous that I was sure I’d never want to take a sick day off of work. His uniform was the same as mine, but it looked so much sexier on him. The material stretched across his broad chest and across his muscles, not too tight but just perfect, revealing a tribal tattoo around his bicep. I hadn’t seen it at the party under his jacket, but I wanted to know what it meant, if anything. I decided it best to leave that conversation for somewhere outside the workplace.
“This is Herman,” Jesse said.
The little raccoon was furry and had a bushy, ringed tail, as well as the blackest band of fur around his eyes, just like a mask.
“He’s so cute!” I squealed.
“Yeah. We’re trying to rehabilitate the little guy. The zoo receives hundreds of orphaned and injured wild animals every year. We do our best to fix them all up and release them back out into the wild as soon as we can so they don’t become too dependent on humans or lose their natural survival instincts. If you kneel down on the floor, you can feed him,” he invited.
“I don’t know, Jesse. I mean, I’ve never fed a raccoon before. I’ve only fed Max.”
“It’s easy. I’ll start, and then you can jump in.” He set the baby on the floor and held the bottle at a downward angle.
The little raccoon stood on his legs and gripped the bottle with its little paws, perhaps the most adorable thing I’d ever seen—well, besides Jesse’s eyes and Max when he was a puppy.
“Okay. Ready to take over?” he asked.
I gazed up at him and smiled. “Sure.”
He knelt behind me and touched my shoulder as I fed the critter. “You’re doing good.”
The raccoon lapped away at the bottle with its little pink tongue, but it was difficult for me to concentrate on feeding Herman with Jesse’s hot breath raining down on the back of my neck. Still, I tried to tune out the gorgeous creature behind me and pay more attention to the cute one in front of me.
“Tilt it a little higher,” he said, touching my hand.
His hand lingered on mine, and I felt a jolt of electricity. I’d never felt such chemistry with anyone else before. No words could describe it. My heart was racing like a rabbit’s as his hand rested on top of mine.
Finally, he slowly lifted that scorching hand away. “You’re a real pro,” he said, “and Herman likes you.”
I smiled. “So…what else can you tell me about the zoo?”
“Hmm. Well, we have 190 animals representing 80 species here, and there are all kinds of exhibits, special events, and educational programs. If ya want, I’ll give you the grand tour later.”
After we fed the raccoon, Jesse took me to a different room, where five ducklings were frolicking in a shallow, heated pool, playing with a stuffed mama.
“What happened to their real mom?” I whispered, as if the fuzzy yellow things could understand me and might be offended.
“She was hit by a truck. Her four babies were lost and confused, following around humans because they didn’t know what else to do.” He paused to look down at the chirping quintuplets, then continued, “We’re gonna get them big and strong, then release them back into the wild.”
“Gee, Jesse, it’s amazing what you are all doing here.”
Jesse picked a little fluffy chick up. It was so touching to see that big, strong, muscular man holding a defenseless little bird, and it melted my heart all over again. “Shh. Don’t be afraid,” he told the baby. “I’m not gonna hurt you.”
As he gently and sweetly patted the little animal’s head, I saw a softer side to him, a side that showed that he genuinely cared for the animals. I grinned from ear to ear as I watched him place the little one down with its paddling brothers and sisters.
As promised, Jesse did give me a grand tour. He seemed to know everything about the place, and I enjoyed our walk around the place.
At the aviary, an outdoor enclosure filled with birds, he pointed. “One turkey vulture and two bald eagles live here.”
“Ew! Sorry, but the turkey vulture isn’t as pretty as her bald eagle friends,” I said.
His gaze shot up to the repulsive-looking bird. “Maybe not in everyone’s eyes, but I named her Beauty Queen.”
I laughed at the irony as I gazed up at the large, dark brown bird with a red, bald head and neck like a turkey’s. “I’m sure she appreciates you flirting with her,” I joked.
“She came to the zoo as a juvenile with a broken wing,” Jesse said. “There were complications, and the vets here weren’t able to save her wing, so we can’t release her. She’ll be a permanent resident, and I’ve grown quite fond of her. You know what they say.”
“What?”
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” he said with a smile. “She’s a sweet bird.”
“I’m gonna love working here,” I said.
“Yeah, I never get tired of it. I love my job. It sure beats flipping burgers.”
“I can tell you’re passionate about it.”
He smiled sheepishly, obviously uncomfortable taking compliments, even though he deserved a million of them.
“These birds are so big,” I said, gazing up at his feathered friends.
“Beauty Queen has a wingspan of about five feet—at least the wing that’s still good.”
“She’s a vulture, right? I bet she’s got bad breath after eating all that dead meat.”
“Maybe, but she can’t help what she was born to eat. It’s just the way nature works. No one can help the card we’re dealt. Just like us, these birds and all the animals in this zoo and in those woods out there have to live and make do with what their bodies want as a food source. Maybe she despises eating carcasses, but she’s stuck with it. It’s eat or die.”
“Yeah, I guess I shouldn’t be so quick to judge,” I said. “She probably thinks we’re gross for eating pizza.”
He laughed. “I’m not that much older than you, but I’ve learned it’s best not to judge anyone until you’ve walked in their shoes—or flown in their feathers, as the case may be.”
“I absolutely believe that. So anyway…what’s next?”
“How about some lions and tigers and bears?” he joked. “And…wolves?”
“Sorry, but I’ll pass on the wolves,” I said, clutching my heart.
“Bad memories, eh?”
I let out a breath. “Yeah.”
“I’m so sorry about all of that.”
I bit my lip. “You know what? Let’s not drudge up old memories. I really don’t wanna talk about it.”
“I agree. Let’s let bygones be bygones and just…start over.”
“I think we deserve a clean slate.”
All of the sudden, the door opened, and in walked a short redhead with her hair tied back in a ponytail. “Hey, Jesse,” she said, “there’s a guided tour waiting for you.”
He looked at me, then back at her. “Taylor, this is Jeanie, my best friend in Big Bear Lake. We’ve been through a lot, and I
don’t know what I’d do without her. She’ll show you the ropes while I’m gone. See ya later,” he said and walked out the door.
I grinned. “See ya.” As soon as he stepped out of the door, I turned my attention to Jeanie. She had natural red hair and beautiful blue eyes, though not nearly as beautiful as his, for it would have been impossible for anyone to replicate those gems. I sighed when I realized his best friend in the world also had the perfect figure, with not an ounce of fat on her.
“So…how’s your first day treating you, Taylor?” she asked, making it obvious that someone had already told her my name.
“Great.”
Getting straight to the point, she blurted, “I saw the way your eyes sparkled at Jesse before he left.”
I arched a brow but said nothing.
She continued, “It’s best to stay away from him.”
I couldn’t believe she was marking her territory already. “And why’s that?”
“He’s a player, that’s why. Jesse has dated half the girls in this town.”
“Isn’t that what dating is all about, trying to find the right person? I mean, I’ve dated lots of guys, and—”
She shrugged. “Fine, honey. It’s your heart that’ll get broken, not mine.”
I wasn’t sure what to stay. I wanted to tell her to butt out because it was my chance to take, but instead, I just kept my mouth shut.
She shot me a serious look. “Look, Jesse’s a great friend to have, but if you step out of the friend zone, it will go all to hell. Trust me. I know firsthand.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, assuming she was just jealous.
At that moment, our almost-heated conversation was stopped when our boss, Ms. Aikers, walked in and met Jeanie’s gaze. “I need you to check all the enclosures and make sure every animal is in its place.”
“What’s up?” Jeanie asked.
“Somebody was attacked and killed by an animal. The sheriff is out front. We have to make sure none of our animals have escaped, especially the bears. This is top priority, and I’m putting every employee on top of it.”
“Oh my gosh! Who was killed?” she asked.
“A tourist, hiking in the woods.”
“That’s gonna be front-page news,” she said. “The media is gonna swarm this place if it’s got anything to do with us.”
“I know,” Ms. Aikers said, looking at both of us with a worried expression on her face. “Let’s just hope none of our animals got out.” With that, she stormed out of the room.
At that very moment, the wolves crossed my mind, and I feared that the same group of brave, possibly rabies-infected canines had devoured someone. “I ran into a pack of wolves in the forest that weren’t acting…natural,” I chimed in.
“Really?” Mr. Aikers said.
“Yes. They stalked me and my friends and—“
Jeanie laughed. “That’s ridiculous,” she said, and before I could say another word, she bolted out the door, with me hot on her heels.
We checked every pen in the zoo and were relieved to find that all of the zoo animals were present and accounted for. Still, it didn’t make me feel much better. Somewhere in those woods, someone had been killed, and I was sure those wolves had something to do with it.
Chapter 9
When Jesse’s number showed up on my caller ID, I quickly answered.
“Taylor?” he said.
His voice sent shivers down my spine; hearing him say my name was an adrenaline rush like none I’d ever felt before.
“Yes, this is me,” I said.
“What are you doing on your day off tomorrow?” he asked.
“I don’t have any big plans. Why?”
“Do you like to rollerblade?”
“Sure.”
“Cool. I was wondering if you’d like to meet at the Alpine Pedal Path. It’s a paved path that runs along the north shore of Big Bear Lake.”
“I’ll be there!”
“Great!”
“Do you mind if I bring Max?”
“Sure. Is two p.m. all right?”
“Perfect,” I said.
“Goodbye, Taylor.”
“Goodbye,” I said, and he hung up the phone.
* * *
I thought Friday would never come, but it finally did. I dug through my boxes but couldn’t find the outfit I wanted. When I finally found my spring pastels, I threw on a white tank-top with a mint trim and a big mint and silver heart, and I had pants to match. I finished the summery look off with a cute white pair of sandals, but then I realized tennis shoes would be better for the occasion, so I slipped my bright white ones on. I took one last glance in the mirror and smoothed out my eyeshadow. I wanted my makeup to look natural and not caked on since we’d be outside in daylight.
My heart leapt in my chest when Max and I pulled into the parking lot of the Alpine Pedal Path and I saw Jesse standing there. Again, I took in his chiseled features, and he looked so handsome and cute in his rollerblades and helmet that I simply had to rush out of the car with my dog to greet him. “C’mon, Max,” I said, “and you better be a good boy today.”
Jesse waved me over, and we hurried right up to him. Unfortunately, while I was breathlessly gazing into Jesse’s winter-blue eyes, my dog was not so happy to see him and wouldn’t stop barking.
“It’s okay, Max,” Jesse said.
To my surprise, the dog calmed down immediately and sat down next to me, still as a statue except for his wagging tail.
“Hi, Jesse,” I said, overcome by that feeling in the pit of my stomach, as if I’d swallowed a hornet’s nest. We’d had a few simple conversations on the phone and via text outside of work, but this was our first official date, and I hoped we wouldn’t be encumbered by too many awkward silences and uncomfortable moments.
“You’re early,” he said, smiling.
I held on to the leash in my hands. “I sooner be dead than late,” I said.
He reached for the leash, and I sat on the bench to put my rollerblade equipment on. As I adjusted my red helmet, I smiled. “Okay. I’m ready.”
He grinned. “Great.”
With Max’s leash tightly in my grasp, we started to skate down the mountain trail. It wound through a pine forest and meadows. Birds flitted overhead, and lizards sunned themselves on big granite rocks, absorbing the heat and all that Vitamin D. Max absolutely loved it and couldn’t stop smelling every little thing as we strolled by. It was such a nice change to breathe that fresh, clean mountain air after living in the smoggy city. In fact, it was like being in a completely different world.
“So…on the phone you said you wanted to talk to me about something in person,” Jesse said.
“Yeah. I just need to get something off my chest. I know I told you I don’t want to talk about that night, but I kinda need to.”
“What’s on your mind?” he asked.
“I feel like it was my fault that you got shot,” I said, almost tearing up from the guilt I’d been harboring.
“Why would you even think that?”
“If you hadn’t had to drive us home, it would have never happened.”
“Don’t even say that. You and Julie might have died, because neither one of you was in a position to drive safely.”
“I can’t believe that Jonathon guy was so high on drugs that he actually shot you. It’s just…crazy. How well do you know him?”
“He’s, uh…an acquaintance.”
“Well, I hope he gets his act together before he really hurts or kills somebody.”
“It’ll be taken care of,” he said, sounding like some godfather in a mobster movie. “In the meantime, thanks for keeping quiet.”
“I still don’t get why those wolves acted the way they did. Do you think they’re responsible for the attacks on tourists and hikers?”
“Maybe. A lot of weird things have been happening around here.”
“Yeah. Well, it’s over and done with, like a bad dream, and I just want to forget about it. I
should’ve never let Julie take me to that party in the first place. I’ve definitely learned my lesson.”
He smiled as if he was glad to hear it.
“Let’s get off this lame subject about drugged-out crazies and infected wolves.”
“Right,” he agreed. “I’d love to know more about you,” he said. “Do you like to bike or play any sports? Collect stamps? Dance around to seventies disco music singing into a hairbrush when you’re bored?” he said with a grin, as if imagining it.
I laughed, envisioning it too. “I’m not really into philately, but I love to sketch designs. I have hundreds of virtual and hand-drawn designs, and I hope to go into fashion someday—maybe with my own clothing line or label.”
“You’re very creative.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that before, but the truth is, ideas can come at anytime. If I’m sitting at a restaurant and one hits me, I’ll sketch it out on a napkin.”
“I guess it’s best to get your idea down while it’s still fresh in your head.”
“Lots of fashion schools require a portfolio, so I’ve been trying to get one together.”
“Isn’t that hard?”
“Not really. Like I said, I have hundreds of ideas for clothes, accessories, and shoes.”
“Taylor, I know I haven’t known you that long, but I’m pretty sure you can do anything you put your mind to.”
“Thanks. When we moved here, I thought I’d have to give up my future career. I mean, when it comes to fashion, Big Bear Lake’s not exactly the center of fashion. Still, I’m learning to adjust and taking inspiration from the gorgeous natural surroundings and the wonderful people I’ve met here.”
“It must be nice to get away from all those beeping taxis, all the hustle and bustle. It’s so peaceful here. Besides, if you come up with your own label or line, you could just run a business online. We country folk have that there Interwebs too, ya know,” he said, smiling.
I laughed. “Right. Maybe I’ll start a huge Internet empire, a dot.com—or maybe I’ll just become a painter instead.”
“You paint too? Wow. Quite the artist, aren’t you?”
A smile curled up on my lips. “Drawing and painting have been hobbies of mine since I was a little girl. If the fashion thing bombs, I can always turn to one of those. With all the inspiration around here, all these beautiful landscapes and animals, I’m sure I’d have never-ending paintings to sell.”
Darlings of Paranormal Romance (Anthology) Page 103