The Jaguar Prince

by Karen Kelley

  “Well, since you apparently don’t want him, mind tossing him my way?”

  Callie chuckled, but at the same time, a little flare of jealousy sparked inside her. Which was so totally ridiculous. She and Rogar were only friends—who’d made wild passionate love last night. No biggie. Of course she wasn’t jealous. A touch of indigestion from all the rich food she’d downed last night was more plausible.

  Gail and Callie didn’t have a chance to speak again as they opened the gates and led the baby animals out to the big open pen. The little ones were more than eager to stretch their legs and greet the new day. Callie wished she could feel the same way. Her day was going downhill in a hurry.

  She was leading the lamb out when the phone rang in the office. She glanced up, but Gail was already hurrying to answer it.

  “Okay, Lamb Chop, off you go.” She patted the animal on the back and it joined the others in a half-hop, half-walk gait that had her smiling. The young animals were cute. Kind of like being around puppies all day. But it wasn’t what made her truly happy.

  “Mr. Campbell wants you at the main office as soon as you can get there.” Gail wiggled her eyebrows. “Maybe your prince has returned.”

  Only if he wanted to be a dead prince.

  Chapter 10

  If Rogar was on the other side of her boss’s door, Callie might just lose what little sanity she had left. She opened the door and cautiously walked inside. No sign of Rogar. In fact, the only person she did see was Mr. Campbell.

  Why the hell was she disappointed? Relief is what she should be feeling.

  “Come in, come in…uh…”

  “Callie,” she supplied.

  “Yes, Callie.” He gave a short laugh. “My mind went blank.”

  She’d been working at the zoo for how many years? Had done every menial job that was thrown her way, and without complaint. Well, none that Mr. Campbell could hear. At least his father had known her name.

  She sighed, wondering what Mr. Campbell could want with her this time. “Is something wrong?”

  “No, not at all. On the contrary, it’s absolutely wonderful.”

  Ohmygod, she was getting the animal keeper job. She’d be working with the big cats. Okay, technically, Mr. Campbell didn’t do the hiring and firing, but he was aware of what was going on, so he made recommendations all the time. He called them recommendations, but it meant you had the job. Really, who was going to say no to the boss?

  This was fantastic, the best thing that had ever happened to her…

  Calm down. Wait for him to tell you the good news.

  “Have you seen this morning’s paper?”

  Huh? “No, I haven’t.” She rarely read the paper. It was usually too depressing.

  He opened it on his desk, running his hand down the crease. She walked closer, then swallowed hard when she saw the picture of Rogar with Sheba. The jaguar was rubbing against his legs. Above the article it read:

  Mysterious Man Hypnotizes

  Jaguar and Saves Child

  “You can’t buy PR like this!” Mr. Campbell grinned from ear to ear. “This is just great. Exactly what we needed.”

  She instantly deflated. So much for getting the animal keeper job. It couldn’t be much longer, though. Mr. Campbell had practically promised the job to her.

  She raised her chin. “How is the boy, by the way?”

  He frowned. “Bruises, that’s all, and a mild concussion. We’re taking measures so that something like that won’t happen again. Our lawyer said we were clearly not at fault. Even the newspaper article favored us rather than the kid.”

  “I’m glad he’s recovering.”

  “Yes, but that’s beside the point.”

  Mr. Campbell could be a real pain in the ass sometimes. “What is the point?”

  “The public loves a hero. We all want more John Waynes, but these days they’re few and far between.”

  “And that has what to do with me?” If he expected her to go into the cage with Sheba, he’d better think again. At least, not like Rogar had done. She had to admit, Rogar had a very special quality. And why shouldn’t he, since he was part jaguar.

  Part jaguar? Shared his body with one? She mentally shook her head. So confusing.

  “I want you to find him,” he beamed.

  Her pulse began to race as dread filled her. “And why would you think I’d know where he was staying?”

  “Because he took you home last night when your car wouldn’t start.”

  Did everyone at the zoo know her personal life? “We met again purely by coincidence. He saw my car wouldn’t start, and offered me a ride home. That’s all there was to it.”

  Mr. Campbell’s shoulders slumped. Good, let him feel what she felt when she realized she wasn’t here to get the job she’d been wanting forever and ever.

  “Why did you need to find him?” Surely a few photos wouldn’t be that big of a deal. It had to be more than that.

  Mr. Campbell puffed his chest out, regaining some of his excitement. “Picture this, Rogar working with the big cats.”

  There was a moment of silence. Enough for her to know she didn’t like where he was taking her.

  “You were there. You had to have seen the way he handled Sheba. The whole zoo is buzzing. Everyone tells me he was hypnotic, that he had the cat worshipping the very ground he walked on.” He rubbed his hands together. “And they want more.”

  She could feel the color drain from her face. “But…but I was promised that job.” She’d been passed over so many times, and yet, they would give it to a stranger?”

  “There will be another opening, and I’ll make sure you get that one, but think of what he could do in the way of PR, the extra funding for the zoo…”

  And a substantial raise for Mr. Campbell from his father who still controlled the purse strings.

  She squared her shoulders. “I’m sorry, I don’t know where he is,” she lied.

  Mr. Campbell frowned, it was quickly replaced by a devious glint in his eyes that she had a feeling didn’t bode well for her.

  “You know, I’m sure we could add another animal keeper job working with the big cats. If you bring this man to me, and we hire him, then you could even start immediately.”

  Excitement flittered through her, then died a fast death. Rogar would never agree to stay. “Your idea won’t work. The guy is super wealthy. He gave me a ride home in his Jaguar, and he paid for a private tour of the zoo. I even heard he might be a prince or something. He doesn’t need a job.”

  “Oh.” He sat down heavily in his leather chair. “You’re probably right. Okay, then I guess you can go back to work.”

  There was no better time than now. “Mr. Campbell, about that job as animal keeper…for the big cats?”

  He looked up as he folded the newspaper. “What about it?”

  “Well, I am next in line for the first opening.”

  He tossed the paper to the side. “There isn’t an opening, though, so why are we having this conversation? Besides, you know I don’t do the actual hiring.”

  Ass. “Yes, sir.” She turned on her heel and marched out of his office.

  She was never going to get the job. She would be stuck with the baby animals for the rest of her life. The closest she would get to the big cats would be the fat stray that was in the petting zoo.

  But if Rogar walked in right now, they would hand him the job on a silver platter. It wasn’t fair. For a moment, a thread of anger at Rogar weaved through her, but just as quickly, she dismissed it. It wasn’t Rogar’s fault. Mr. Campbell was another matter.

  She didn’t notice that she was going in the opposite direction of the petting zoo until she was at the bridge that led toward the big cats.

  Oh, who cared? She didn’t. At least, not right now. She hurried to the pit. Sheba was resting in the shade of one of the trees. She purred from deep in her throat, welcoming Callie. At least, that’s what Callie liked to think. And maybe Sheba was glad to see her. Could Sheba sense
the animal inside Callie?

  This couldn’t be happening. It was too insane. First, Rogar tells her that he’s an alien. Then he tells her she’s part alien, too. And that she has an animal guide.

  Now, Mr. Campbell is ready to hand over the job she’s wanted most of her life, to Rogar, and her boss would put it on a silver platter if Rogar asked.

  If she didn’t know everything was true, she’d laugh. Oh, Lord, her life was screwed up beyond repair. She leaned against the concrete barrier and rested her chin on her hands. “Oh, Sheba, what in the world am I going to do?”

  Callie should just quit. Her college education was going to waste. This was home, though. At least, the closest she’d ever been to having one. So what if her family consisted of a jaguar and a handful of zoo employees. She couldn’t just leave, could she? She looked at Sheba, knowing they’d shared a bond from day one.

  She sighed. Maybe it wouldn’t be that much longer before she got the job.

  A group of children came up the path, drawing her from her thoughts. She straightened, smoothing her hands over her shirt so she would look professional, then pasted a smile on her face.

  Ten-year-olds. She could guess their ages within a few months. Three of them barreled up the sidewalk. One tripped, falling toward her. She instinctively grabbed and caught him, along with all of the soda and all the crushed ice that was in his very large blue cup. She sucked in her breath as ice went down the front of her shirt.

  “She made me spill my drink,” he screamed in her ear.

  Great, now she was wet, cold, sticky, and had hearing loss. Would her insurance cover this? Hmm, not likely. She glanced at the teacher who already looked frazzled, and felt a moment of pity. They should double teachers’ salaries. The woman clapped her hands together and the little boy stopped yelling.

  “Kelvin, don’t you think you need to apologize to the woman, then thank her for catching you?” the teacher scolded.

  “My soda…”

  “Kelvin?” The teacher gave him that look that works on every child, and most adults.

  Kelvin kicked at the sidewalk. “Sorry.”

  Callie kept her smile bright and cheerful. “It happens a lot. Apology accepted.”

  “Can we go to the petting zoo now, Mrs. Cooper,” Kelvin asked.

  Apparently, he assumed his apology would automatically clear him of all wrongdoing. Callie smiled at the teacher and walked away. When she was a safe distance, she pulled her shirt out of her pants and shook the rest of the ice out.

  “What happened to you?” Gail asked as Callie hurried inside their tiny office. If you even could call it an office. A small desk and a private bathroom.

  “I was checking on Sheba and met up with a class that will be here in about ten minutes.” She reached inside a bottom drawer and pulled out a clean uniform top. It always paid to have an extra one around here.

  “The Wild Bunch.” Gail groaned.

  The next two hours were frantic as back-to-back classes came through the petting zoo. Kelvin didn’t improve after he got to Callie’s section. If anything, the sugar in the soda had only wired him more.

  Kelvin pulled the cat’s tail, then cried when Miss Kitty spat at him. The he chased the duck, until the duck turned and chased him, while he screamed and yelled. The kid had a great shot at being an opera star. He could already shatter eardrums.

  Then the baby goat butted him, knocking little Kelvin on his keester, and Kelvin screamed and yelled some more. Before Callie could take a deep breath, they left, and the next group arrived. Little Kelvin morphed into little Julie, and everything repeated.

  And then they were gone, and for a moment, there was blessed silence. Until her cell rang. She reached in her pocket and brought it out, flipping it open.

  “Hello?”

  “Callie, DeeDee.”

  Gail made a motion of eating, then went inside. Callie nodded, and relaxed against the fence.

  “What’s up?’ she asked.

  “What’s up?” DeeDee mimicked. “As if you didn’t know, you sly fox.”

  “Have you been drinking?” It was early but…

  “No, I did stop by your house, though.”

  Callie straightened. “Why would you do that?”

  “I was dropping off your birthday present. Happy birthday.”

  Callie put her hand to her forehead and closed her eyes for a moment. With every thing that had been happening, she’d totally forgotten today she turned twenty-seven. Was that all? She felt so much older.

  It was probably too much to hope that DeeDee hadn’t seen Rogar. She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Thanks. You…uh…shouldn’t have.”

  “This is your friend from your college days, right? You told me he’d left. I’m hurt that you couldn’t share all the juicy details.”

  So much for hoping. “He’s not staying long.”

  Her sigh came across the line. “If I were you, I’d keep him as long as I could. Yum-yum.”

  “What exactly did you two talk about?”

  “Not much. Oh, hey, I’ve gotta run. Big meeting in a few minutes and I’m a little late. I just wanted to tell you happy birthday.”

  “Thanks, but…” The phone went dead. She knew DeeDee well enough that this didn’t bode well. They’d been friends a long time. The girl lived in a fairy tale of her own making. That wasn’t to say she wasn’t very astute when it came to business. DeeDee just believed in happily ever after.

  Callie, on the other hand, had grown up in the real world. The one where prospective parents came looking for a child of their own. They didn’t want the odd kid. The one who lost herself in daydreams and heard voices.

  Callie had eventually learned to tune out the voice inside her head, and not talk to her like they were best friends. But by then it was too late. New parents didn’t want someone her age, they wanted babies. Cute little babies with their toothless smiles and that sweet baby smell. Not that she blamed them, but still, it might’ve been nice living in a real home.

  Gail poked her head out the door. “You better eat while you can. June called to warn there’s another class coming our way.”

  Callie straightened. Had she been lost in thought that long? Apparently.

  The rest of the day went downhill. She was so exhausted that she didn’t even stop by to tell Sheba good night. After finishing her paperwork, she and Gail walked through the employee’s gate, and headed toward the parking area.

  She glanced around, hoping Rogar would be inconspicuous when he picked her up, but he wasn’t even there. At least, she didn’t see him, or her junker car. But what she did see was a shiny new red Jaguar with an even bigger red bow on it.

  Please, please don’t let this be happening.

  “Wow, now that’s one fine looking car,” Gail said.

  “Yeah, it is.” She was pretty sure she was going to throw up.

  “Let’s go see who it’s for,” she whispered, dragging on Callie’s arm.

  “Oh, no, we might spoil the surprise.”

  But Gail wasn’t one to wait. She hurried over and walked to the back of the car. Her hand flew to her chest. “Callie, it’s for you! There’s a sign with your name on it. Hey, look everyone, Callie has a Prince Charming!”

  Prince Charming was going to die a slow and painful death just as soon as she drove the car back to her house. She couldn’t afford a taxi. But as soon as she got home, she’d throw the keys in his face!

  But it was a really sweet car.

  Chapter 11

  This was her house, wasn’t it? Callie slowed, but didn’t pull in the driveway. It didn’t look like her house. The ones on either side looked the same, but this didn’t look like her house. Not even close.

  Flowers bordered both sides of the driveway and the sidewalk. There was even a small three-tiered fountain with water splashing over the sides. A bench sat beside it.

  It looked nice. She had a feeling DeeDee had something to do with all this.

  Callie finally
pulled into the driveway, parking next to Rogar’s black Jag, and shifted into Park. Before she turned the key, she lightly caressed the steering wheel. The car was sweet. But she couldn’t keep it.

  Why not?

  She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, willing the voice of reason to return, but it really, really didn’t help when the new car smell filled her senses.

  Rogar would probably tell her that her guide was talking to her, but that was so not true. It was the voice of greed asking why she couldn’t keep the car.

  What if the IRS came snooping around? Not to mention gift taxes, higher car insurance. No, she couldn’t afford to keep the Jaguar. At least, not more than a week or so.

  She got out of the car, then slowly walked to the front door, inhaling the strong fragrance of the colorful flowers. It was so pretty, she almost felt like skipping, well, except her feet were killing her. But everything was so nice, it sort of eased the ache.

  The fountain played a peaceful melody as water over-flowed from one tier to the next. More flowers surrounded the ancient oak, framed by stacked rocks. She could learn to enjoy coming home to this.

  But it wouldn’t last. Nothing ever did. Weeds would creep into the flowerbeds, algae into the fountain. Rogar would leave.

  Her heart skipped a beat. No, she didn’t want to think about that. No bad thoughts on her birthday. She wouldn’t allow it.

  She turned the doorknob. It was unlocked. She probably should tell him about locking doors when living in the city.

  Once she stepped inside, her nostrils filled with the smell of cooking—really bad cooking. Her nose wrinkled. What was he doing? She was almost afraid to go into the kitchen, but she forced her feet to move forward.

  Rogar had his back to her, and he was mumbling. She couldn’t make out the words, but she recognized the tone. He didn’t sound happy as he stood in front of the microwave.

  Her gaze took in the rest of the room. It was a shambles. There was flour everywhere, empty boxes, plastic bags that held more food, some spilling onto the counter. Her stomach sank at the thought of cleaning the mess. She sniffed. It was her birthday, and she shouldn’t have to clean.