The Jaguar Prince

Rogar dropped her off in front of the employee entrance, and promised he would have her car back by the time she got off work, then he ground the gears as he shifted, and pulled away.

She felt torn about going inside. For a moment, she wanted to chase after him. That was crazy, of course. She might be part alien, but as she’d already told him, the other half was Earthling, and she planned on sticking with what she knew.

She clocked in and went straight to Sheba’s cage. She just wanted to stop by for a few minutes. Sort of anchor herself to where she really belonged, but she would need to hurry.

“Hiya, Pete,” she said. Pete was just closing the gate to Sheba’s empty cage.

“Hey, Callie. You just missed Sheba. I’ve already turned her out into the pit.”

“I was hoping I would get here before you did.”

“Running late this morning?”

“Car trouble,” she said without going into detail.

“Bummer.”

“Yeah.”

He strolled over to where she stood. “I heard you were around when the guy jumped down into the pit to save that kid. Man, I would’ve given my left…” He cleared his throat. “I mean, I would’ve given just about anything to have seen that. They say he was a hero, and he had Sheba acting like a spoiled housecat.”

“That pretty much sums it up.” Even though she was a little irked that Sheba had taken to Rogar so quickly, Callie couldn’t stop the warm fuzzies from tickling her belly. Not that she had a right to feel pride in what Rogar had done. It wasn’t as though she and Rogar were an item or anything. They’d mated—she frowned—they’d made love once. Yes, she liked him well enough, but that was as far as their relationship went. When he returned to his own planet…

Wow, it was really hard getting used to the fact he was indeed an alien, but she knew it was true.

“That’s what we need,” Pete said, and she realized she’d been lost in thought.

“What do we need?”

He brushed his hand through his unkempt hair. “Someone like him working with the cats. Maybe he could even do something with Sheba. Like walking around in the pit while she’s in there, and maybe talking about the big cats. It would be a great draw, don’t you think? More money for programs and all.”

She stiffened. “Excuse me?”

“Huh?” Confusion knit his brow.

He really didn’t get it, did he? “The next animal keeper opening is supposed to be mine.”

“Oh, now I understand.” He nodded. “But you could have the one after that.”

“I don’t think so.” She said between gritted teeth, then turned on her heel. “I have to get to work.”

“But I thought you liked working with the baby animals, and the kids who come through the petting zoo.”

She didn’t even bother to answer. Not that it mattered because Rogar wouldn’t be staying. He wasn’t a threat. The job had her name written all over it. Besides the fact, Mr. Campbell promised it to her.

Well, he hadn’t actually come out and said the words, but his implication had been pretty strong.

She walked inside the building beside the petting zoo and grabbed the keys just as Gail hurried in.

“Sorry, I’m running late.”

“Don’t worry. I just got here myself.”

“So, everyone’s all buzzing about what happened yesterday.”

“I’ve heard,” she spoke dryly.

“Does he really have a sexy black Jaguar?”

Callie stilled. How could Gail know about Rogar’s ability to shift?”

“I mean the car, not the cat.” Gail laughed.

Callie relaxed as she walked toward the baby animal pens. “How would I know?”

“Didn’t he take you home when your car wouldn’t start?”

How the hell did she know about that? Did she also know they’d had wild passionate sex?

“Ben saw you leave with him,” Gail explained. “It’s so romantic. Like Prince Charming.”

What would Gail think if she knew Rogar was a prince? Not that Callie would be the one telling. “There’s nothing going on between us. My car wouldn’t start. He was just leaving and offered me a ride home. End of story.”

“Really?”

Gail looked so disappointed that Callie almost laughed. “Yes, really.”

“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