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A FEW DAYS PASSED WITHOUT a word from or about Jesse. I was so worried about him that I couldn’t eat or sleep. Not knowing whether he was alive or dead, the anxiety was overwhelming me. I tried calling him a few times, only to get no answer.
When my phone finally rang with a call from his number, I was ecstatic.
“I’m recovering,” he assured me. “Don’t worry.”
I thanked him countless times for fixing Julie’s truck, silently thanked God that he was okay, then hung up the phone.
After that we talked sporadically, but texted each other every day. I thought it was best to let him recover at his own speed. I really wanted to see him and would have paid him a visit, but his mother didn’t want anyone stopping by until he was fully recuperated. “Doctor’s orders,” he joked, though it was technically true.
* * *
BEFORE I KNEW IT, A month had passed by.
Jesse had a part-time job at the local zoo. When he told me that they were hiring, I filled out an application, interviewed well, and managed to land a 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 the day Jesse returned after his injuries, though 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 muscles, not too tight but just perfect, revealing a tribal tattoo circling his huge 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 announced, introducing his furry friend.
The little raccoon had a bushy ringed tail, with 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.”
“I don’t know, Jesse. I mean, I’ve never fed a raccoon before,” I said nervously. “I’ve only fed Max.”
He gripped the bottle. “It’s easy. I’ll start, then you can jump in.”
I smiled. “Okay.”
He set the baby coon on the floor and held the bottle at a downward angle. The little raccoon stood on his legs and gripped the bottle with its tiny paws. It was 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, putting his hand on my shoulder as I fed the critter.
“You’re doing good,” he said.
As the raccoon lapped away at the bottle, 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, sending shivers through me as he touched my hand to adjust the bottle.
His hand lingered on mine and I felt a jolt of electricity flaring between us. That is indescribable, yet totally undeniable chemistry was back. My heart raced as his hand rested on top of mine.
Finally, he slowly lifted that scorching hand away. “You’re a real pro and Herman likes you.”
I smiled. “So...what else can you tell me about the zoo?”
“Hmm. Well, we usually have around 190 animals, representing 80 species here. There are also all kinds of exhibits, special events, and educational programs,” he explained. “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 duck.
“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 said, pausing to look down at the chirping quintuplets. “We’re gonna get them big and strong, then release them back into the wild.”
“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. 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 as he explained things to me.
At the aviary, an outdoor enclosure filled with birds, he pointed out the animals who called it home. “One turkey vulture and two bald eagles live here.”
“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. It had a red, bald head and neck, like a turkey’s. “I’m sure she appreciates you flirting with her.”
“She came to the zoo as a juvenile with a broken wing. 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?”
He smiled. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. She’s a sweet bird.”
“I’m gonna love working here.”
“Yeah, I never get tired of it. I love my job. It sure beats flipping burgers.”
“Yeah. I can tell you’re passionate about it.”
He smiled sheepishly, obviously uncomfortable taking compliments, even though he deserved a million of them.
I gazed up at his feathered friends. “These birds are really huge.”
“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. 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?”
I clutched my chest. “Sorry, but I’ll pass on the wolves.
“Bad memories, eh?”
I let out a breath. “Yeah.”
“I’m so sorry about all of that,” he said.
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,” I replied, relieved that we had agreed to put that terrible night behind us.
All of the sudden the door opened. In walked a short redhead with her hair tied back in a ponytail.
“Hey, Jesse,” she said, “there’s a guided tour group waiting for you.”
He looked at me, then back at her.
“Taylor, this is Jeanie, my best friend in Big Bear Lake,” he said introducing us. “We’ve been through a lot and I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
He looked toward the door, then back at us.
I smiled and shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
He grinned as he headed out to meet the group. “She’ll show you the ropes while I’m gone. See ya later.”
“See ya,” I said returning the smile.
As soon as the door closed behind him, I turned my attention to Jeanie. She had natural red hair and beautiful blue eyes, though not nearly as beautiful as his, though it would be nearly 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 besides Jesse had already told her my name.
“Great,” I answered.
Getting straight to the point, she blurted, “I saw the way your eyes sparkled at Jesse before he left.”
I arched an eyebrow, but said nothing.
“It’s best for you to stay away from him,” she continued.
I couldn’t believe she was marking her territory already. “And why’s that?”
“He’s a player, that’s why,” she replied smugly. “Jesse has dated half the girls in this town.”
“Isn’t that what dating is all about, trying to find the right person?” I shot back. “I mean, I’ve dated lots of guys, and—”
“Fine, honey. It’s your heart that’ll get broken, not mine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. I wanted to tell her to butt out, because it was my chance to take, but instead I just kept my mouth shut.
“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 assumed she was just jealous. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
At that moment, our almost-heated conversation came to a halt when our boss Ms. Aikers, walked in.
“I need you to check all the enclosures,” she said, looking seriously at Jeanie. “Make sure every animal is in its place.”
“What’s up?” Jeanie questioned.
“Somebody in town was attacked and killed by an animal,” she replied grimly. “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 it.”
“Oh my gosh!” Jeanie cried. “Who was killed?”
“A tourist, hiking in the woods.”
“That’s gonna be front-page news. 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.”
At that very moment, the wolves crossed my mind. I feared that the same group of fearless, 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?” Ms. Aikers asked.
“Yes. They stalked me and my friends and—”
Jeanie laughed adding, “That’s ridiculous!”
With that, she stormed out of the room. Ms. Aikers stared after her for a moment, then turned toward me.
“You better hurry and catch up,” she said. “Until we know what happened, I don’t want anyone off on their own.”
I jogged after Jeanie to start inventorying the animals. We checked every pen, cage and enclosure, relieved to find that all of the zoo’s animals were present and accounted for. Still, it didn’t make me feel much better. Somewhere in those woods, someone had been killed, I was sure those wolves had something to do with it.