“Hello?”

It was an unfamiliar number, maybe Texas? Why she’d answered she had no idea; she’d been busy, in the middle of rounds. Now, hearing his voice, her breath caught, and she felt a funny hitch in the vicinity of her chest.

Palpitations are the perceived abnormality of the heartbeat characterized by awareness of cardiac muscle contractions in the chest: hard, fast and/or irregular beats.

“Taylor!”

“Angelica! Hey! I’m still coming to see you when this assignment is over. Are you ready for a week on a beach? Maybe two? If your new clinic will let you go.”

It was late. The exam room was empty. She slipped inside, ignoring the looks she got from the staff. It was hard to win respect, especially in a new place. She’d spoken very little about her history, but the rumors had followed her all the same thanks to social media. There was more than a little curiosity in those looks, and she knew the speculation would be wild after she went off shift and left them to where they could talk without being heard.

It’s enough to make a girl stay on shift permanently. She shook her head, and focused on what Taylor was saying. He was still detailing the vacation of her dreams. Someplace—not exotic. She worked there. More sane than that. The Bahamas maybe. Sunshine and snorkeling. Dancing all night in each other’s arms, a cabana with all the amenities. It sounded lovely.

And not quite possible.

She sighed. “Maybe we should think about a working vacation.”

“I’ve been working for two weeks. We’re still trying to find Griselda.” His tone was frustrated. Not complaining, just venting. He was exhausted. She wondered how much of that tracking had been as the tiger. How many times had he shifted in those fourteen days?

And yet she still eluded him somehow.

Angelica sank down on the only chair in the room, a rickety affair that groaned under her weight. “I wouldn’t think that a woman in her physical condition would last long in the jungle alone.”

She could almost see him smiling. “Is that your professional assessment, Doctor?”

“Don’t get snotty, pussycat.”

“Ouch. I wouldn’t put anything past that one. She shouldn’t have disappeared in the explosion, either, but until there’s a body there’s no proof. So, I’ve been busy.”

Too busy. She’d been missing him dreadfully. She pictured him now, all hard muscle, probably where? Some hotel room in South America, sprawled on a bed nowhere near long enough for his frame. She pictured him naked because she liked picturing him that way best. They’d had a marvelous three days before she’d gone back to the States, back to write reports and promise not to sue because she’d been kidnapped while in the care of Doctor’s International.

It had been too long since she’d seen him. The ache was near unbearable. Her breasts felt full, heavy. Nipples peaked just from hearing his voice. The warmth between her legs tingled against her skin. She shifted restlessly and wondered if she dared turn this phone call in another direction entirely.

I miss him. I’ve never missed anyone so much in my life.

But duty called and she really did need to talk to him about something. She shot a look at the door, uneasy, wondering how many of her staff lurked outside, wanting to hear. She got up and moved to the furthest corner of the room, pitching her voice low so that it wouldn’t carry.

“Taylor, do you remember Enrique’s wedding? When the bride’s father talked about that legend of the boy who...”

“Turned into a jaguar. Yeah. I remember.” His tone was mystified. Impatient. “But every culture in the world has a legend or myth of shape-shifting. It’s all stories with a centralized origin. One group of people are able and the legend spreads, soon everyone has a story of someone, somewhere, who—”

“I have a lion, Taylor.”

“Excuse me?”

“She’s fourteen.”

There was a long pause. “You’re in Cameroon?”

“Garoua.”

“Shoot, sorry. I should’ve remembered.” He chuckled. “I’d have suggested Spain. There are fabulous beaches... maybe later. In the meantime, I’ll arrange transportation. I can be there tomorrow night.”

She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Thank you. And Taylor?”

“Yes?”

“I’m not just making this up so I can see you naked.”

He chuckled. The sound vibrated through her chest, almost like a purr. “This time it’s your turn to streak in front of the bad guys.”

She smiled. “That’s a good kitty.”

“Don’t start—”

“Bye, handsome. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” His own voice was pitched low. Urgent. Concerned. Loving. “Be safe till I get there.”

“I’ll try.”

“Promise me.”

He knew she couldn’t promise. After what they’d been through, safe had an entirely different meaning. “I promise.”

THE END