“That sounds wonderful.” She stepped into the circle of his arms and inhaled the scent of his eucalyptus and cypress soap. His lips found hers, and her breathing quickened. His steady presence was her world ever since she’d found her way back to him. He’d broken her heart when she was sixteen, but she’d forgiven him.
He pulled away reluctantly. “You’rewonderful. And you’ll do great with this. It will expand your horizons.”
She leaned against his broad chest. “I think coming here did all that.” It was hard to remember her former quiet, lonely life. Blake and his family had burst the bubble she’d pulled aroundherself since the murder of her parents, and while it hadn’t always been easy to reveal the soft parts of her heart, doing so had changed her for the better.
The door opened, and her new receptionist entered. Honey Hopkins was Evan’s wife, and though Paradise had hesitated to interview her because her husband worked at The Sanctuary as a predator keeper, she’d soon been won over by the perky blonde’s customer service skills.
“Good morning,” Honey sang out. “Are we ready for the influx of patients? Everyone in town is excited to meet you, Paradise. You’re a little bit famous after all the hoopla at The Sanctuary.”
Hoopla? Was that how people felt about the trauma they’d all lived through? Paradise managed to smile. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. Who’s our first patient?”
“A wiener dog named Chloe. She’s as fat as a potbellied pig but very sweet.” Honey glanced out the window. “Here she comes now with her owner. Let the games begin.”
Paradise pinned on a smile and waved goodbye to Blake and the family as they headed toward the back exit. They paused long enough for the boys to grab another cupcake, and she wished she had time for a sweet treat to help her face this new adventure.
Chapter 2
The Gator was missing from the lot, so Blake walked across the compound to make rounds. His sweatshirt warmed him against the mid-February chill, and the fresh scent of the morning air added to his sense of well-being. They’d mostly finished cleanup after the tropical storm two weeks ago, thanks to the hard work of the community and the park’s employees.
He still smiled at Paradise’s surprise this morning. Her amber eyes had filled with moisture at the family’s excitement for her, and he prayed her first day would be a good one. He glanced at his watch. Just after ten and the first visitors would be here soon.
He found the Gator outside the tiger enclosure, but he didn’t see anyone around. He lifted the lid on the predator food and frowned. The raw meat had barely been touched. Where was Ivy?
He shaded his hand as a familiar truck pulled into the lot. Clark got out and approached him. It always struck Blake how alike Clark and Kent Reynolds were. They were twins and it showed. Being around his best friend’s brother helped Blake release some of the pain and guilt he felt over Kent’s death. Clark had hated him for a while after Kent’s death in Afghanistan, buthe’d stepped up to help Paradise save Blake during the tropical storm and flood a couple of weeks back, and all those hard feelings had been washed away.
Blake slapped him on the shoulder when Clark stopped in front of him. “You’re just the man I wanted to see. That main perimeter fence by the tigers looks like it could let go. I’m not sure even you can fix it, but I wanted you to take a look before I spent the money to replace it.”
Clark gave a cocky grin. “I can weld anything but a broken heart and the crack of dawn.”
Blake grinned at the familiar line. “I believe it.”
Clark’s appearance had changed since he’d released his anger and grief. His broad shoulders were squared instead of hunched with defeat, and his shaggy brown hair stayed neatly trimmed.
Clark shuffled and looked down at his feet. “I had an idea. Feel free to say no. What would you think if I moved my trailer into that empty lot out by the cottages? It could be my salary for working around here.”
“That’s not enough of a salary, but I’d be thrilled to have you work for the park. I can cough up some actual dollars too.”
“Not necessary. I would still have time to do the occasional odd job for gas and groceries. I like being here. It’s given me purpose, and you’re not so bad to be around.”
That was saying a lot coming from taciturn Clark. Blake squeezed his shoulder. “You’re a good man, Clark, and I’m honored to call you friend.”
The man’s brown eyes glistened. “I’ll move the trailer over tonight. Thanks, buddy.”
He started for the fence perimeter, but Blake called him back. “Did you see Ivy’s car when you came in? I’m not sure she fed the animals.”
“I saw her car but not her.”
“Thanks, I’ll try to find her.”
He’d had his doubts about the new hire, Ivy Cook, when she showed up for work. Mom was a soft touch, and the girl was the granddaughter of a friend from church. Doing a favor wasn’t always the best idea, but so far Ivy had done a good job. If the predators hadn’t been fed yet, it would set his day back by hours. He might have to call all hands on deck to feed them before he took out his first busload of visitors.
The hyenas barely gave him a glance, and even Clara slept through his call. The Birmingham Zoo was picking them up this afternoon, and he’d be glad to have them gone. He’d never been able to look at them the same since they’d tried to kill him during the tropical storm.
He moved to the tigers and found all of them hungry. He fed the ones who would be in the pool performing for visitors later before moving on to the last enclosure. Raj was new and a little hostile. He banged on the metal fencing around the enclosure. “Raj, meat.”
The big white cat licked his chops and settled onto his haunches. He turned his huge head and stared at something in the corner inside the inner enclosure. Blake followed the direction of Raj’s gaze and froze. What appeared to be a pile of clothing was something much more terrifying.
Ivy Cook lay curled in a fetal position, and she wasn’t moving.
