Tiger Read online

  The Jeep was speeding at them and she recognized the driver instantly. Tiger’s streaked hair was easy to spot and so was his enraged expression as tires locked up on the pavement when he hit the brakes. The vehicle came to a screeching halt by the curb. He was out of it the second the engine cut off.

  “This is Tiger,” Smiley stated, as if she didn’t know who stormed around the front of the vehicle to reach them. “Hello, Tiger. I take it you heard what happened. She is well. How did it go with Vengeance?”

  “Give us a moment alone,” Tiger snarled, his gaze locked on Zandy. “I need to speak to her. Take a walk.”

  Smiley gawked but backed away. He spun on his heel and went to the end of the building. He’d seemed pretty shocked at Tiger’s abrupt dismissal and she could relate, stunned a little herself. Tiger waited until the other man had moved away before he stepped closer. He ran his gaze down her body before meeting her eyes again. His hand lifted and he gently gripped her jaw, forcing her head to tilt a little to get a better look at the cut on her face.

  “Why did you leave Reservation and who were you with? Are you all right? Who did this to you?”

  She wasn’t sure which question to answer first. “I’m okay. Richard and I went shopping for his wife on our lunch break and the protesters attacked while we were in line to get back inside the gates.”

  A deep growl rumbled from his throat. “Where are your clothes?”

  “They threw them away. The shirt was history and the pants were bloody.”

  He sniffed and another growl came from him, the second one deeper and almost scary. Rage narrowed his eyes and she hoped it wasn’t directed at her. His touch remained gentle where he held her jaw.

  “I still smell blood.”

  “I’m okay. I got a few scratches. My—”

  “Where?”

  She paused. “My knee got the worst of it. I have a scratch on my chest and you can see my face. I didn’t get a good look at the men who tried to grab me but they thought I was someone else.”

  His other hand gripped her hip. “I heard the attackers thought you were Jessie. I can’t believe they thought you were her. Your hair is much lighter and shorter than hers. Humans are stupid. You shouldn’t have used the front gates. Didn’t you realize it would be dangerous?”

  She let that one slide since he was obviously upset and didn’t she really want to be lumped into the same category as the protesters at that moment by reminding him she was human. His words made her feel a little defensive though.

  “I guess we missed the news conference last night when Justice North announced he’d gotten married to the woman they mistook me for. I had no idea it wasn’t safe to leave the front gates. I take it that you know her?”

  He nodded. “I know her very well and you two look nothing alike.” He took a deep breath. “I am agitated. I’m sorry. I should have called your office the moment I found out Justice had to tell the press about his mate and warned you it would antagonize the protesters.”

  Zandy studied him and a hint of jealousy struck. How well did Tiger know the other redhead? It was going to bug her if she didn’t ask. “Did you ever date this Jessie?”

  His mouth tensed. “No. She is Justice’s mate. I’ve never mounted her. Why would you ask that?”

  She hated the fact that she was glad he’d never slept with the woman she’d been mistaken for. The idea of being a replacement version of a woman he’d lost to another man had set her on edge. “Curiosity, since some people think we look so much alike. Never mind. It’s been a stressful day.”

  He caressed her cheek before dropping his hand. “I don’t want you leaving Reservation. It’s not safe. The protesters are out in full force and some have even shown up at the gate you use. That’s a long stretch of road I don’t want you traveling and someone could follow you home. They already attacked you once, thinking you were Justice’s mate. I insist you stay here for a few days until things calm.”

  Disappointment hit her that he wasn’t inviting her to stay at his place. Smiley had offered to take her home and he didn’t even know her. It was a painful reminder that Tiger didn’t want anything long-term between them. It was what they’d agreed on and she’d made her bed. Sleeping in it suddenly seemed really lonely and painful.

  “Okay.”

  “There is space open in human housing. It’s similar to your apartment buildings. I’ll assign officers to guard you. Some of the protesters have tried to breach our walls and I want to make sure you’re safe. I will try to check on you but I’m not sure how late my shift will end. It’s going to be a long day and worse night. We’ve learned that they tend to think just because the sun goes down that it will be easier to sneak onto NSO lands.”

  “I don’t have any clothes. I’ll need to take at least one trip home to get my stuff.”

  “No. I’ll order you clothes from our store.” He glanced down her. “I apologize but we don’t get too many small females staying here. You’ll probably have to wear more sweats and T-shirts.”

  “There’s a dress code for work.”

  “Don’t worry about that. I’ll make certain no one says anything. You are safer here at Reservation until this blows over. We’ll extend the same courtesy to all NSO human employees.”

  That killed her assumption that he’d done something special for her by asking her to stay where he knew she’d be safe. It drove home another reminder that they didn’t have a relationship. It stung.

  “Fine. You do that. I need to get to work. I guess I’ll see you later.”

  She turned away from him and he had no choice but to release her hip. The limp was noticeable as she headed toward Smiley. He saw her coming and came at her quickly.

  “Zandy?” Tiger hissed.

  She paused and turned her head to meet his gaze. “Yes?”

  “Is something wrong? Are you angry with me?”

  She swung back around and limped so close to him that she had to tilt her chin up to stare into his handsome face. He looked past her and held up his hand to halt the officer. His hand dropped to his side.

  She was in pain and had been assaulted, her patience already at the limit. They didn’t have a real relationship but she wanted to be honest. It was probably the last time they’d talk anyway. She might as well give him a piece of her mind.

  “I’m having a shit day if you haven’t noticed. I’m sure you are too since I know you’re the head of security here. I guess when I saw you speeding around that corner I assumed you’d heard what happened and it shook you up enough to want to see me.” She paused. “Hell, this is why I don’t get involved with men. I suck at it and we don’t have a relationship, right? Thank you for caring and checking on me. I know you need to get back to work. We’re fine.” She turned away again.

  Tiger’s hand clamped down on her arm to prevent her from getting away from him. He stepped around her until he blocked her path. “Are we in a relationship?”

  Her gaze dropped to his NSO work shirt. “I don’t know. Are we?” She gazed back up at him.

  “I wanted to invite you to stay at my house but you’d already told me no. I didn’t want to be rejected a second time. I also have to work long hours and my home is too far from the office to sleep there while this crisis is happening. You’d be out there alone. I wanted to keep you close.”

  “It wasn’t a rejection. I just said no because we barely knew each other then.”

  His exotic eyes narrowed. “We know each other extremely well now.”

  Sexually. “I don’t know where we’re heading and it’s scary. I missed you today and hoped you’d invite me to meet you later.” I’m falling in love with you.

  “I missed you too.” He hesitated. “I will come visit you tonight and we’ll talk.”

  “Okay.” She wasn’t sure if that was bad or good.

  “It might be late.”

  “I understand.”

  His cell phone buzzed and he reached for it, never looking away from her eyes. “Yes?”