Free Guarded by Mary Behre

flinched. Although, truth be told, Dev wasn’t exactly too confident sitting in a tiger’s house with one pissed-off tiger nearby.
    Just how reliable is that six-by-six-foot metal cell?
    While he trusted Shelley’s gift, he didn’t know how useful it would be against an angry, grieving, man-eating carnivore.
    “Shells, maybe we can take this conversation someplace a little less, uh . . . dangerous?”
    Shelley blinked and her blue eyes cleared. Patting one of the waking cubs on the head, she said, “You’re absolutely right. Miah is already upset. I don’t want her trying to chew through her temporary cage.”
    “Can she do that?”
    Shelley didn’t answer. Instead she said, “Head back out. I’ll meet you at the perimeter gate. Go now. I’ll unlatch Miah’s cage, once I know you’re clear. Just make sure to wave when you get there. Oh, and remember to close and latch the gates behind you.”
    Dev didn’t want to leave her, but Shelley seemed to know what she was doing.
    Quick as he could, he crossed through the gates, latched them, then waved. Seconds later, the tiger roared and bounded toward the green-roofed house. Shelley came through a side door near the perimeter gate and padlocked it behind her.
    Another tiger cry. This time from inside the wooden house. Then a white-faced tiger with black stripes and startling blue eyes appeared at the top of the ramp. She looked directly at them. At Shelley. The animal roared twice.
    Both times, Shelley flinched as if struck. Her face pinched and her eyes became misty.
    “I will,” Shelley whispered. “Now go be with your other babies. I promise.”
    The tiger turned, flicked her tail, and disappeared back inside with her cubs. Shelley sagged beside Dev only to jump when a twig snapped behind them.
    “What in the blue blazes of hell do you think you are doing here?”
    “Hello, Reyna.” Shelley smiled and appeared calm despite the dancing pulse in her neck.
    While Dev was surprised, he didn’t react. Truthfully, he’d been so focused on what was happening inside the cage, he hadn’t noticed the approach of the exotic-looking woman in a tight yellow dress. But his training taught him to never lose the upper hand—especially when surprised.
    “Don’t ‘hello’ me. What are you doing here today?” Reyna propped her hands on her hips.
    “I’m on a date,” Shelley said lightly, then grabbed Dev’s hand and squeezed.
    “Ha! Good one. Figures only
you
would bring a date to this place,” Reyna replied. Her gaze skated over Shells dismissively before she zeroed in on Dev. Artfully, Reyna extended her hand to him, like a princess greeting royalty. “I don’t think we’ve been introduced. I’m Reyna Jameson. My family owns this land. And you are?”
    “I’m Devon Jones. What a beautiful tiger y’all have here.” Dev accepted her limp handshake with his free hand and realized too late the mistake he’d made. Shelley withdrew her hand from his and clasped her hands behind her back. He missed her warmth.
    Reyna narrowed her eyes at Shelley and a distinctly unfriendly smile curled her mouth. Although physically beautiful, with long, wavy dark-brown hair and curves that the average woman paid money for, there was something ugly in Reyna’s eyes.
    “Dr. Morgan, you weren’t trying to examine the tiger, were you? You do remember that you’re barred from working with the animals behind that fence,” Reyna said gleefully, pointing at the tiger cage. “And if you’ve violated that rule, why I think my daddy will have to officially ban you from the whole park before you cause another scene.” She pointed one finger in the air and pulled a cell from a pocket of her dress. Impressive.
    “Don’t bother calling anyone. We’re leaving.” Shelley waved and started toward the path back the way they’d come.
    Dev started to follow Shelley, growing more confused by the second. If Shelley thought tiger cubs were missing, why didn’t she tell the