Damaged Billionaire Daddy Bear - Leela Ash Page 0,8

her forehead that said, ‘Pervs, sign up here’ or something?

“Is this a thing you people do around here? Hit on a woman right in front of her kids?” she demanded, angry that she had forgotten the presence of Kal and Arizona for even a split second.

“What?” His eyebrows snapped together in a frown.

She would have to go out of her way to annoy him, she decided. It was the only way to dissuade men like Patrick.

“Listen, Mister Snazzy, I am here to work and nothing else,” she started in a voice that made her displeasure all the more clear. “And yes, I’m sure your type wouldn’t recognize work unless it’s stuck in a monkey jacket or a pretentious little suit,” she added, sneering at his running shoes that had to be expensive enough to rival the cost of her car. “I am not exactly sure what kind of people you are used to putting up in your ‘accommodations’, but let’s be clear. I am not some rich socialite here to get a tan and sit by the pool and drink cocktails! I came here to study the animals and further my research. It’s called work. W. O. R. K. So if you don’t mind, I will take my own bags if you will step aside.”

Without so much as a word, he carefully stepped back and turned away. Jessica fetched her kids from the car and stalked inside, sweeping them along as she went while struggling with their bags.

Jessica didn’t look over her shoulder as she strode into the huge building and asked for directions from another doorman. She was still trying to take in the extravagance of the rescue. At the same time, she desperately tried to squelch the feelings of guilt that threatened to swamp her. She had been inexcusably rude, and for what? Because she thought he might be Patrick’s type? What if he wasn’t? What if she had imagined that glance at her chest? And even if she hadn’t, she had done her own fair share of ogling by noting the bulge in his pants, and he hadn’t made her feel like dirt beneath his shoes for doing that.

Oh no. She was becoming the proverbial angry, bitter, scorned woman, wasn’t she?

Yes, you are, her subconscious replied most unhelpfully.

With great effort, Jessica continued to put one foot in front of another, without looking back, as she followed the doorman’s directions to her accommodations. As she did her best to refocus on the task at hand of getting the kids – and herself – situated and off to bed, she couldn’t help but notice the tall strangers departure he jogged off into the night.

Later that night, she thought she heard a low growl coming from somewhere outside her window, almost like a panther or bear or something. But she was too exhausted to wake up to investigate. Rather than feel panic, she felt as if a blanket of warmth was slid gently over her, calming her and lulling her deeper into sleep.

Besides, Kal and Arizona would never fall back to sleep if she made a fuss now and it turned out to be nothing, she thought, with a tired yawn as she flipped onto her side and went out like a light.

Outside Jessica’s window, the shifter bear’s eyes glowed in the dark as he calmed her with his powers and lulled her to sleep. He had sensed a lot of riotous emotions in her when they spoke; she was one very hurt woman and was lugging around a lot of tension.

As annoying as she was, Theodore decided, he was glad she had come. Maybe his abilities could help her let go of some of those negative emotions and heal faster, for the sake of her children.

With a satisfied grunt, he turned around and shuffled off into the dark, still in his bear form, feeling the tug of unnamable emotions as his super-hearing picked up the sound of her steady breathing while she drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 4

The beep of her phone woke her. Jessica popped open one bleary eye to read the new email from Exotic Rescue. She groaned when she saw that it was a Welcome message. Additionally, they hoped she had had a pleasant trip and stated that Mr. Cooper had requested that she be reminded to be on time for the orientation meeting at 9am, and the dress code was strictly business attire, so it would be best if she wore a suit.

Of course, it was,