Head Hunter (City Shifters the Pack #3) - Layla Nash Page 0,4

the coffee table between us as Evershaw slouched into an armchair. Mr. Tattoo leaned against the back of another chair, still studying me. Perhaps he also had an interest in architecture. I refused to let him make me nervous.

“Without more information on the animals requiring the habitat, I’m not able to provide a unique design right now. However, these are several habitats I’ve designed and am building for a predator sanctuary outside the city. They have quite a bit more land but also require varied ecologies for their animals.”

“A predator sanctuary?” Evershaw frowned as he picked up one of the sketches. “Never heard of it. Seems like a weird thing for this part of the country.”

What a dick. What an absolute tool. Maybe the job wouldn’t be worth all the aggravation of dealing with him. I reached out to rub the cat’s furry belly to comfort myself as I restrained my temper. “They rescue bears, wolves, lions, and other big cats from zoos and circuses. It’s a worthy cause.”

He grunted, unimpressed, and picked up another sketch. “And you’re doing all of the designs for them?”

“Yes.”

Another long silence. I glanced up and found Mr. Tattoo watching me and paying zero attention to the designs or his boss. I frowned right back at him, wanting to tell him to pay attention, but instead of looking even the least bit chastised, a grin started to peek through the mask of his beard. My cheeks heated and I debated looking away or pretending not to be completely distracted by the charming smile and bedroom eyes. I was a professional, damn it.

“Lawson,” Evershaw said, and I snapped my attention back to him. But he seemed more interested in where I petted the cat instead of how I ogled his friend. “Cricket likes you, I take it.”

“Cricket?” I glanced down at the massive beast that purred and wrapped his arms around my wrist to keep me petting him. Maybe Mr. Tattoo mentioned the name before, but I hadn’t processed the implications. “Seems like a... petite name for a cat this big.”

Evershaw grunted. “You don’t know the half of it. He’s the biggest asshole in this house.”

“I find that hard to believe.” The words escaped before I even registered what I’d thought. I snapped my teeth together before anything else horribly offensive made their way out of my mouth.

Mr. Tattoo laughed and shoved upright from where he’d leaned on the chair, and I damn near smiled in response. I barely managed to keep my composure and meet Evershaw’s rather grim look with one of pure innocence and light. Maybe I hadn’t meant to call him an asshole right to his face. Maybe I had. Who could tell? They were just words.

But judging by the look on the blonde dude’s face, though, he knew exactly what I’d meant. And I wasn’t likely to get the job. I’d be lucky if I walked out of the house instead of getting thrown out on my head.

“You’d be right,” a dry voice said, and I looked up in time to see a dark-haired woman meander into the living room from the back of the house. She carried a pitcher and several glasses on a tray, and didn’t take her eyes off me as she approached. “Care for some sun tea? I live with a bunch of wolves, you see, so no one remembers their manners.”

I rose from my seat to help her maneuver the pitcher and glasses to the coffee table, and moved my designs so they wouldn’t be ruined by the condensation. “Tea would be lovely, thank you. I’m Percy Lawson.”

“I’m Deirdre,” she said. She poured me a glass of iced tea, poured herself one, and gave a pointed look at the two men that communicated they were on their own. Deirdre picked up Cricket with one arm, grunting with the effort, and occupied his spot on the loveseat. She didn’t seem to notice the feathers that poofed up when she sat. “Now. Where were we?”

Mr. Tattoo piped up. “I think the architect called Evershaw an asshole, and he was trying to come up with a response.”

“Yes,” Deirdre said. “That sounds about right. Well, Miles?”

I froze, petrified that they’d just flat-out stated what I’d only implied – and then challenged the boss with a response. This was the weirdest fucking job interview I’d ever been on, and it hadn’t even really started.

Chapter 4

Dodge

Dodge almost proposed on the spot when she muttered about Evershaw being an asshole. He damn near giggled