Joss (Were Zoo Book 9) Read online

  “Nice to see you again, Jeanie,” Caesar said.

  “You too.”

  Joss put his arm around her as the cart jerked into motion. They followed a maintenance path to the back of the park, where an apartment complex was nearing completion.

  “How many apartments are there?” Jeanie asked as the building came into view.

  “Eight,” Joss answered. “Two stories with four apartments on each floor.”

  The small complex was within the park. It was accessible inside the park by the maintenance path which led to a security gate. Outside the park, there was a hidden drive that lead to another gate. The complex was surrounded by a tall security fence. Jupiter entered a code and the gate rumbled to life and opened. Once inside, Jupiter parked next to trucks and vans that sported a business logo – Dexter Construction.

  “Are these guys like you?” Jeanie asked.

  “No,” Joss said. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “They’re human.”

  “You’ve got employees in the park who like to build things,” she said. She climbed out of the cart and took Joss’s hand, shielding her eyes from the morning sun to look at the building.

  Caesar said, “We couldn’t spare them for such a large project.”

  “That makes sense,” Jeanie said.

  “Good morning,” a tall man with graying hair said as he walked around one of the construction company vehicles.

  “Morning,” Caesar said, shaking his hand.

  “This is my wife, Jeanie,” Joss said after shaking his hand. “This is Dexter, he’s the owner.”

  Jeanie always smiled when Joss referred to her as his wife. They were planning to get married officially at some point, but whenever they were in public, he called her his wife instead of mate.

  Dexter led their group through the complex, explaining the work that needed to be completed. Jeanie trailed behind, enjoying the peeks into each apartment. The apartments were for the human mates who had family that would find it odd if they weren’t able to come visit them where they lived. If she had any family still alive, she was sure they’d think it was weird that she was living and working at the park but wouldn’t be able to let them visit.

  “It looks good,” Joss said, standing outside the eighth apartment and leaning against the rail.

  “Thanks,” Dexter said. “We’re still on-track to be finished in November. You’ve got floor guys you want to use, or do you want us to handle that?”

  “We’d like you to deal with it,” Caesar said. “That way we don’t have to contract with anyone else.”

  “Sounds good. When we’re ready for that, we’ve got sample books that you can pick from.”

  The group moved on to inspect the exterior of the building. Joss moved until he was caging Jeanie against the rail and gave her a kiss.

  “You like the apartments?” he asked.

  “Yes. They’re a good idea.”

  “Indeed. I’m glad you and I don’t have to put on a charade to use one, even though I’m sad I didn’t get a chance to meet your parents, or for you to meet mine.”

  “Would they have liked me, considering I’m not like you?”

  “My mom, yes. My dad was pretty traditional.” Joss blew out a breath. “I’m not sure if he would like what we’re doing with the VIP tours or how much our people are changing. I want to say that he would have changed with the times – I sure have – but it’s hard to say.”

  “You’ve changed with the times?” she asked, arching a brow.

  “Are you kidding, sweetheart? A few years ago I’d have kicked out one of my people for being with one of yours. I was raised with the notion that purity of our people was the only way to keep things going. The tours – seeing how happy people are with their one right person no matter what they can or can’t change into – it’s changed me. And then there’s you.” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and she shivered at the light touch. “You’ve changed me in a thousand ways just by being you. I’m happier than ever, happier than I deserve to be, and I feel like I can be a more effective leader.”

  “You deserve to be happy, Joss.” She cupped his face and smiled at him. Such a sexy male, and all hers. She felt supremely lucky.

  “I have an idea,” Joss said, his voice dropping low in a way that made her insides feel all warm and melty.

  “Do tell.”

  “Let’s take the rest of the day off.”

  “That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.”

  He smiled and kissed her with a nearly imperceptible growl. “I’m all about good ideas when it comes to you, sweetheart.”

  “Lead the way.”

  They checked in with the others so Joss could sign off on the building’s progress, and then they opted to walk back to the employee cafeteria together instead of waiting for the golf cart. She loved strolling through the park, seeing the happy families and hearing the laughter all around them. The Amazing Adventures Safari Park was an incredible place, and she was glad to be part of it. Even if humans didn’t know how special the place really was, she was glad she knew. Glad that her neighbor had given her the tour ticket so she could meet the most amazing guy on the planet. How different her life was, because she’d stepped out on a limb and tried something new.

  Who could have guessed that going to the park would change her life so significantly?

  When they were safely in the wolves’ private living area, Joss lifted her into his arms and carried her swiftly to their home, where they spent the day reveling in each other’s love. She’d never get enough of the gruff, sexy male who made her knees weak and her heart pound in anticipation. He was everything to her, and she knew all the way to the center of her being that she was everything to him, too.

  And it was all thanks to a VIP tour ticket.

  Coming in 2020 from R. E. Butler

  AnnaRose (Tails Book Four)

  Sign Up for RE’s Newsletter by Clicking HERE!

  www.rebutlerauthor.com

  Contact the Author

  Website: http://www.rebutlerauthor.com

  Email: [email protected]

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/R.E.ButlerAuthorPage

  * * *

  Also from R. E. Butler

  Arctic Shifters

  Blitzen’s Fated Mate

  Dasher’s Fated Mate

  Prancer’s Fated Mate

  Vixen’s Fated Mate

  Cupid’s Fated Mate

  Dancer’s Fated Mate

  Donner’s Fated Mate

  Comet’s Fated Mate

  Ashland Pride Series

  Seducing Samantha

  Loving Lachlyn

  Marking Melody

  Redeeming Rue

  Saving Scarlett

  Chasing Cristabel

  Jilly’s Wyked Fate

  Embracing Ehrin

  Holding Honor

  Tempting Treasure

  Having Hope

  Hyena Heat Series

  Every Night Forever

  Every Dawn Forever

  Every Sunset Forever

  Every Blissful Moment

  Every Heavenly Moment

  Every Miraculous Moment

  Every Angelic Moment

  The Necklace Chronicles

  The Tribe’s Bride

  The Gigolo’s Bride

  The Tiger’s Bride

  The Alpha Wolf’s Mate

  The Jaguar’s Bride

  Norlanian Brides Series

  Paoli’s Bride

  Warrick’s Bride

  Dex’s Bride

  Norlanian Brides Volume One

  Villi’s Bride

  Dero’s Bride

  Saber Chronicles Series

  Saber Chronicles Volume One (Books One - Four)

  Tails Series

  Memory

  Mercy

  Emberly

  AnnaRose (Coming Soon)

  Uncontrollable Shift

  The Alpha’s Christmas Mate

  The Drago
n’s Treasured Mate

  The Bear’s Reluctant Mate

  Vampire Beloved Series

  Want

  Need

  Ache (Coming 2020)

  Were Zoo Series

  Zane

  Jupiter

  Win

  Justus

  Devlin

  Kelley

  Auden

  Tayme

  Joss

  Neo (Coming 2020)

  Wiccan-Were-Bear Novella Series

  A Curve of Claw

  A Flash of Fang

  A Price for a Princess

  A Bond of Brothers

  A Bead of Blood

  A Twitch of Tail

  A Promise on White Wings

  A Slash of Savagery

  Awaken a Wolf

  Daeton’s Journey

  A Dragon for December

  A Muse for Mishka

  The Wiccan-Were-Bear Series Volume One

  The Wiccan-Were-Bear Series Volume Two

  The Wiccan-Were-Bear Series Volume Three

  A Wish for Their Woman

  Wilde Creek Series

  Volume One (Books 1 and 2)

  Volume Two (Books 3 and 4)

  Volume Three (Books 5 and 6)

  The Hunter’s Heart (Book Seven)

  The Beta’s Heart (Book Eight)

  The Wolf’s Mate Series

  The Wolf’s Mate Book 1: Jason & Cadence

  The Wolf’s Mate Book 2: Linus & The Angel

  The Wolf’s Mate Book 3: Callie & The Cats

  The Wolf’s Mate Book 4: Michael & Shyne

  The Wolf’s Mate Book 5: Bo & Reika

  The Wolf’s Mate Book 6: Logan & Jenna

  The Wolf’s Mate Book 7: Lindy & The Wulfen

  Stand Alone Stories

  Purred Promises

  * * *

  Coming Next in the Were Zoo Series: Neo (Were Zoo Ten)

  Gorilla shifter Neo feels like he’s been waiting for his soulmate forever, even though he’s only twenty-six. He keeps himself busy during the day working on the Amazing Adventures Safari Park vehicles, where he and his fellow shifters live in secrecy from humans. But the lonely nights are getting to him, and he wonders when he’ll meet the other half of his heart.

  Danielle Fitzgerald knows her stepfather Dexter and his son Khyle are keeping something from her and her mother, but she can’t figure out what it is. There’s something off about both of them, and the group of men that work for their construction company. Against her dad’s wishes, she takes a VIP ticket for the safari tour, and finds herself entranced with one of the gorillas.

  Neo knows the moment that the vehicle with his soulmate stops in front of the gorilla paddock and his beast can’t wait to meet her. He knows it will take a while before he can share the truth of his shift with her, but what he doesn’t count on is her stepfamily’s secret. When the truth comes out, will Dani be able to stay with Neo at the park, or will her family steal her away before he can stop them?

  * * *