Neo (Were Zoo Book Ten) Read online

  “Pretty smart,” Dexter said, smiling broadly.

  “Well, Grey said that if I want to grow my business I can’t just rely on word of mouth or hope that people needing a makeup artist would happen to come into Beauty.”

  “He’s not wrong,” Dexter said.

  “When do you work next?” Nancy asked.

  “I open on Monday, so I have the weekend off.” She looked at her father. “Could you use a hand tomorrow?”

  His brows rose. “You’d like to help out on the job site on your day off?”

  She shrugged. “I could use some extra cash to refill my supplies and pay for online marketing.”

  “I could definitely use a hand with the clean-up. We’re getting ready for the flooring guys, so everything has to be cleaned.”

  “I’m game. It comes with lunch, right?” she asked.

  He laughed. “Of course. I’m leaving at seven.”

  “I’ll be up.”

  She said good night to her parents and headed up to her bedroom on the second floor. As she got ready for bed, her mind strayed to the thought that had been crossing her mind a lot recently–her forever guy. She knew her Mr. Right was out there somewhere. She just had to find him.

  Wherever he was.

  * * *

  Dani yawned, her jaw cracking with the motion, and then took a drink of coffee.

  “You slept well?” her dad asked. He glanced at her then returned his gaze to the road.

  “Yep. Well, I tossed and turned a bit. I had some weird dreams. Or one weird dream broken up by periods of wakefulness.”

  “Oh? What about?”

  “I was at a wedding. It was mine, but I couldn’t see who I was marrying. I kept trying to get down the aisle, but there were people blocking my path.”

  He hummed. “That’s interesting.”

  “I’ve been thinking a lot about finding Mr. Right.”

  There was a beat of silence, and then he said, “Since when?”

  “The last month or so, maybe? I don’t know. It’s like all of a sudden, I randomly think about what my future will look like, when I’ll meet my forever guy. Maybe it’s just because I haven’t been on a date in six months.”

  He got quiet again. She gave him a sidelong glance and saw his brow was furrowed. She was about to ask him if everything was okay, when he cleared his throat and said, “Do you believe in fate?”

  She blinked in surprise. “You mean romantically, right?”

  He nodded, not taking his eyes off the road.

  “Yeah, I do. I love the idea of knowing your soulmate on sight. It’s just... pretty damn cool.”

  “Soulmate?”

  “You don’t like that word or something?”

  “Usually you say Mr. Right. I’ve just never heard you say soulmate.”

  “Well, you and Mom say you’re soulmates.”

  “True.”

  “It’s not a bad word, is it? It’s just another way of saying Mr. Right.”

  He hummed. “Yes and no. I was actually brought up to believe that Mr. Right–or in my case Mrs. Right–was just a romantic notion created by the greeting card companies. But a soulmate is special. It’s like love at first sight on steroids. The moment I saw your mom, honey, I knew she was meant to be mine. I’d have done anything to be with her.”

  Dani smiled at him. Dexter wasn’t her biological father, who’d died from an accident in the military when she was a baby. Dexter had come into her and her mom’s life when Dani was two. He’d married her mom and adopted Dani. His son, Khyle, was her step-brother, but they didn’t talk about each other that way. Dexter and Khyle were her family–she’d never known anything but them. That Dexter had loved her mom at first sight made Dani so happy.

  She wanted that.

  “I’m glad you found Mom.”

  “Me, too.” He cleared his throat. “I’ve been meaning to tell you that Monday night we’re hosting a party at the house.”

  “Fun. What kind of party?”

  “Just a casual thing. Some old friends of mine are coming in for a visit. We’re putting them up in the bed and breakfast in Meyersville.”

  “I’m working Monday, but I’m off at four. I assume I’m invited since it’s at our house?”

  He smiled. “Of course. They’ll be over around seven. It’s just casual.”

  “You said that already.”

  “Said what?”

  “That it was casual.”

  “Sorry, distracted by the road. So you’ll come?”

  “I’d never turn down a party invite.”

  He gave her a smile and hit the blinker, turning down the road that led to the new build. The park had hired her dad’s company to build a small apartment complex at the back of the property. There were coded gates and high fences, ensuring the public couldn’t access the apartments.

  When he parked, she got out of the truck and stretched, looking around. “Why do they need apartments, anyway?”

  “They said that at one point, a couple of their staff were looking for someplace to live, and so they’d converted a barn into three small apartments. They outgrew that building and hired us to build a larger complex.”

  “It’s like the apartment complex at the boardwalk,” she mused. One summer, she’d taken a job working a kiddie ride at the boardwalk, and she’d been offered one of the apartments nearby. She might have been willing to take them up on the offer, but she would’ve had to share the two-bedroom apartment with three other women, and she hadn’t wanted to do that.

  “Exactly. We’re about a month out from finishing.”

  Khyle and the other four jogged over to them. “Morning,” Khyle said.

  Dexter clapped his hands together. “Dani’s going to be cleaning starting on the second floor. Grey, you show her the ropes. The rest of you have your assignments. Joss is coming by later today to check progress.”

  “Who’s Joss?” Dani asked as she followed Grey to the second floor of the small complex. They moved along the open walkway to the farthest apartment. He unlocked the front door and held it open for her, switching on the overhead lights.

  “He’s head of the finance department for the park,” Grey said. “He’s overseeing the project.”

  Grey showed her the ropes, which involved sweeping and mopping each room and wiping down the windows and baseboards. They’d already painted several of the apartments in preparation for the flooring company to come in later in the week.

  “These are pretty nice apartments,” she said as she took a bucket and filled it up with water. She carried it into the family room and dunked a sponge into it, wringing it out.

  “Don’t get any ideas,” Grey said as he walked to the door.

  “Ideas about what?” she asked.

  “Trying to work here. Dex wouldn’t like it.”

  She looked at him in confusion. “I’m not trying to work at the park, I was just saying they’re nice apartments.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “I’m just saying, this isn’t a place where Dex–or any of us–would want you hanging out. We’re here for this job, and that’s all.”

  Dani rolled her eyes at his big-brother attitude. “Calm down. Unless they’re hiring a makeup artist for their zookeepers, I’m not interested.”

  Grey chuckled. “Just checking.” He turned to leave and then glanced back at her. “Did Dex tell you about the party on Monday?”

  “Yep.”

  “You’re going to be there, right?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “Because it’ll be good for you to meet some new people.”

  “I meet new people all the time at Beauty.”

  “Not men.”

  She hummed. “True. You’re acting weird, by the way.”

  “Just looking out for you.”

  He disappeared, and she stared at the empty doorway. Had everyone in her life suddenly gone insane? Shaking her head, she turned her attention to the task at hand and got to work.

  * * *

 
; “Oh! Hi.” A feminine voice startled Dani. She jerked in surprise and banged her head on the bathroom counter.

  “Ouch, crap.” Dani rubbed the side of her head and sat back on her heels.

  A woman wearing a red golf shirt with the park’s logo on it smiled at her from the open door. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “I’m fine,” Dani said as she pushed up from the floor and wiped her hands on her jeans to dry them.

  The woman extended her hand and Dani shook it. “I’m Jeanie. My husband, Joss, is overseeing the complex for the park. I came to take a peek around and heard someone in here.”

  “I’m Dani, Dexter’s daughter.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.” Jeanie looked around the bathroom and smiled. “Do you like working for your father’s company?”

  “I don’t really work for him; I’m just helping out. I work at Beauty.”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s a beauty supply store. We sell makeup, skin and hair care products, and beauty tools.”

  “Oh, neat. What do you do there?”

  “I do makeovers and demo beauty products.”

  “Really? I have to confess I don’t do much in the way of makeup. I’m a cook here at the park. I work in the employee cafeteria.”

  Dani smiled. So many women told her similar things about not using makeup. “I’ve always loved makeup. I went to cosmetology school.”

  “That’s pretty neat. Do you do makeup for weddings and stuff?”

  “Yeah. Not as much as I’d like to. I have a side business. I’d love to grow it, so I don’t have to work as much at the store, but it’s slow going.”

  “Do you have a business card? I might know some women who need help in that area.”

  Dani’s heart pounded in excitement as she pulled her cell phone from her back pocket and pulled a card from the wallet stuck to the back of the sparkly pink case. “Here you go. I’d love any referrals you can give me, and I’d even be happy to do some makeup for you too in exchange for them.”

  Jeanie stared at the card for a long moment and then took out a rectangular piece of colorful paper from her pocket. “We brought some tickets for the VIP safari tours for your dad and his workers, but they said they weren’t interested. Would you like one?”

  Dani accepted the ticket. “Wow, that would be awesome. I’ve never been on a safari tour.”

  “These are a little different,” Jeanie said. “This ticket gets you free parking and admittance into the park. You just have to go online and reserve your spot–tours are Fridays through Sundays year-round. It’s a private tour; just you, a driver, and a guide.”

  “I’d love to check it out,” Dani said. She followed Jeanie into the family room.

  “Check what out?” Khyle asked as he stood in the doorway with a man Dani thought was probably Joss, judging by the way he pulled Jeanie into his arms and smiled at her like he couldn’t quite breathe right when she wasn’t around.

  “The VIP tour.” Dani showed him the ticket.

  Khyle narrowed his gaze. He turned to Joss. “If there’s nothing else?” he said, his tone clipped and dismissive.

  Joss glanced between Khyle and Dani. “No, we’re done here.”

  “It was nice to meet you, Dani,” Jeanie said.

  “You, too.”

  When the couple left, Khyle snatched the ticket from Dani’s hand and tore it up.

  “Hey!” she said. “What the hell did you do that for?”

  Dexter strode into the apartment. “What’s going on?”

  “They fucking gave Dani a ticket after we said no.”

  Dexter grunted, and it sounded a lot like a growl. He looked over his shoulder out the open door, a deep frown on his face. When he turned back to Dani, he said, “You can’t go on the tour.”

  “Why not? It’s just a fun thing to do.”

  “Because it’s not appropriate. I’m your father, and I know what’s best for you.”

  Dani opened her mouth to argue that she was an adult and could certainly go on a safari tour if she wanted to, but the look on her dad’s face told her arguing wasn’t going to do any good. Once more, she thought the men in her life were acting odd. First her dad, then Grey, and now Khyle. What the hell was going on?

  “Fine, I won’t,” Dani said. “Khyle tore up the ticket anyway.”

  “Just so we’re on the same page,” Dexter said. “You’re here to help us out, not venture into the park. Got it?”

  Nodding, she turned to go back into the bathroom to finish wiping the baseboards. Khyle grabbed her arm. “Don’t be mad, D. We just know some things that you don’t, and you need to trust us.”

  “I do trust you. You just don’t have to be so damned heavy-handed with me. Tearing up the ticket was a little over the top.”

  He tucked the ripped ticket into his pocket. “I’m feeling dramatic today.”

  “Obviously.”

  “We’re cool?” he asked, giving her a lopsided smile.

  “Yep.”

  “Good. See you at lunch break.”

  She returned to the bathroom, disappointed. She’d really liked the idea of going on the tour, even if she’d only had the ticket in her hand for a few minutes. She couldn’t believe her brother tore the thing up.

  As she got to work, she tried to put the safari tour out of her mind, but she couldn’t shake the idea that it was important. That her being here on this day, talking to Jeanie, and getting the ticket were all part of some big master plan for her life. What if going on the tour gave her an opportunity to get some work for her business?

  Her phone buzzed, and she dropped the sponge into the bucket with an irritated sigh. Wiping her hand off, she looked at the screen then answered the call.

  “Hi, it’s Jeanie. I was wondering if you had time tonight for a makeup job? My husband just asked me out on a date, and I’d love to look really nice for him.”

  Dani grinned. “What time? I’ll have to run home and grab my supplies. We’re here until five.”

  “Would seven-thirty work?”

  “Sounds perfect. Where should I meet you?”

  “You can use the parking pass with the VIP coupon, I’ll just let them know at the gate.”

  Dani winced. “The ticket got ruined. I don’t have it anymore.”

  “Oh! Well, I’ll leave your name at the gate and meet you at the entrance.”

  “See you then!”

  Dani smiled and put the phone back in her pocket. She had a job! And maybe she could ask Jeanie for another VIP tour ticket. And this time, she’d keep it to herself and not let her family know what she was doing.

  They were definitely hiding something from her. She wondered if it had to do with the party on Monday.

  Whatever their reasons were, it didn’t really matter to her. She wanted to do the tour, and she’d find a way to do it.

  Chapter Three

  Dani hustled into the house and straight up to her bedroom, shutting the door and stripping as she walked to her bathroom. She was exhausted from working for ten hours scrubbing the apartments. Despite the aches, she was thrilled to go back to the park and help Jeanie.

  The hot water from the shower felt heavenly on her skin. She twisted the showerhead to the pulse and turned away from the spray, letting the heat pepper her neck and shoulders. Rolling her head, she stretched and sighed, letting the kinks get worked out of her joints.

  She dressed in a pair of black pants and a black three-quarter sleeve top. A small heart pendant and her favorite woven bracelet were all the jewelry she wore. After fixing her long dark hair into a bun, she applied makeup–concealer to cover the dark circles that a day of hard work had given her, mascara to bring out her eyes, and a bit of pink lip gloss.

  Smiling at her reflection, she grabbed her supplies stowed in a train case and a small leather duffel, and headed downstairs.

  “Where are you off to?” her mom asked as Dani stopped in the kitchen and filled up a water bottle.r />
  “I took a client,” she said. Twisting the lid closed on the ice water, Dani kissed her mom on the cheek. “I won’t be too late.”

  “Oh. Well, your dad wanted to talk to you. Can you wait a few minutes until he’s out of the shower?”

  No, Dani thought, she couldn’t. Because she didn’t want him to ask too many questions. She was twenty-two, but sometimes her dad made her feel about ten years old.

  “Tell him to text me, I gotta jam. Love you!”

  Dani walked quickly from the house, her bags jostling against her shoulder as she hurried to her car. Once she was on the way, she relaxed, glad she hadn’t been stopped. She wasn’t one to lie to anyone, particularly her parents. She cherished honesty. But something was going on with her dad–and her brother and his friends–and she hadn’t been able to shake the thought all day.

  It wasn’t just the party on Monday or the torn-up ticket or the conversation about soulmates.

  She felt like she’d been suddenly cut out of a conversation by the people she loved.

  As she drove to the park, her thoughts circled back to the dream she’d told her dad about. She wondered why he’d cared about it, but he’d seemed interested. It was just a dream, of course. She never put much stock in dreams. But it had felt very real, like a vision of her future. She might have thought she had weddings on the brain because of her business, but if that were the case, then wouldn’t she always dream of weddings?

  Deciding she’d think more about it later, she focused on the road and turned up the volume when one of her favorite tunes began. Singing at the top of her lungs, she drove to the Amazing Adventures Safari Park, feeling hopeful and excited.

  * * *

  “There,” Dani said, holding up a mirror for Jeanie to look in. “What do you think?”

  “Oh, holy crap, you took off ten years!” Jeanie grinned, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “I look amazing. If I do say so myself.”

  Dani smiled. “You sure do.”

  Outside of the small office within the security building in the center of the park, Dani had set up a makeup station and done Jeanie’s makeup. The woman was wearing a denim skirt and a cold-shoulder top.