Page 10 of Running with Direwolves
“Spoilsport.”
“You make coffee.” Quickly she shut the bathroom door and flicked on the shower.
Within minutes she was clean and dry and pulling on her combats and a fresh black sweater with the Central Park Zoo logo on the front. She then dragged a red hoodie over her head and eased out the knots in her hair.
“Caffeine.” Tarl handed her a mug as she reappeared.
“Perfect, thanks.” She walked to the window.
He’d opened the curtains and came to stand at her side holding a steaming mug of coffee.
“You have a great view of the park.”
“I know, it’s one of the reasons I took the apartment. I gave up square footage to be able to see the zoo.” She pointed to the few dark structures poking above the tree line.
“The zoo?”
“Yes.”
“You like the zoo? You know the zoo?” He turned to her with a frown.
She laughed. “Sure, I work there.”
His mouth hung open a little. “Fuck.”
“Why fuck?”
He shoved his hand through his hair causing it to stick up. “I knew I was drawn to you … wasn’t sure if … but you work there? At the zoo?”
She tipped her head and studied him. “Yes, why?” Thiswas a most unusual reaction.
“Have you seen the direwolf?”
“You heard about that?”
“Hell, yes.” He set down his coffee and took her hand. His eyes flashed with urgency. “Have you seen him?”
“Yes. He’s in my care.”
Tarl swallowed, his Adam’s apple dipping low on his stubbled neck. “In your care.” He paused. “He hasn’t eaten, has he?”
“How do you know that?”
“I just do.” He glanced at the door. “Are you going to work now?”
She took another sip of coffee. “Yes, if I want to be on time.”
“Can I come with you?”
“What? To my work?”
“To the zoo, to see the direwolf.” He squeezed her hand tighter and stepped close. “Please, Sienna. Please.”
“But why?”
“Doesn’t everyone want to see the creature that was considered extinct?”
“Yes, they do. And I have a press conference to prepare for, and more importantly, ensure the direwolf isn’t stressed any more than he is. Everyone around the world wants to see him, everyone wants a piece of him, literally.”
