Liars and Tigers by Breanna Hayse Read Free Book Online

snarling
and hiding. Now, they cuddled her like kittens.
    Jack watched her carefully.
The Boss would have a screaming fit if he discovered what she was doing. Alex
had two strict rules about feeding time—never by hand, and always with a
partner. Misha ignored both; apparently the slight woman felt she was above the
need for safety. Jack held the door for her as she exited the enclosure,
locking it carefully behind her.
    "We need to talk, kid.
You can't go treating those cats like they were house pets. You know as well as
I do that they could turn any minute, without warning. They've been starved and
abused, and no amount of cosseting is going to change the fact that they are
still wild animals."
    "I know what I'm doing,
Jack," Misha stated flatly as she walked away from him.
    He grabbed her arm and
gently forced her to face him. "You aren't going anywhere until I am done
talking to you, little girl. I know you are confident in your work and that you
are one of the best; but you would never allow me or anyone else to put ourselves
in that same situation. You would tell us that it was too risky, and the
animals too unstable. It would break my heart if they decided to make you into
their next meal. I've already been through that scare once with you and don't
want to ever experience that again. Please, promise me that you'll stop hand
feeding them."
    "That event was a
different situation," Misha argued. "The cats like it! You know that no one else can get them to eat like I can,
and it's because they feel safe with me. You can't stop me!"
    Jack's eyes began to smolder
with annoyance. "I can't? Misha, if you were my daughter, I'd put you
across my knee, skin down those trousers, and spank some sense into that
pretty, thick skull. Promise me that you will stop this nonsense immediately!"
he barked.
    Misha's eyes widened in
surprise. Jack was usually pretty laid back, and never asserted his position of
supervisor, or long-time friend, on her. "Okay! Fine! I promise. Happy?
I'll feed them through the bars like they were caged animals."
    "They are caged animals. We can't let them go
to the Wild Animal Park if they don't learn to eat like tigers. And you had
better not be telling me what you think I want to hear. I know your tactics;
you've been using them for years with me. No more lying, hear me? I swear that
if I catch you again, I will paddle you raw, and then I will tell Alex and let
him deal with you. Trust me, love, you don't want to go to that place with him.
I am serious about this. Am I clear?"
    Misha nodded, rolling her
eyes. "Men and their testosterone! I promise, okay? Now get off my case
and go do your own work. If you're that bored, I'm sure there is lots of
elephant scat to be shoveled, and Scout would love you to clean his
enclosure."
    "Sassy little
wench," the older man muttered, walking away.
    "Oh, you have not seen
sassy yet, Jack!" Misha called back.
    Jack paused and turned to
her. "Just a word of warning, missy. Alex is old-school. He is not the
type of man who makes idle threats. He will paddle your backside in a heartbeat
if you push him, and he won't hold nuthin' back. Watch your tone with him, if
ya know what's good for you."
    "I'm not afraid of
anything Alex Hodges does, Jack. And if he thinks he can spank me like I'm a
naughty child, then I say 'bring it on, buddy'! He hasn't seen my fangs in
action yet."
    "I'll make sure I tell
him that. Cuteness will not work with him like it does on me."
    "We'll see." Misha
sniggered.
    ***
    "Got
any plans for today?" Alex asked, handing Misha a cup of coffee. It was
their third weekend together, and they had settled into a comfortable regimen
that suited them, and the animals, well. The puppies chased each other,
alternately pouncing on the fuzzy tiger cub as he stretched out in the early
morning sunlight.
    "Actually,
I do. I thought it would be fun if I took you for a ride," Misha said, her
voice high and flirty.
    Alex
laughed, enjoying the rare glimpse into her playful