Moves Like Jagger (Wolf Mates Book 4) by Dakota Cassidy Read Free Book Online

“Well, you don’t have to. Levi’s going to be just fine. Now, let me help you get him inside where it’s warm and make you a cup of tea, maybe? Do you like tea? And then I’ll help you go over the instructions for caring for Levi’s wound. How does that sound?”
    Mrs. Andersen nodded her graying head, allowing Viv to wrap a blanket around Levi and scoop him up to carry him back inside.
    The thought of someone here in Cedar Glen purposely hunting the town pets made her stomach turn, but she did her best to keep that hidden from Mrs. Andersen as they made their way back inside her small cottage.
    * * * *
    The engine of Jagger’s van purred as they pulled into the small driveway of her cottage at almost midnight. Snow fell across the beams of the headlights in fat flakes and the deep purple of the sky grew swollen and heavy with clouds.
    Once they’d settled Levi and Mrs. Andersen and Jagger had explained she needed to keep a close watch on Levi until they knew what was going on, the evening was all but gone.
    She sighed at the glow of Christmas lights dotting the horizon behind her house, the landscape of Cedar Glen peaceful. Turning in her seat, she smiled at Jagger. “Thank you for letting me come along tonight. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt very useful.”
    He leaned over the arm of the van’s seat and grabbed her hand. “You were incredible with Mrs. Andersen tonight. She’s about as protective of Levi as she is about any of her children. You eased her fears. I’m the one who should be thanking you .”
    As his thumb caressed the skin of her hand, she nodded. “All that gratitude makes you uncomfortable, doesn’t it?”
    Jagger nodded, the shake of his dark head sheepish “Makes me squirm like I dropped a packet of wet Pop Rocks in my pants. If you want to know what my biggest flaw is, aside from the toothpaste cap, that’s it. I just could never quite get used to it. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the good words, but I’m only doing what I was taught.”
    Ah. He was humble, too. A shiver slithered along her spine. So sexy.
    “But you don’t do something like become a veterinarian in order to collect a paycheck. Who’d choose to see so much suffering for some cash? You can’t teach someone to care about an animal the way you do, Jagger. It’s pretty evident in the way you dealt with Levi. That’s called compassion, sympathy. Of which you have much. I find myself a little impressed.”
    He didn’t acknowledge her praise, instead he said, “Speaking of compassion, you’re really good with people, Viv. Good at dealing with the aspects of my work where I falter. So I have a question. One might consider it rash at this early stage of the mating game, but I like to think I’m a pretty good judge of character.”
    She tilted her head but remained silent.
    “Come work for me. I can’t pay you much, but I bet it’s a better salary than you’d collect at the bar, working for Derrick. I went into this alone, thinking somewhere down the line I’d find an assistant, and I think I’ve found her.”
    Viv was flabbergasted, yet tingly all over. “But I have no technical training. Sure, I know some things just from watching, but I can’t diagnose anything or dole out medicine. I’m just a sympathetic ear who loves animals.”
    He chuckled. “I’m not asking you to assist in brain surgery or dispense doggy valium. I just need someone who’s good with people and animals to help me hold down the fort; make some rescues like with the catch-and-release program. Help me so I don’t end up prepping some poor shifter for a spaying like I did you.”
    Excitement bubbled deep in the pit of her belly. “But don’t I have to have some sort of certification or something? Am I breaking a law?”
    “Because the werewolves are going to call the cops?”
    Now she laughed, too, her cheeks hot. “Point.”
    “No. You’re not breaking any laws. You could always look into schooling as a vet tech,