Chapter 2 — The tiger whisperer

Astrid:

Three years later…

I bit back a laugh as I watched Maura try to run but tumble face first into the grass, Xenia padded over to her and nudged her with her head, a proper big sister move.

These animals are just amazing.

I whistled and the two tiger cubs perked up and bounded to me, crashing into my legs, all 24 pounds of tiger.

I chuckled and crouched down, scratching them under the chin and petting their heavy, beautiful striped coats, while they purred and wound between my legs.

They were both orphaned cubs I had discovered during my expedition to Sumatra last month, their mother unfortunately had a difficult birth of her twin cubs and didn't survive. I found these two beauties absolute starved right beside their dead mom during my trek through the Sumatran lowlands. I just had to take them, and care for them before bringing to the Ascot private zoo, where I work.

Yea, I'm a wildlife vet and conservationist. My job is to care for the many, many animals at Ascot Private zoo and I absolutely love it. After my sabbatical leave to Tanzania where I worked with the Lions and leopards there, I spent another year in Indonesia, majorly Sumatra studying the Tigers and other big cats there. I've only just returned to England last year and thanks to Sydney, my angel of a best friend, I got this amazing job.

The cackling of the walkie talkie in my hand drew me from my thoughts and I listened to the crackling voice of my coworker Amanda "Dr. Waller, Mr. Renson is asking for you and the other vets to report to his office immediately" I ran a hand through my spiky hair and blew out a sigh "Do you know why?"

"No ma'am"

I glanced at the yowling cubs at my ankles. "Okay fine, just let me put the babies back in."

"Okay ma'am."

I crouched down, after shoving the talkie in my pocket and scooped the little tigers into my arms, heading towards the rock opening at the other end of the enclosure that leads to their pens.

The little ones weren't so happy about me cutting short playtime. They were yowling out my eardrums and scratching at my back, clearly wanting to spend more time in the sunlit enclosure.

A few meters away from the exit, I stopped in my tracks, not because Maura had started to pee down my midriff. It was because right at that moment the last person I would even think to walk through that stone archway into the tiger enclosure at Ascot Private zoo did.

I stood staring into the model-like face of my ex-husband: Aaro Camelio.

He stood at his imposing height, towering over me. His dark hair was much longer, curling around his too handsome face like a noir curtain, his caramel eyes blazed in his otherwise bland, expressionless face. He hadn't changed much from the last time I saw him, decked out in his almost customary black Armani suit, complete with an expensive looking black and silver striped scarf hanging from his lapels, it looked familiar but I pushed that thought aside.

"Aaro" I breathed.

The imposing man in front of smirked as his heart-wrenching eyes took me in. I suddenly felt self-conscious. I mean, I was disappointing all women on the globe by looking like cat shit in front of my ex. My hair clung around my face in spiky clumps, I had cut it too short when I was in Sumatra to beat the humidity and it hadn't grown back yet, I hadn't slept in over a day and I knew my eyes reflected that strain, also I had tiger pee dripping down my leg.

Sorry to all women.

"Your hair is too short, I don't like it" Aaro's deep voice resonated throughout the small space. I frowned.

After three years, that's what this bastard had to say to me?

Anger bloomed in me but before I could retort, a shrill voice filled the air. "Mr. Camelio!"

A busty blond wearing the tightest work dress I've ever seen hopped through the stone way, stopping beside Aaro, her too high heels sinking into the soft dirt.

She looked every inch like one of those thirst trap bitches that men drool over in those dirty magazines, obvious fake boobs and bleached blond hair, collagen filled lips.

So this was Aaro's new type, bleached blond bimbos? My anger grew as I felt inferior. He truly had changed.

A rough tongue licked my ear and I jerked back to reality. The cubs were still in my arms.

I knelt and freed them, they bounced on the grass, happy to be let down but sticking close to me, wary of the new comers.

Why won't they? Aaro was the devil's spawn.

Loud huffing drew my attention to the stone way again as my boss emerged, looking winded, his wispy white hair sticking to his forehead, his wire rimmed glasses lopsided.

"Mr. Camelio!" He huffed "I almost lost you"

Aaro didn't even regard him, his eyes were stuck on me, still kneeling with the cubs winding around me.

The intensity of his gaze made the long dead butterflies in my stomach flutter to life and start beating around my belly. I shouldn't still be feeling flutters for this man. He was my ex-husband. We were divorced.

"I had to see the doctor everyone was talking about, the famous tiger whisperer" he responded, a slight mocking tone to his voice.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. He was trying to provoke me, but I wasn't going to play his game.

"Oh, of course, sir," Mr. Renson gushed, hurrying over to me and all but yanking me to my feet and shoving me to stand in front of Aaro.

The cubs bounded away, seeking entertainment elsewhere since I was preoccupied and couldn't play with them.

"Astrid" Mr. Renson touched my arm and motioned to Aaro "This is Mr. Aaro Camelio, Mr. Camelio, this is Dr. Astrid Waller, our resident big cat specialist and all round Veterinarian"

Aaro slowly offered his hand, his eyes never leaving mine "It's nice to meet you Doctor" I wasn't backing down from his challenge.

I took his hand and shook "Likewise, sir."