by Ava Walsh
"A kitten. So what are you?"
What did I ask him that for?
Rose bit her lower lip, ducking her head. She hated it when people walked up to her and asked her that question. Her Eurasian heritage was something she was proud of, but for some reason, people thought that they ought to be privy to her heritage. It annoyed her to no end–and here she was asking the same question!
"I'm sorry," she blurted. "That's none of my business."
Devon grunted. If Rose's heart sunk any lower, it'd be on her feet. This was exactly the kind of disaster she was worried about on her first new job interview. Social awkwardness combined with five years of emotional abuse from someone she loved was not a good combination.
"I suppose if you are going to work for me, it is something you ought to know… I'm a Panther." Devon folded his arms and scowled at her.
If she wasn't so desperate for a job, she would have run right then. Not because of his alternate form, but because of his expression. She didn't need any more short-tempered men in her life, and from the look on his face, Devon looked like somebody who always wanted things done his way and fast.
"I read your resume. You just graduated college with a degree in early childhood education. Why are you looking to be a nanny instead of working at a school or a daycare?"
Good. It was a question she was prepared for. Rose took a deep breath and raised her head again, meeting the shifter's eye. "I would ideally like to be a teacher, but there are no openings in the city right now, and I really need a job. I have student loans to pay off, I need a new car, and I haven't worked in five years. I love kids, and I need something that will help me feel like I'm making a difference. That I'm helping somebody."
"Why haven't you worked in five years?"
"Um… school, mostly," Rose lied, looking at her feet again.
She wasn't going to tell this perfect stranger that her ex didn't want her working… He wanted her to stay home and keep the house clean and make sure a meal was ready as soon as he got home from work.
And if it wasn't, there was hell to pay. That was why it took her five years to complete a two-year program. She had to plan her school schedule around taking care of Percy.
Devon jumped to his feet. At first Rose flinched, thinking that he was going to order her away, but he ran into the house without a word. Rose stayed where she was, frozen in shock. Was that his way of ending the interview? But moments later she heard a wailing baby, and her shoulders relaxed. It wasn't her, it was his daughter that had made him leave so abruptly.
"There, there, Jamie. What's wrong?" The gruff tones Devon had been using on her have completely melted away to a voice that was like buttery caramel.
Something shivered from Rose's stomach, working its way up and down her limbs just hearing that voice. She stood and peeked into the doorway. Devon stood in the middle of a modestly decorated living room, gently rocking a blanket that was messily tucked around a flailing baby.
Rose stepped into the room, not wanting to assume Devon was helpless, but the baby's crying tugged at her heartstrings. She couldn’t just leave. "Do you mind? I'm not so great with words, but I can show you how well I work with babies."
A fierce glare answered her, but at another, louder wail, Devon's gaze softened. He handed the baby to Rose–reluctantly, she thought–and hovered at her shoulder as she checked baby Jamie's diaper. She frowned. The diaper was dry, but it was put on backward.
"She wants to eat. When did you last feed her?"
"At 11:02," Devon replied promptly. "The books say babies need to be fed every two hours. She shouldn’t be hungry for another hour."
Rose nodded. "She's probably just tired then and wants something to suck on for comfort. Do you have a pacifier?"
"The books say pacifiers can ruin children's teeth."
"She doesn't have any teeth yet," Rose reminded him gently. She knelt on the floor and unwrapped Jamie before burritoing her up tightly. The baby still cried, until she was snuggled up against Rose's chest as she bounced and swayed from side to side.
Within five minutes, Jamie had dropped off to sleep again. Rose smiled as the little body became utterly relaxed in her arms. She smiled up at Devon, who looked so surprised it was actually comical. He smiled at her and nodded.
"Can you start tomorrow?"
Rose jolted in surprise. "You want to hire me?"
"Yes."
"Oh." A wide smile broke over Rose's face. Maybe the interview didn't get off to a great start, but at least things were looking up! A job would really help her find her feet again. She nodded. "Yeah, I can start tomorrow."
"Good. I'm a veterinarian and I've been away from the practice for too long already. My boss is getting antsy about it. Now, I need your cell phone number… do you have all emergency personnel, fire department, 911, police, etc. in your phone directory?"
Rose shook her head.
"If you're going to watch after my daughter, you need that. And you have infant CPR training, so we're okay with that. And I have Nanny cams around the house. That's something I thought you should know."
Rose frowned. She didn't like the idea of him being able to watch her without her knowing about it. But he did tell her about the cams, so he wasn't looking to sneakily spy on her.
"Oh!" Devon nodded and headed for the kitchen. "I'll show you how to make a bottle. I don't want you microwaving it. In fact, I'd prefer you not to use the microwave at all. Or cell phones around Jamie, so if you have any calls you have to make, please use the landline unless it's in a case of emergency."
"You can calm down, you know." Rose shifted the baby into one arm and laid her free hand on Devon's arm. "She's going to be fine with me. I promise."
Devon stared at her hand on his arm. Rose suddenly realized how strong the muscles beneath her fingertips were. He was like a god, carved to perfection from the hand of an artist. Her heart rate spiked and a rush of heat rose to her face. She coughed and stepped away.
"Where is her crib?"
"Upstairs in the bedroom." Devon's head cocked to one side. "Do you have a boyfriend?"
Rose tensed. She narrowed her eyes at her new employer while backing away from him. "If I'm going to work for you, I'll be taking care of Jamie. I'm not here as your… playmate."
He held his hands up in the air. "I'm sorry. That was inappropriate of me. But I'm glad to hear you are so forceful about the issue. I've heard of women taking care of single men's children in the hopes of getting married… especially where shifters are concerned."
"And you asked if I had a boyfriend in the hopes that I did?"
"Yes. There is a lot of romanticism about us in the media, and… I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page. This is a strictly professional relationship, for Jamie's sake. Nothing else."
"Oh." Rose let out a sigh of relief. It would be a lie to say she wasn't attracted to this man, but at this point, she wanted nothing to do with romance. "Good. Now… why don't I put the baby down, and you can tell me her routine and everything else I need to know?"
Devon smiled at her. "Yeah. That sounds good."
Chapter Two – Devon
Maybe he should have run a background check on her. Devon hovered behind Rose as she demonstrated yet again that she knew how to change a diaper expertly. The truth was that she clearly knew more about taking care of infants than he did, but that wasn't surprising. According to her résumé, she had experience in babysitting since she was twelve years old.
Devon couldn't remember holding a baby until he got Jamie.
He patted his pocket, self-conscious about the weight of the phone he was no longer used to carrying. "You have the office number and my personal cell phone number in your cell phone?"
"Yes. And they're tacked up by the landline just in case, along with all the emergency numbers for this area." Rose picked up the teddy bear she had just diapered and propped it on her hip. "Devon. We are going to be fine. You have plenty of formula and filtered water and sterili
zed glass bottles, and I have sworn an oath not to wash her diapers in regular laundry soap."
"Or use those disposable ones," Devon added. "Who knows what—?"
Rose shook her head and grasped his hand. An amused smile played over her lips. "You know, as sweet as it is to see you so concerned about your daughter, there is such a thing as being overprotective. She will be fine. Babies have been born for a few billion years now. They're designed to be babies."
Infant mortality rates have always been high, too. He gulped in a deep breath. Maybe it was too early to go back to work. But his paternity leave was over, so he didn't have much of a choice. If he had owned the clinic he worked at… but he didn't, and his boss, while understanding, was short-staffed as it was. Devon needed to be there.
Still, he hesitated. He hadn't been separated from Jamie since she was first placed into his arms. "Maybe it would be a good idea for you to memorize—"
"You're going to be late."
Devon let out a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah. I have to go. You have the minivan in case you need to drive anywhere."
"Yes." Rose's amber-brown eyes twinkled. "She'll be fine. I promise."
With a reluctant nod, Devon moved back to the swing where Jamie was sleeping. He kissed her gently before tearing himself away. Nerves churned in his stomach all the way to the veterinary clinic he worked at on the opposite side of the city. As soon as he was parked in his reserved spot, he pulled out his phone and pulled up the app connecting him to the nanny cam he had installed.
A blanket was laid out over the floor, and Rose was gently putting Jamie down on it on her belly. Devon felt his shoulders unstitching. The pediatrician said that 'tummy time' was necessary to develop strong neck muscles. Rose did know what she was doing.
"Now, how about we read a story?" Rose laid down perpendicular to Jamie and put a novel between them. "You're never too young for Harry Potter, are you?"
Devon smiled. He closed the app and called her. "Everything is good there still?"
"Yes." Rose's voice was patient. "We were just going to read a story while we got some tummy time. Everything is good here."
"Good. I've gotten to work. I'll call again when I can." Devon hung up the phone and let out a deep breath. This was necessary, he knew that. And Rose was a good choice to watch after Jamie. She had a calm, mothering aura to her that made him instantly like her. She would be good for Jamie.
It also helped that she was so beautiful. With her Eurasian skin tones and amber-brown eyes, not to mention her red, red hair, she could have been a model. Maybe not one of those super-skinny models, but plus-sized models were more in demand, and Rose Doctor would have been an excellent fit. Flawless skin. Curves in all the right places.
Stop it. I am not going to get romantically or sexually entangled with this woman. She's here to look after Jamie, that's it.
Devon headed into work, his muscles relaxing even further when the familiar smell of cats, dogs, birds and reptiles hit his nose. The receptionist, Cheri, looked up and grinned at him. Several of the doggy clients that he'd been working with for years strained against their leashes, their whole bodies shaking with the force of their wagging tails.
"Hey, buddy," Devon greeted one of them, dropping to one knee to fondle his head. He smiled and nodded at his owner in greeting.
He had missed this, working with animals. Living in the city, he didn't have many chances to shift and be free in a form that was as much who he was as his human form. Being a vet like this helped him feel more connected to nature, and it was good to be back.
Cheri called his name, and he went to the desk. The plump brunette handed him a sheet. "Once you're ready, you have a patient waiting in room five with an abscessed tooth."
"Thanks. I'll be there in five minutes."
Devon grinned as he went to his office to drop off his things and change into his scrubs. It seemed like his boss wasn't interested in easing him back into work, and that was just the way he liked it. Many people thought cats were lazy, but the truth was they just needed stimulation. And having a fast-paced job was exactly what a Panther like him needed.
The hours flew by as he worked, although he made sure he took the time to call Rose between patients to make sure everything was okay with Jamie. The nanny sounded a little more stressed every time he talked to her, and when it was time for his lunch break, he checked the cam. They were rocking in a chair, with Rose reading again. Both she and Jaime looked utterly relaxed. Devon called her again.
"Everything is fine here, just like the last time you called," Rose said as soon as she answered. She sounded exasperated. "And you could have warned me that you were going to call every half hour."
Devon's brow furrowed. "I've been calling because you sound stressed."
"I'm stressed because you keep calling. Look, I get that you're worried about Jamie and it's the first time you've left her with somebody else, but please. You have got to stop checking in so often. You have the nanny cam. If you're worried, check it."
"I have been."
"Then you know that everything is fine. Jamie is fine. But I can't work with you needing to constantly know where I am and what I'm doing. I've had enough of that for a lifetime!"
What did she mean by that? It had only been for one morning... Devon rubbed his temples. Maybe Rose hadn't been the best choice for this. Maybe she didn't have the temperament he needed.
"I was calling to say that I'm taking a short day today," he lied. "We're not that busy."
He hung up and quickly went to his boss, telling him that there was an emergency with the baby and left. Traffic was thankfully light, and he made it through the city in only half an hour.
When he got back home, he found Rose sitting on the couch with Jamie in her arms. His daughter's little eyes were sinking as she drank from her bottle. He sighed in relief at seeing her. Rose greeted him with a cool, stony look. He wanted to return it with a similar look, but now seeing how peaceful the house and his little girl both were, he realized he had made a terrible mistake in his paranoia. He scuffed his toes against the floor.
"I don't think I'm ready to get back to work," Devon sighed, sinking into a chair. "Look, I'm sorry for calling so often. It's not that I don't trust you. It's just… she's my baby girl. I never thought I'd be in this situation, and I don't know what to do. All I know is that I would do anything for her."
Rose's expression softened a little. "And I suppose I could be a little more understanding. But I grew up with a father who excused his controlling behavior as trying to protect me. And I haven't had the best romantic relationships. The constant checking in, always having to account for every single thing that I do… it raises some pretty big red flags for me."
Devon nodded, his gaze on his now-sleeping daughter. Could he tell Rose why he was so paranoid? No. They hardly knew each other, he couldn't trust her with that yet. Which was ironic, seeing as he trusted her with the most precious thing in his life right now. His massive shoulders slumped and he leaned back in the chair.
"I don't want to be a controlling father or employer for that matter. I just don't know what I'm doing and I don't want to mess it up."
"A little advice? Relax."
"Yeah." Devon held his arms out for Jamie and Rose passed her to him. The baby fit snugly in the crook of one arm, she was so small. "Maybe it will help if we get to know each other a little better. I know I was overbearing today, but maybe I could make you dinner?"
To his surprise, Rose's golden tones paled at his words. Her hands clenched into fists and she shook her head decisively. "No. I already told you, I'm not looking for—"
"I didn't mean anything by it," Devon was quick to add. Her reaction surprised and confused him, but he still wanted her to understand that he hadn't changed his mind about the 'strictly professional' rule. "I was only thinking that if I knew you better, maybe I'd be able to relax more at work with Jamie. I told you, I'm not looking for a relationship."
"If you don't need m
e anymore today, I think I should go," Rose said, turning her back on him. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Devon's brow furrowed as she hurried out the door. He patted Jamie's back gently. "What was that all about, hmm? What is she hiding?"
He looked down at his daughter. She was so relaxed and sleeping so soundly. Devon sighed. He was going to have to try to be less overbearing. He didn't know what it was like to have a controlling parent, but it was clear that Rose had issues. And she was so good with Jamie… He needed her. It was that simple. And he could adjust to make her more comfortable around him.
It wasn't like it was hard not to pry into her personal life.
Chapter Three – Rose
Do I go in or do I quit?
Rose sat in her car, hands clenched in her lap. If she only knew what Devon's intentions were, then the choice would be easy. If he was telling the truth and wanted things to be platonic-professional, then it was fine. But unfortunately, she wasn't a mind-reader. If she was, she never would have gotten involved with Percy for five years.
Devon didn't seem to be the same kind of guy as Percy was. He was just paranoid about leaving his daughter for the first time. And his invitation to dinner could be much more benign than she had taken it as. Making food wasn't necessarily a prepayment expecting sex in return. Was it?
Closing her eyes, Rose sucked in a deep breath. Hadn't she made excuses for Percy, too? Hadn't she ignored her own feelings on the matter and continued to give him everything that she was while receiving nothing back?
It's not the same situation, she told herself and took another deep breath.
It had been a long time since she had the confidence to trust her own instinct, but in this case, they weren't going crazy like they had with Percy.
Devon's actions gave her a knee-jerk reaction, but when she really considered how she felt, there wasn't any of the fear that she'd deliberately ignored with Percy; if she had believed that fear rather than giving him a chance, the last five years wouldn't have happened. But she didn't feel the same wariness around Devon.
