A man. A tiger. A tornado. Jared Montaine owns a big cat rescue in Florida and faces financial pressures, getting over his ex-wife, and the challenge of suburbia creeping ever closer to his enclave for the animals. But when a tornado wrecks part of the refuge, Jared's worst fear comes to life: his Siberian tiger, Sultan, escapes. It's a big cat handler’s nightmare: a tiger on the loose, confused, lost -- and hungry. Jared races against the police, the media, and the hysterical public, all of whom are clamoring for the tiger's hide. He must re-capture Sultan before the cat is killed -- by traffic, by SWAT, or by a civilian who just wants to shoot a tiger. With fellow wildlife handlers at his side, Jared fights desperately to find and capture Sultan before the tiger injures or kills a human. Because that would lead to his worst nightmare -- having to kill the tiger he hand-raised from a cub. Jared’s commitment is tested -- to his animals, his refuge, and his belief that saving the life of even one tiger is worth losing everything.

The Tiger Whisperer

“A few more boxes and the one file cabinet. Saturday it’s off to India; London first, then New Delhi, then a puddle jumper up to—”


Jared stepped toward the desk and leaned over it, close enough to see the pulse beat in her throat. “You know I want you to stay.”


“Thanks, Jared. But a National Geographic study doesn’t come around every day; I have to take this job.” Valerie looked down, her fingers ruffling some papers. Her voice was softer now.


She leaned closer and Jared smelled her shampoo, something citrus scented. He reached for her face, intent on one sweet kiss, his legs pressing uncomfortably into the cold metal.


A mover barreled into the room, his hand truck rattling like a roller-coaster. “Lady, this file cabinet, too?”


Valerie straightened up, her eyes wide and startled. She pushed her hair behind one ear. “Yes, take it.”


Chapter 15