“I understand. I could just pack a sandwich so I won’t need an escort at lunch.”

He smiled. “Lunches are free, Miss Gordon. We serve excellent food and you should take advantage of it.”

“Thank you.”

He stood and held out his hand. Zandy stood to put her much smaller one in his so they could shake on it. He had a firm hold, released her quickly and nodded.

“Enjoy your work.”

“Thank you.” She gripped her purse and left his office.

Creek smiled and waved her to have a seat. “An officer was called to take you to building C. You will like working here.”

Zandy liked the New Species woman and smiled. “Thank you. I’m sure I will. Everyone I’ve met so far has been wonderful.”

A snort sounded from Creek. “Except for the fact that you have to be searched every time you enter our gates.”

“They had a woman pat me down but it wasn’t so bad. They were really nice about it.”

“We try. We feel bad for having to touch everyone but it’s necessary. Just weeks ago a man came in for a job interview and they found a gun stashed inside his underwear. He was from a hate group and wanted to shoot Slade dead.”

Zandy was shocked. “That’s terrible.”

“Some humans hate us.” Creek shrugged. “They blame us for what we are though we were never given a choice. Now we just want to live in peace and it offends some of your kind. We fear hiring humans—no offense to you—but many of us don’t have the skills to do all the jobs required. I learned how to use computers and type to become a receptionist. A human did this job before me but she sold some documents to the reporters for money. Eventually we’ll be able to do most of the jobs as more of us learn skills though the humans we trust will keep their jobs.”

“That’s just shitty that she did that.”

Creek nodded. “Yes. Slade trusted her. She was a grandma type. Is that the right way to say it? I saw Christmas movies and she looked like Mrs. Santa Claus. It was sad when she betrayed our trust and it really hurt Slade’s feelings. He liked her and it left him very depressed.”

“I don’t blame him. There’s nothing worse than someone you trust screwing you over. Especially for money.”

A look of interest sparked in the woman’s eyes. “You have been betrayed for money?”

“I’ve been betrayed but I never had any money to steal and there were no tabloids to sell stuff to that would hurt me. I just imagine it would be worse if that’s why someone did it.”

Creek nodded. “Do you have children? I like them.”

Zandy shook her head. “No. I’ve been married twice but neither one of them turned out to be daddy material. Or loyal.” She shrugged. “Now I’ve given up on the whole having-kids plan. I’m past thirty and enjoy not having a man in my life.”

“You have had two mates?” Creek’s eyes widened. “Did they die?”

“I divorced them. The first one was a cheating jerk who nailed anything that said yes. The second one, well, he was a bum.”

“He lived on the streets?”

Zandy laughed. “He probably is now that I’m not around to support him. He liked to sit on his ass all day doing nothing and couldn’t find a job to save his life. He was lazy and I got fed up with it. I divorced him and he moved in with a woman two apartment buildings over. While I was working and supporting him, he was sleeping with her. I’m a horrible judge of character when it comes to men, I know that now, and have called it quits on finding another one.”

“I don’t blame you.” Creek reached over and squeezed her hand in support. “Our men are not bums. I heard some of your males are not very strong but our males keep in good shape. You won’t find any weak ones here. Our males would die before they expected a female to tend to them as if they were helpless. They don’t have that bad trait.”

“Are you married? Do you have children?”

Creek shook her head. “I just share sex with different males. I don’t plan on mating with one. Our females are unable to conceive children so there is no reason to settle down with just one male. They are a bit controlling. We dealt with that all of our lives and don’t wish to be told what to do.”

A smile curved Zandy’s lips and she liked the woman a lot. “That sounds wise. You don’t need a man to complete your life. At least that’s what I tell myself every time some cute guy hits on me. No way, no how. I’m better off remaining single.”

The office door opened and a tall man dressed in black walked in. Zandy felt the color leave her face as she stared at his features. She’d met him before. She couldn’t remember his name but she remembered him all the same. It had been a few weeks ago but she’d never forget his face.

Creek smiled. “This is Slash. Slash, this is Zandy Gordon. She is going to be working in building C. You are her escort for today.”

Shit, Zandy’s mind screamed. Maybe he won’t remember me. She stood as the man’s gaze landed on her. His blue eyes narrowed and he cocked his head while he studied her intently. A smile suddenly curved his mouth and she almost flinched, knowing he recognized her for sure. She could see amusement in his gaze.

“You’re the small female from the bar who was smashed by the drunken males,” he confirmed. “How are you, small female?”

“Zandy Gordon,” Creek corrected. “You’ve met her before?”

Slash flat-out grinned. “Briefly. It is nice to see you have fully recovered.” He held out his hand.

She had no choice but to shake the man’s large hand. His skin was hot as he gripped her hand firmly and gave it a squeeze. He released her but stayed close. She had to tilt her head back to look up at him.

“Call me Zandy. You are very tall.”

Creek laughed. “Yes. Our males are all tall but so are most of our females. I am six-foot-one. What are you, Slash? Six-foot-three?”

He nodded, still smiling at Zandy. “Come with me. I will escort you to work.”

The urge to quit her new job and flee gripped her. At least he wasn’t the one she’d molested. It could be worse. That thought barely comforted her. She turned to Creek.

“Thank you. It was nice meeting and talking to you.”

Creek grinned. “I would like it if we could become friends. We could eat lunch together. I could easily find you in the cafeteria. Would you like that?”

Zandy smiled. “I’d love that. I’ll see you at lunch.”

She followed Slash out of the building. He didn’t turn around once to make sure she followed him until they were outside and he paused by a black Jeep. He sat in the driver’s seat and she climbed into the passenger side, glancing at him warily as he met her gaze.

“You are working here now.”

“Yes.”

He chuckled and started the Jeep. “You made quite an impression on Tiger.”

“Who?” She knew though. Now she had a name for the mystery man she’d molested. She’d never forget those stunning blue-and-gold cat eyes.

“Tiger is the male who breathed life into you.”

Her heart nearly stopped. “Breathed life into me?” It was a hell of a great kiss but that is overstating it a bit.

“You were not breathing when he threw drunks off your body, which was crushed against the floor. He had to put his mouth over yours and force air back into your lungs to get you to breathe again.”

Shock tore through her. “I wasn’t breathing?”

“No. Tiger helped your heart pump and he forced air into your lungs. He carried you outside to wait for the ambulance once he breathed life back into you.” He chuckled. “I assume he believed you needed more assistance, considering he put his mouth on you again.”

Her cheeks flamed. “Could we drop this subject? Please? That wasn’t my best night and I keep trying to forget all the details.”

“We can drop it. Don’t worry. Tiger told me to never mention what happened between the two of you to anyone. I kept my word. We didn’t write what happened outside in our report to the sheriff or to the NSO.”