Jaguar Hunt is Here! Well, Tomorrow!

When I write a story, I really get into them.  And when I started Jaguar Hunt, I had two goals in mind: find the missing zoo cat from Jaguar Fever and discover what had happened to Maya and Connor's parents.

Note: When I write a book, I have no clue myself. I don't plot out a book. I couldn't. So I started out with how the characters begin the story.  What David is up to, and what Tammy has to do.

David has been assigned the case of watching two jaguar shifter teens that are bound to get themselves into real trouble, and one more infraction of their laws, and he's got to take them in to headquarters where the director of the JAG branch will decide what to do with them. Much like what happened to David and Wade when they were teens. So see? It came back to bite him.

He learns the kids know something about the case that Tammy's working on. The case of the missing zoo jaguar. So he calls his boss to let him know he wants to be teamed up with her, because now his case is tied in with her case. Only he has to spend a little time in jail. But that's all part of the plan, you see.

Tammy can't believe she's being teamed up with a JAG agent when she has to bail him out of jail first!! Her big thing is to ditch troublesome partners and he's already proved he's trouble with a big T.

But rather than tell about it, here's their first encounter, an excerpt from Jaguar Hunt:

Maybe he didn’t know yet that he was supposed to be her partner. Tammy decided not to say anything. She’d solve the case just fine without him.

She shook her head as she filled out the paperwork in the police station and was about to pay his fine—courtesy of his JAG boss—when she discovered someone else had already done so, anonymously. That was weird. While she waited for David to be released, she folded her arms, sandaled foot tapping the floor. She normally thought herself a very patient person.

“He’s all yours,” the police officer said as he escorted David out of the cell block.

David was darker haired than his brother, Wade—whom she had met. David’s locks were shaggier, windswept, and wilder looking, his eyes a pure green and focused on hers. He appeared way too eager to see her. Sure, she had just sprung him from jail, but his look was more of a “cat that got the cream” kind of expression, instead of strictly being pleased she came here to have him released, which worried her a bit. Just because his brother was now married to her cousin didn’t mean anything to her. She didn’t know David from the next troublemaking shifter.

David smiled at Tammy, his dimples making him look sweeter than she figured he was.

A year ago, she’d worked with a couple of other JAG agents on a mission, who had thought she wasted their time. They knew their business, and according to them, she was just a handicap. So she didn’t figure David would act any differently. Worse, if he couldn’t keep out of mischief, why should she risk her investigation while working with him?

As he signed for his personal items and pocketed his cell phone, she studied the olive T-shirt stretched across his impressive abs and pecs. He looked prepared for combat action: camo cargo pants, boots ready to tromp through the jungle—typical attire for a JAG agent headed to South America on a mission. She, on the other hand, was dressed casual for summer—jeans, blouse over a camisole, sparkly sandals—blending in with the everyday population.

“The cop told me you’re Tammy Anderson. You must be Maya’s cousin,” David said, his eyes shifting over her and again meeting her gaze.

“Yep.” Tammy headed outside when a tall, well-built man with a handlebar mustache bumped into her, not watching where he was going as he bolted up the steps to the station. She took a sniff of the air surrounding him.

Scowling at the guy, David looked like he wanted to teach him some manners, but Tammy said, “Don’t. I’m fine and you’ve already been in enough trouble, don’t you think?”

She glanced back at the man as he entered the police station. He smelled like a lion. An African lion… shifter? She didn’t think anything like that existed.

“Has to be with the circus. Thought I smelled elephant, camel, lion, and dog shifters last night at the club,” David joked. “They must work with the animals.”

That made sense. The staff at the local zoo that handled the animals would most likely smell that way, also, except this guy didn’t look like a zookeeper. Not with the handlebar mustache.

“If you think you can keep yourself out of jail for a while, you’re free to go,” she told David and took off across the parking lot at a quick pace.

Before she realized he was following her—closely—he caught her arm, his large hand strong, his grip tight. She swallowed an un-Enforcer-like squeak as he promptly stopped her in place. Her ire stoked, she was so tempted to take him down. She suspected he knew just what she was thinking, and he’d thwart her before she even made the attempt. That was the problem with him being with the JAG and also trained in hand-to-hand combat. A wry smile curved his mouth. For a second, she was transfixed. He had lips that enticed a woman to sample them—not too thin or too large, just perfect kissing-size.

Shaking loose of that thought, she glared at him instead.

“What?” she asked, annoyed. “I’m not babysitting you. Just freeing you from jail so you can be on your way. And stay out of trouble. I’ve got better things to do with my time.”

“We’re working together,” David said, cutting to the chase.

Damn, he already knew.

“Your boss asked my boss if he could assign one of his best agents on the job to work with you. That’s me. David Patterson.” He gave her another award-winning smile.

Yep, that's David. :)  He's lots and lots of fun. And Tammy's just the kind of challenge he needs in his life. Although his brother warned him to keep his hands off because she's his mate's cousin, and her brothers warned him that she dates humans, and she ditches partners.

He loves a challenge.

But before this, we saw some of the jaguar shifters in:

And now, we have Jaguar Pride coming out in Feb!

 Hot, right??? He's a black jaguar, and love this cover too! 

And here are a couple of pictures I shot while at my zoo:

I get a lot of tail end shots. :) 

 Donna Fournier shared her cousin's beautiful tattoo that actually is made of a special ink that glows in black light. Donna said, "This beautiful art work was done by Nic Skrade. He owns Uptown Tattoo in Mpls. He's a true Artist. And my Nephew."
BUT, I wanted to forewarn anyone who attempts this and then makes a trek into the rainforest...you might just attract a jaguar who has to check it out. Do you know which one this is? Huntley is in Jaguar Pride and coming in Feb.

Hope you all are having a great day in the start of June! Tomorrow Jaguar Hunt releases.

Who would you like to see a story about next and why? Are you enjoying the jaguars and if so, what is it that you like about them?

For one lucky reader, US, I will send the first 3 books in the jaguar series to you.

Thanks so much for dropping by and saying hi!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

www.terryspear.com