“Don’t worry about me,” Bria said. She took Rosalie’s hand and squeezed it. “Did that asshole hurt you?”
“No, uh, the bartender helped me in the hallway so, um, I was fine.” Her gaze wandered back to Hudson. He was standing behind the bar and when he saw her staring at him, glared irritably at her before turning away.
“Okay, well, I guess I’m gonna go home and block Patrick’s number from my phone,” Bria said.
“Stay and have a drink with us,” Jace said.
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“You’re not. It’s an office get together. Right, Rosalie?” Jace said.
“It is. C’mon, Bria, it’s still early. Have a drink with us.”
Bria hesitated before nodding. “Okay. Thanks.”
* * *
“You know those two are going to have sex tonight, right?”
Jace studied the way Sam had her body pressed up against Derek’s. Bud’s Bar had a small, almost miniscule, dance floor tucked near the back. Sam and Derek, along with a few other couples, were swaying to the music.
“No, they’re not,” he said.
Derek reached down and squeezed Sam’s ass. The squirrel shifter grinned up at him and Jace groaned when they kissed.
“That is definitely a we’re-having-sex-tonight kiss.” Bria’s voice was laced with amusement.
“Great.” Jace tipped his beer bottle to his mouth and drank the last swallow. It was just him and Bria and Sam and Derek left. Rosalie had only stayed another half hour before saying she had a headache and leaving. He had no doubt that her leaving was more to do with watching Lincoln shove his tongue down a redheaded fox shifter’s throat. Rhonda had left soon after. It was more than awkward, watching Sam and Derek flirt while Bria made small talk. He was relieved when Sam convinced Derek to dance with her.
“Rosalie said there was no rule about coworkers dating,” Bria said. “Was she wrong?”
“No, but it’s a complication that the office doesn’t need. What if they start dating and then break up?”
She shrugged. “Maybe they’ll remember they’re adults and not make it weird at work.”
“Doubtful.”
“If you’re so against coworkers dating, why don’t you have a firm rule against it?”
He had meant to update the employee handbook, he really did. Except now Bria was working for him and…
And you want to date her.
No, I don’t!
“Jace?” Bria touched his forearm.
“I’ll be asking Betty to update the employee handbook in the next month or so.”
“Oh.”
They sat silently for a moment before Jace cleared his throat. “Sorry about earlier. I hope I didn’t scare you like I scared Rosalie.”
“Why would it scare me?”
Fuck, he couldn’t even hold a normal conversation with Bria. Lincoln was right – he was a goddamn train wreck.
“It wouldn’t. Of course, it wouldn’t,” he said. “Sorry.”
“I should be saying thank you. It was nice of you to come over and help out,” Bria said.
“You probably had it under control but I…”
How exactly was he supposed to end that sentence? Just causally say that he knew she had it under control but the minute he saw the wolf shifter grab her arm, his tiger had lost its goddamn mind?
Truthfully, he had no memory of stalking to Bria’s table. His tiger was firmly in control at that point. Jace was certain if the wolf shifter hadn’t released Bria, his tiger would have torn the shifter’s throat out. His tiger was losing it and –
He shouldn’t have touched my mate.
His face paled. Oh shit. This was bad. Really fucking bad. If his tiger was already thinking of Bria as his mate, he was fucked.
She’s not our mate! Knock it off, you moron.
She could be our mate.
His tiger sounded like a sulky kitten.
“Jace? Your eyes are glowing. What’s wrong?” Bria’s soft hand touched his arm again and his tiger roared happily and retreated.
“Nothing,” he said. “Just, uh, my tiger is a little amped up right now. It’s been a while since I’ve shifted.”
A complete lie. He’d spent most of last night in his tiger form.
“Oh, okay. Well, thank you for your help.”
“You’re welcome. You’re gonna block him, right?”
“Yes, and report him to the dating app. Maybe they’ll kick him off Shifter’s Love.”
“You’re using Shifter’s Love to find a date?”
She flushed at his tone. “Yes. So what? Everyone meets their significant other online now.”
“Significant other?”
Bria’s flush grew brighter. “You know what I mean. I want to be in a relationship and I’m not going to find a boyfriend just sitting at home night after night. Besides, this is no different from you using the Heat Me Up app. Heat Me Up is a really stupid name for it, by the way.”
“I didn’t name it.”
“No, but you use it.”
“Who’s being judgmental now?”
She rubbed at her temples. “I’m not being judgmental.”
“You are. Besides, technically you use Heat Me Up as well.”
“I don’t!”
“You do. You got my name from Kat who got my name from Heat Me Up. So, you’ve used the app.”
“Fine, I’ve sort of used the app and I’m being judgmental. But so are you with the Shifters Love thing.”
He wanted to argue but telling Bria that it was jealousy making him act this way didn’t seem like a great idea. “Yeah, okay I am.”
“We just want different things, right?” Bria said. “You want sex without commitment and I want sex with commitment. Neither of us are bad people for wanting what we want. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” he said. “So, are you talking with any other guys?”
She stared at him and it was his turn to flush. “Sorry, that isn’t any of my business.”
“There’s a cougar shifter and a coyote shifter who both have potential,” she said. “What about you? Do you have a cat shifter lined up to help out?”
“Uh, I met with a tiger shifter yesterday.”
Her eyes flared a bright yellow for a split second before returning to blue. “Oh, that’s good. It’s, um, good that you can help her out.”
“I’m not. It wasn’t going to work with my schedule.”
“I thought you said your schedule was flexible.”
“Not this time.”
He was lying again. He could have made it work. The tiger shifter he’d met with yesterday was gorgeous with long red hair and green eyes. She’d had a typical tiger shifter body - tall and athletic looking with toned thighs. Her six pack was clearly visible through her t-shirt.
Unfortunately, he suddenly seemed to only find smaller-than-average tiger shifters with dark hair and blue eyes appealing.
He’d ended the meeting after fifteen minutes.
Don’t forget how you changed your account on Heat Me Up to inactive as soon as you got home last night.
He ignored his inner voice. He had changed it to inactive because he was busy right now. It had nothing to do with Bria.
“I should probably get going. It’s getting late,” Bria said.
“It’s not that late. What are your plans for tomorrow?”
“I don’t really have any. I might stop by my parents’ place for lunch.”
“They live here in the city?”
“They do.”
“That’s nice. Do you have any siblings?” Jace asked.
“Nope, only child. How about you?”
“I had an older brother.”
“Had?” Bria grew still.
“He died five years ago.”
Bria’s hand covered his. He immediately linked their fingers together and she squeezed gently. “I’m very sorry.”
“His name was Jonah. He, uh, he was a really good guy. There was on
ly eighteen months between us, so we were pretty close growing up.”
She squeezed his hand again. “I’m sorry. Was it an accident or…”
“Hey, guys!”
Jace jerked his hand free of Bria’s when he heard Sam’s voice. The squirrel shifter was holding Derek’s hand and her face was flushed. He could smell both hers and Derek’s arousal.
“Derek and I are going to head out. Thanks for buying the drinks tonight, Jace.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Okay, well, bye.” Sam waved at them and pulled Derek toward the door.
They sat in silence for a moment before Bria said, “Jace? Your brother, was it -”
“You’re right, it’s getting late and we should go.” Talking to Bria about his brother was a mistake. He couldn’t get to know her outside of the office.
I want her.
He ignored his tiger’s growl. He wanted Bria too, wanted her so badly he had half a goddamn woodie every time he was around her, but it wasn’t going to work. She had made it perfectly clear she didn’t want him to help her with her heat. Either she would have a boyfriend by then or she’d go back to Heat Me Up and find a shifter on there. She could act like she wouldn’t, but there was no way she could go through a heat alone. Her need to mate during her last heat had been way more intense than he’d ever seen before.
An image of Bria beneath him, her fangs sinking into his shoulder and her claws raking his back while she climaxed around his cock, flooded through him. His orgasm with her had been one of the best ones of his life and that was why he was so desperate to be back between her legs. His tiger might be acting like a love-struck idiot, but he knew exactly what he wanted, and it wasn’t a relationship.
Bria was already standing, and he hated the look of hurt on her face.
“Bria, I’m sorry, I -”
“You have nothing to apologize about. Good night. I’ll see you on Monday.”
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
She hesitated, and he said, “Not a choice.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Chapter Seven
“Kat? I’m here.” Bria took off her jacket and hung it in the closet before walking to the kitchen. “You would not believe what happened on my date on Friday. The guy was a total – oh, hey Bishop.”
She smiled at the grizzly shifter. He was sitting at the table next to Kat. Lila was in his arms and she was sucking on her fist and staring up at him.
“Hey, Bria. How are you?”
“I’m good.”
She sat down across from him as Kat stood. “You want some tea, honey?”
“I can get it,” Bria said.
“Sit and relax.” Kat grabbed a mug and popped a teabag into it.
“Is Ava here?” Bria asked.
Bishop shook his head. “She’s at home having a nap. Lila was up most of the night with a bit of a fever.”
“Poor baby.” Bria reached out and stroked Lila’s leg. “She’s feeling better?”
“Yeah.” He bent his head and kissed the baby’s forehead. She smiled around her fist and Bishop nuzzled her cheek before making a low growl to her. Lila kicked her feet in excitement, and dropped her hand. Her smile widened until Bria could see all of her gums.
She laughed. “Lila sure loves her daddy, huh?”
“She does.” Kat handed her the mug of tea before kissing Lila’s head. “She loves her Auntie Kat too. Isn’t that right, Lila?”
She purred to the baby and Lila’s eyes widened at the sound before she smiled again.
“I should get going,” Bishop said. “Lila will be hungry soon and I’m interrupting your visit with Bria.”
“You’re not,” Kat said. “You’re welcome to drop by anytime, honey. You know that.”
“Hey, Stripes.” Ronin strolled into the kitchen. “What’s happening?”
“Hi, Ronin.”
“You heading out?” Kat asked.
“I am. But first...” Ronin held his hands out for the baby.
Bishop hesitated, and Ronin laughed. “Don’t hog the baby, big guy.”
“Don’t drop her.” Bishop handed Lila over.
“Your daddy needs to have a little faith in Uncle Ronin, doesn’t he?” Ronin kissed Lila’s cheek before cradling her in one arm and taking a selfie.
“What are you doing?” Kat asked as Ronin handed Lila back to Bishop.
“Texting this picture to your mom.”
“Ronin, don’t you dare.”
Bria laughed, and Ronin grinned at her. “You think I should send Eleanor the picture, right?”
“Yep.”
“Bria, don’t encourage him,” Kat said.
Ronin hit a button on his phone. “Done.”
He tucked his phone into his pocket and gave Kat an innocent look when her phone started to buzz. “Who could that be?”
Kat hissed at him, but he just grinned and kissed the tip of her nose. “Later, Kitten.”
He left, and Bria took a sip of tea as Kat said, “Bishop was just telling me that he and Ava are thinking about buying a new house.”
“Oh yeah?” Bria said.
Bishop nodded as he placed Lila into the car seat and buckled her in. “Yes. We need a bigger place now that we have Lila. The house next to Mal and Willow is for sale.”
“I told Bishop that you worked for a real estate agent. Any chance you could set up a meeting with Jace?” Kat asked.
“Sure. I’ll talk to him tomorrow and set up an appointment this week, if you’d like? Do you want me to text you or Ava?”
“Ava,” Bishop said. “She’s easier to get a hold of during the day. You can get her number from Kat. Thanks, Bria.”
“You bet.”
Bishop bent and kissed Kat on the cheek. “Bye, Kat.”
“Bye, honey. Tell Ava I said hello.”
Bishop left and when the front door shut, Kat sank into the chair next to Bria. “So, how was your date with the wolf shifter?”
“Terrible,” Bria said. “We met at Bud’s and it was going okay at first. Then he threatened Rosalie and then told me I owed him for buying dinner, and then Jace just about shifted and tore him apart.”
“Wait, back up. Why were Jace and his assistant on your date with you?”
Bria laughed. “No, they weren’t…let me start from the beginning.”
* * *
“Okay, so, Jace came to your rescue like a tiger in shining armour and then you spent the rest of the date drinking with him. But you’re not banging him,” Kat said.
“Kat! He’s my boss, of course I’m not having sex with him.”
“You want to though. Even just talking about how he went after the wolf shifter, got you all hot and bothered. I could smell it.”
Bria flushed. “You know I’m attracted to him. But, he doesn’t want a relationship and he -”
“Then why did he rescue you from your dickhead date?”
“Well, because he’s a nice guy. He saw that I was in trouble.”
“Right, that’s it.”
“It is,” Bria insisted. “Is he attracted to me? Yeah, just like I’m attracted to him. Doesn’t mean he wants to date me. In fact, he’s made it perfectly clear he doesn’t want to date. Which is why I’m going out with a coyote shifter on Saturday.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. I need to find someone before my next heat and I’m running out of time, Kit Kat. If I don’t have a boyfriend, then I really will have to chain myself to, like, the radiator or something.”
“Or, just use the app,” Kat said. “I know how that makes you feel, trust me I do, but it’s better than sleeping with a random shifter you find at the bar. Right?”
“I guess.”
“Did you download the app?”
“I did but I haven’t set up an account or anything.”
“Set it up right now and we’ll look at a few shifters together.” Kat took Bria’s empty mug to the sink and rinsed it before adding a teabag to it. “I’ll ma
ke us more tea.”
“It could work out with the coyote shifter. He seemed nice.”
“If it does, then you can delete your account on Heat Me Up,” Kat said. “But if it doesn’t…”
“Fine.” Bria pulled out her phone and set up her account as Kat made them both a cup of tea. By the time she put the steaming liquid in front of her, Bria was scrolling through the app.
“He’s good looking.” Kat studied the bear shifter. “Pretty eyes.”
Bria just shrugged. “He’s okay. I’m not really into dating bears.”
“It’s not dating,” Kat reminded her. “You can’t think about it like that. Be right back, I gotta pee.”
She left the kitchen and Bria scrolled through a few more shifters. She drummed her fingers on the table, checked the doorway for Kat, and then used the search function to type in Jace’s name.
What the hell? His account was there along with a brief bio and a picture of him, but it said ‘inactive’ in the space for his email.
“His account is inactive? Since when?”
She jumped and hissed in fright at the sound of Kat’s voice. She held her phone against her chest so Kat couldn’t see it. “You scared me, Kit Kat.”
“Sorry.” Kat sat down and sipped at her tea. “You don’t need to hide the screen. I saw that you were looking at Jace’s profile. When did he go inactive?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “He told me Friday night that he met with a shifter the day before but that it didn’t work with his schedule.”
“He told me his schedule was flexible,” Kat said.
“He said the same thing to me. I don’t know why that’s changed.”
“I think I do.”
“It has nothing to do with me,” Bria said.
“No? So, why is his account inactive all of a sudden?”
“I don’t know. It’s busy at work. Maybe his schedule really is too full.”
“Maybe,” Kat said. “So, did you see anyone else with potential or did you just stare at Jace’s profile the whole time?”
Bria set her phone down and picked up her tea. “Let’s talk about something else, okay? When are you and Ronin getting married?”
“Now you sound like my mother.”
Bria laughed. “Who would have thought your mother would be anxious for you to marry a bird shifter?”
Bria and the Tiger (The Shifters Series Book 5) Page 9