Adam jumped up, pushing over his chair and flying around his desk. He snatched Dean up by the collar and pushed him toward the door.
“Get the hell out of my office. And keep your fucking hands off Eva Carey.” He pulled the door open, flinging it into the wall, and pushed Dean out.
Dean straightened his tie and ran his hands over his hair. Eva was staring at them both. Dean gave her a friendly smile and winked before looking back to Adam. “Remember what I said.” He stalked out of the office and down the corridor without looking back.
Chapter Six
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you.”
Eva waited until Adam closed the door to his office before getting up and following Dean down the hall. She grabbed a piece of paper from her desk and headed out of her office. Instead of waiting for the elevator she took the stairs up to the next floor and caught him just as he was stepping into his own office. She touched his shoulder.
“Can I talk to you?” she asked.
He stepped back and waved her into the office first. His office couldn’t be more different than Adam’s. Where Adam’s was all warm wood and cozy colors, Dean’s was slick and modern, glass and shiny blacks everywhere. Eva took a seat on a boxy, brightly colored chair.
Dean took the chair next to her and leaned forward, placing a friendly hand on her arm. “What’s going on, Eva? Can I help you with anything?”
Eva thrust the paper in her hand to him and sat waiting as he read it.
“You want to resign?” Dean asked incredulously.
“Yes. Because of…personal reasons. I don’t feel like I can work here any longer. Thank you, though, for getting me this job here. It really meant a lot to me.”
Dean sat back and stroked his chin. “I see. And do you have something else lined up? Something that’s going to pay as well?”
Eva felt the heat of her blush travel up her neck and spread across her cheeks. “Um, not just yet. I’ll get something soon.”
Dean sat back, thinking, re-reading bits of her resignation letter still in his hand. “I don’t want you to quit.”
“I don’t think I have another choice,” she answered. “You know why.”
“There’s always another choice, honey.”
“Dean, please, I can’t work for Adam anymore.”
Dean crumpled her resignation and tossed it toward the wastebasket. It bounced off the edge and landed on the floor. Dean laughed. “I always sucked at basketball. Anyhow, back to the matter. I’m not going to let you quit, Eva.”
“I…”
“Hear me out. Take some time off. Two weeks. Paid, of course. Think things over, clear your head, then get back to me. When was the last time you saw your parents?”
Eva chewed on her bottom lip, considering Dean’s offer. It was hard to turn down. It was the best paying job she’d ever had. Maybe when she came back she could ask for a transfer to a different department. Maybe she could be Dean’s executive assistant. Even if she had to move into the administrative office pool and took a pay cut, it would probably still pay better than anything else she’d find. She made up her mind.
“Okay. Sounds like a great offer.”
Dean stood up and clapped his hands once, rubbing them together briskly. “Excellent! Why don’t you go ahead and go on home, get your things together. I’ll let Adam know and arrange for a temp. Have a good trip, Eva.”
“Thanks, I will.”
Eva hurried back to her office and collected her bag and coat and headed for the elevator. She stepped in and punched the button for the lobby. As the elevator descended, an odd feeling settled over her. She thought she’d feel relieved, getting away from Adam was what she thought she wanted to do. But she couldn’t shake the sense of loneliness that settled over her, even as she walked toward the subway entrance with thousands of other people on the sidewalk around her.
***
The train rocked on the tracks, lulling Eva into a light sleep, her bag tucked up underneath her feet as buildings and bridges flashed by outside the window. Before she realized, her train had pulled into her hometown station. She hadn’t told her parents she was coming home so she ordered up an Uber and waited outside the station for her car to arrive and whisk her away to her childhood home.
In no time, she was standing on the front porch of her parent’s two-story, red brick home just on the outside of Trenton. She was immediately transported into an easier time, a time without all the worries of adulthood. Her tension slipped away as she slid her spare key into the lock and twisted the knob, pushing the door open. A light smell of coffee and muffins wafted toward her from the back of the house and she heard a soft murmuring. She smiled to herself, her parents were home.
“Mom, Dad,” she called out, “it’s Eva.”
She headed toward the kitchen, hearing chairs scrap across tile and slippers shuffling toward her. She met her parents at the kitchen door, laughing when they enveloped her in surprised hugs. Her mom, light blonde hair stylishly short, hustled into the kitchen and urged her to sit at the table, immediately handing her a cup of coffee and plate of fresh-baked muffins.
Her dad planted a kiss on the top of her head and refilled his own coffee mug before settling at the table across from her.
“Evie, honey, what are you doing here?” her mom asked.
She shrugged and blew across the top of her coffee before taking a small sip. “Nothing, I mean, I’ve got some time off work. Thought I’d come home and visit for a bit. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you guys.”
“You’re more than welcome anytime, sweetie. We just weren’t expecting you is all.” Her mom opened the dishwasher and started piling plates inside. “Didn’t you just start your new job. With Frost Industries?”
“Yes. Dad, feel like going for a run later?” Eva tried to change the subject.
“Maybe,” said her dad.
“And you’re getting time off already?” Her mom was briskly running a kitchen towel across the counter now.
She ignored the question. “Mm. Hey, would you two like to go to dinner tonight? Least I can do since I surprised you.”
“Eva, your mother asked you a question,” said her dad.
“That’s all right,” her mother waved off. “I think I know what’s going on. It’s a boyfriend problem. Otherwise she wouldn’t come unannounced like this.”
“I don’t have a boyfriend,” said Eva petulantly.
“Uh-huh. Says you. Did you meet the Frost boys there?”
Eva looked away. “Yeah.”
“How are they? It’s been a while since we saw them.”
“They’re good and everything is fine.”
Her mom dropped into the chair beside her and reached over, brushing a curl off of Eva’s forehead. She looked into her mom’s gentle, loving eyes and felt her bottom lip quiver slightly. Her mom patted her cheek softly and nodded. “It’s okay if you don’t want to tell us, sweetheart. We’ll go to dinner tonight. Your bedroom is always ready for you. I just changed the sheets two days ago.”
Eva laughed at her mom’s always immaculate housekeeping routine. Even without kids in the house anymore, she stuck to the same cleaning schedule she’d had for years. It was really rather sweet, Eva thought.
Sensing that her parents were going to let her be and come to them if she needed them, she relaxed. She had another muffin and shared pieces of the paper with her dad. He’d never give up his daily paper for the convenience of online newspapers. He liked to rattle the pages around whenever something was particularly aggravating.
“How is Bella?” asked her dad.
“She’s doing good. Didn’t she call you the other day?”
Her dad’s brows knitted. “Was it yesterday? Damn. My memory isn’t as good as it used to. You keep your sister out of trouble?”
“Dad, Bella’s a good girl to begin with. What trouble could she have been in?”
Her dad shrugged. “Someti
mes the big city changes people.”
“Bella’s fine, dad.”
“Hmm. Good.” Her dad was lost in his newspaper again.
Later, she headed up to her old room, her bag bumping along the stairs behind her. The room hadn’t changed since she moved out. The white twin bed and dresser still in same spot, her desk still holding books and pictures from high school. The light yellow walls were covered with boyband posters. In the corner of a framed sunflower picture she found a small photograph. It was her and Adam, on the night of junior homecoming. Her in an off-the-shoulder dress, Adam in a collared shirt and tie, his arm tightly around her waist, her head resting on his shoulder.
Eva sighed and flopped onto the bed, the picture in her hand. She lay back and stared at the ceiling, thinking about Adam. Adam then and Adam now. She loved him. She always had. No man had ever elicited feelings like she had for Adam. Her pride forced her to leave all those years ago when she thought he was cheating on her. She might have buried her feelings for him, but she never lost them. Finally admitting it to herself lifted a weight from her shoulders. Now, she just had to figure out if she should tell Adam or move on. She fell into a light sleep, their old picture still clutched in her hand.
***
A couple hours later, Eva finally woke up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. The sun had tracked across her bedroom floor and she realized it was after noon. She went into the bathroom and splashed water on her face before heading back downstairs. Her dad was still in the kitchen, but her mother was nowhere around.
“Hey, honey. Have a good nap?” Her dad wandered out the sunporch and started watering the plants spread around the homey room. She followed, pinching at a few dead leaves on one of her dad’s ferns.
“Yeah, not too bad, I guess.”
“Mom had to run to the market, I guess we’re out of your favorite cereal.”
“She didn’t have to do that.”
“Well, you know mom.”
“Ah. Listen, I was thinking about going out to Sourland Preserve. You want to come? Take a run with me?”
Her dad turned to face her, his glasses glinting in the overhead light. He smiled at her and came to give her a hug. She buried her face into his Rutgers sweatshirt, inhaling the familiar scent of pine and coffee that always seemed to cling to her dad. “You go ahead and go run if you need to, sweetie. I think I’ll stay home this time.”
“Oh, okay then. Well, can I borrow your car?”
“Sure, sweetie.” As Eva turned and head of the sunroom to go and get ready for her run, he called out to her, “You know, I always did like Adam,” before returning to his plants.
***
Eva pulled into the far end of the empty parking lot and locked up the car before taking off for a hiking trail that looked like it hadn’t been used recently. She headed in several hundred yards, making sure the parking area wasn’t visible anymore, before veering off the trail and into the woods. She walked for about ten minutes, jumping over branches and a small stream, before finding a small clearing well away from any potential hikers. She stripped down, folding her clothes neatly before pushing them under a small fallen tree branch. She stretched, letting the sun beat down on her shoulders and ease the past few days from her. With one last stretch and groan, she dropped toward the ground, shifting before she hit.
A beautiful she-tiger now stood in Eva’s place. Her coat tawny and shiny, streaked with strong black stripes, small tufts puffing out over her ears. The tigress gave a shaking roar and bounded across the clearing, her feet pounding against the grass and dirt as she ran. She raced through the mountain forest, dodging around trees, and jumping over obstacles until her breathing was hard. She found a stream and dropped down beside it to have a drink before lolling in the sunshine. It’d been a long time since she was able to stretch and play in her animal form. It felt good to stretch out her muscles and roll in the grass.
She stayed in form and sniffed the air. The scent of an animal nearby caught her attention. She couldn’t remember the last time she was able to hunt. The lure was irresistible. She scented the air and followed the smell, jumping to her feet to follow the smell. It was a rabbit. Lowering her nose to the ground, whiskers twitching, she followed the scent until she spotted it standing under a bush. She lowered her head, her body tensed to pounce, her eyes never leaving the rabbit.
As she was about to spring, another animal appeared. It was another tiger. Large and regal, a male. His body was all sinuous, coiled muscle as he stalked across the forest floor, large head swinging from side to side when he caught Eva’s scent.
Eva backed away, uncertain if this new animal was dangerous or not. It wasn’t a tiger she recognized and she thought she knew every tiger in the area. Then she saw the odd stripe on his back leg, the one that curled into the shape of an apple. It was Adam. Without hesitation, she took off into the trees, paws flashing over the ground as she tried to put distance between herself and Adam.
She heard a pounding behind her and realized that Adam had given chase. She pushed herself harder, running from him, her claws digging deep into the loamy soil as she sprinted away from him. She was no match for his longer legs and strength. Her day of play had tired her and she was slowing down. She heard the growl behind her and turned her head in time to see him leap. He landed on her and they rolled to the ground together. She slashed at him, not to hurt him, just to warn him. He bared his teeth at her, growling deep in his chest.
The warning growl caused her to stop her rolling. She stilled as Adam sniffed around her, nudging her with his nose, his tongue darting out to lick along her face. Finally, she decided to give in, to stop fighting, at least for the moment. Her back arched and she mewled. Adam took the invitation and bit into the back of her neck, his tiger breath huffing across her neck, ruffling the fur.
When he let go she stayed in place, one of his wide paws across her back. She heard a faint voice in her head that said “shift.” She huffed once and shifted. When she raised her head, Adam was sitting in front of her.
Eva pulled her legs up, instinctively covering her body, but Adam pulled her arms away. “Don’t be shy around me,” he said. His body was also gloriously on display. There was no way they could be more vulnerable than they were now.
“Eva…”
“How did you find me?”
“Dean told me where you were going. I called your parents’ house and arrived just after you’d left to come here. I came as fast as I could. I need to tell you…”
“There’s nothing left to be said.”
“There is.”
“What?”
“I love you.”
Eva stared at Adam, wondering if she’d misheard him.
“Say it again.”
“I love you, Eva Carey.”
“Okay. Thanks?”
Adam’s eyes narrowed. “I tore my heart open and you just say thanks?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“Say that you love me, too.”
“I love you, Adam.”
Adam seemed to wait for more. “And?”
This was too much. “What do you expect? It’s not like we’re dating or anything.”
“What do you mean we’re not dating? You’re my fiancée.”
“Ex-fiancée.”
“Damn it, woman, why are you so stubborn? You want to break our engagement for a silly misunderstanding? Eight years, Eva. Eight years you left me high and dry. Can we put this behind us?”
Eva sniffed. Adam was right of course. But her pride, her damned pride, wouldn’t let her admit it. “Eight years. Did you ever try to find me in those eight years?”
“I did. But your grandfather wouldn’t tell me anything.”
“Well, you didn’t try hard enough.”
Adam growled in desperation. He then seized her shoulders and plastered a hot, demanding kiss on her mouth. She resisted a little, then surrendered. A thousand emotions bubbled in her chest, ready to burst. Tears slipped down her che
ek.
He noticed, brushing them away with his fingers. “Hey, no, please don’t cry.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Babe…”
“I’m sorry, Adam. It’s easier to hate you than to admit it. I love you, Adam. I always have.”
Adam kissed her. “I was wrong, too. I should have tried to clear the misunderstanding but I was too proud at that time. But we were only teenagers back then and teenagers did stupid shit. Can we…can we start again? Put these things all behind us?”
She nodded. “I’d like that.”
“Good, good.” Adam pecked her forehead. “Well, in that case…” Adam dropped to a knee in front of her, her hand in his, “Eva Lillian Carey, will you be my mate? Will you marry me?”
She blinked. “Are you serious?”
“I’ve never been more serious. I want you, Eva. You. Not because of clan alliances or promises made by our grandfathers or Dean’s damned meddling. I want you. I’m yours. I always have been. I’ve never loved anyone else. It’s always been you. You’re my mate. Please, be mine?” He was pleading with her, his eyes open and honest, the emotion raw on his face.
“Yes, Adam,” she whispered.
“You have no idea how happy you made me, babe. Sorry I don’t have the ring right now. It’s in my suit pocket, in the rental.”
“You bought me a ring?”
“It’s the clan heirloom. I’m supposed to give it to my future wife. And it now belongs to you.”
“Oh.” Eva smiled. “Then I can’t wait to see it.”
“Wanna go back?”
“Do we have to now? I mean we have our privacy and…” She motioned at the fact that they were naked.
“Oh, thank God. Because I’ve been wanting to do this again so bad.”
He leaned forward and captured her lips with his. His tongue was gentle and probing, tasting his way across her mouth, nibbling at the sensitive flesh on the inside of her lower lip. He dipped into her mouth slowly. She sighed when his tongue brushed across hers. She reached to wrap around his neck, tugging him closer to her.
Romance Warfare: a Tigress' Guide to NOT Secure a Mate: BBW Tiger Shape Shifter Paranormal Romance Page 7