Page 100 of Bria and the Tiger

“Thank you.” Jace’s mom turned to him. “Jace, can we speak to you in private for a moment?”

“Actually, Bria and I are starving, and we were just heading to the buffet table. We’ll talk later.” Jace steered her away from his parents.

Bria took a quick look behind her. His father was giving her a worried look, but his mother looked almost frozen with fear. They turned abruptly and walked away.

“Well, that was horrifyingly awful.”

“It was fine.” Jace grabbed two paper plates and handed one to her.

“It wasn’t. I know I didn’t make a good first impression with your parents but, Jace,” she tugged on his arm until he looked at her, “your mom looked terrified to see me.”

“She wasn’t.” Jace wouldn’t look her in the eye. “Oh good, my Aunt Raylene made her famous potato salad. You have to try some.”

She knew a subject change when she heard one. Sighing inwardly, she followed Jace down the buffet table. “Raylene is Ashley’s mom?”

“Yes. This is her and my Uncle Stan’s house.”

“Raylene is your mom’s sister or your dad’s?”

“My dad’s. Here, try some of the pork.” He put a couple pieces on her plate and she added some potato salad and tossed salad as Jace piled his plate high with various cuts of meat.

There were small round tables set up across the lawn and Jace pointed to an empty one. “We’ll sit over there, okay?”

“Sure.” She followed him to the table. As they sat down, she realized Jace’s mother was standing by the patio doors and staring at them. Bria smiled at her and the woman’s face paled before she turned and walked into the house.

Her stomach churning, Bria poked at the salad on her plate. She had no idea why Jace’s parents were acting so strange around her, but it was freaking her out a little.

* * *

“Who are you again?” The old woman sat down with a heavy thump next to Bria.

Bria smiled at her. “I’m Bria. I’m Jace’s girlfriend.”

It was almost three hours later. She had met a bunch of Jace’s family, including the tiger shifter who just sat beside her, as well as some childhood friends. All of them were warm and welcoming, which made Jace’s parents’ reaction that much more puzzling. Of course, she mused, she had sliced and diced their son until his chest looked like mincemeat. Maybe that was just something they would never get over. Not that it mattered anyway. This was make believe. By this evening, her pretend relationship with Jace would be finished.

“Oh right. That explains why that lion shifter is giving you such frosty looks.”

Bria glanced across the yard at Marilyn. The lion shifter looked away immediately and the old woman laughed. “She’s been wanting to bone my nephew since they were teenagers. Did you know that?”

“Jace mentioned it to me.”

“Between you and me, it makes me laugh to watch her be so pissed off. Usually what Marilyn wants, Marilyn gets. Her parents have been spoiling her since she was a kitten. Jace is the first thing she’s wanted that she can’t have.”

The old woman stroked her surprisingly thick mustache before tugging at her sideburns. “Did we meet earlier?”

“We did. You’re his Aunt Frieda, right?”

“Yeah. His dad is my baby brother. What did you say your name was?”

“Bria.”

“You’re a little bit of a thing for a tiger. Still, you’re pretty enough. Jace could do worse.”

Bria laughed. “Thank you, I think.”

“It’s a compliment.” Frieda leaned forward and peered at Jace who was standing by the buffet table talking to Reggie and a few other shifters. “His last girlfriend was a real piece of work. He ever talk about Tabitha?”

“A little,” Bria said.

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