Page 37 of Bria and the Tiger

Jace locked his car and turned around. Rhonda, Sam, Derek and Rosalie were walking across the parking lot of Bud’s.

“Hey, what are you guys doing here?”

Sam gave him a surprised look. “Lincoln invited us. He said you wanted to go for some food and drinks. Was he wrong?”

“No,” Jace said. “I’m glad you came.”

He trailed after them as they walked toward the entrance. Rosalie fell into step beside him. “Lincoln didn’t tell you he was inviting us, did he.”

“No, but it’s fine. The more the merrier. Although,” he lowered his voice, “I’m surprised you decided to come.”

She shrugged. “What can I say, I’m addicted to that stupid lion shifter.”

He put his arm around her and gave her a quick, rough squeeze. “He’s a fool, Rosie.”

“Maybe. Hey, is it really okay that Derek and I go in here? Bria told me a little bit about Bud’s this morning. It’s technically a shifters-only bar, right?”

“Yes, but sometimes humans go in with shifter friends. You’ll be fine.”

Ahead of them, Sam smiled up at Derek. “You should maybe take my hand, Derek. This is a shifters-only bar, but humans are allowed in if they’re with a shifter.”

“Sure.” Derek took her hand and the scent of Sam’s excitement and need washed over him. God, he hoped Derek wasn’t about to get some squirrel shifter sex tonight. The last thing he needed was two of his employees having sex.

But it’s okay for you to have sex with Bria?

Had. I had sex with her. Before she worked for me.

“Jace?” Rosalie nudged him with her elbow before whispering, “Derek’s the one that Sam has a crush on, isn’t it?”

He nodded, and Rosalie said, “I’m a little surprised. I thought Sam didn’t care much for humans.”

He was saved from answering by the loud swell of voices as Rhonda opened the door to Bud’s.

The bouncer was standing near the door and he sniffed at them as they walked past. His forehead wrinkled but before he could say anything, Lincoln was standing next to them.

“Rosie-girl! You made it!” He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side. “Stick with me, sweetheart. Humans aren’t always welcome in here. Isn’t that right, Judd?”

The bear shifter just shrugged. “It ain’t a problem.”

Lincoln stroked Rosalie’s arm and Jace could immediately smell her desire. He blocked it out and scanned the bar as they followed Sam, Rhonda and Derek to a table. Like he suspected, the bar was busy, but he had no problem spotting Bria. She was sitting in a booth against the far wall and his tiger snarled angrily. The wolf shifter had reached across the table and was holding her hand.

It was a little alarming how quickly his tiger was losing his shit. He sat at the table next to Rosalie and tried to soothe his tiger, groaning inwardly when Rhonda said, “Hey, Bria’s here!”

She leaned across the table and shouted, “Bria! Hi!”

He glanced up just in time to see Bria snatching her hand away from the wolf shifter’s. She said something to him, and he studied their table before nodding. She slid out of the booth and walked to their table.

“Hey, Bria,” Rhonda said. “Why don’t you and your friend join us for drinks?”

“Oh, um….”

“Rhonda,” Sam said, “they’re on a date. Isn’t that right, Bria?”

Bria gave him a quick look. “Well, I mean, sort of…”

“Either you are, or you aren’t,” Rhonda said with a laugh.

Bria peeked at him again. “We are.”

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