Page 44 of Bria and the Tiger

“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 only 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.

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