Page 48 of Bria and the Tiger

“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 make 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?”

“I know, right? Ronin has won her over completely. You know where he was going this afternoon? To a football game with my father. Even Dad thinks he’s great.”

“I’m really happy for you, Kat.”

“Thanks, honey.”

“Also – ridiculously jealous.”

Kat leaned forward and took her hand. “You’re gonna find the right guy for you. I know it.”

“Maybe.” She stared into her tea. She was terribly afraid she had already found the right guy – he just didn’t want her the way she wanted him.

---