Page 75 of Bria and the Tiger

Chapter Ten

“Kat, this would be so much easier if you were here.” Bria stared at Kat’s face on the screen of her cell phone.

“I know but I’m stuck at work and if you want my opinion on a dress, this is our best option. Show me the yellow one.”

Bria turned the phone and showed her the yellow dress. “It’s pretty but am I looking for pretty or am I looking for knock-your-socks-off hot?”

“Okay, let me see the blue one again.” Kat’s voice was tinny and low.

Bria pulled the blue one from the rack and held it next to the yellow one. “Which one do you think?”

“Definitely the blue one.”

Jace’s low voice speaking into her ear almost made her shriek in surprise. She whipped around, still holding her phone out in front of her and stared up at the gorgeous tiger shifter. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s a mall where people shop. I shop.”

Kat’s laugh drifted out from the phone and Jace grinned at the screen. “Hello, Kat. It’s nice to see you again.”

“Nice to see you too, Jace.”

Bria turned the phone so the screen was facing her. “Uh, Kat was helping me pick out a dress for this weekend. Right, Kat?”

“That’s right. But I gotta go. Bye.”

“Kat! No, wait…”

The jaguar shifter’s face disappeared from the screen and Bria gave Jace a weak smile. “Uh, she had to go.”

“I heard. So, which dress are you going with?”

“I’m not sure. I wanted a second opinion when I’m actually wearing them. I guess I’ll just wait until tomorrow night and see if Kat can go to the mall.”

“No need,” Jace said. “I can give you the second opinion. Go and try them on.”

“Oh no, that’s okay. You’re probably busy and…”

Jace scooped up both dresses and carried them to the dressing room at the back of the store. She followed him and watched as he gave the dresses to the attendant.

“Come with me.” The attendant was a wolf shifter and she was giving Jace a clear look of appreciation.

Her tiger snarled in jealousy. Bria soothed it as she followed the attendant to one of the rooms. The attendant hurried away, no doubt to flirt with Jace, and Bria grimaced at herself in the mirror. She stripped off her shirt and skirt and tugged the yellow dress over her head. It was pretty, and the colour looked good on her, but she wasn’t fond of the way it flared around her hips.

She opened the door and stepped out. To her surprise, Jace was sitting in one of the chairs in the waiting area and there was no attendant in sight.

He looked her up and down. “This one is cute.”

She made a face. “Yeah, it’s a no then.”

“What’s wrong with cute?”

“Nothing’s wrong with cute if you’re a little kid.”

He laughed, and she grinned at him. “I’m gonna try on the blue one.”

She returned to the dressing room and took off the yellow dress. She studied the blue one for a moment before shrugging out of her bra. She had a strapless one at home that she could wear with the dress, but she was perky enough to go without, just to see what the dress looked like.

The dress really was gorgeous, she mused. It was strapless with a sweetheart neckline and a ruched bodice. The skirt flowed down her hips to just above her knees. She pulled the zipper up as far as she could before opening the door and poking her head out.

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