Page 87 of Bria and the Tiger

“Bria?” He caught her arm and pulled her into his embrace. “Thank you. I really enjoyed tonight.”

“I did too.” She smiled up at him and tried not to read too much into it when he bent his head and gave her a soft kiss.

“See you tomorrow.”

“Bye, Jace.” She stepped out of his embrace, opened the door, and slipped out into the cool night air.

* * *

“Hey, I keep meaning to ask why you didn’t drive your car today.” Rosalie wandered into reception and leaned against the desk.

“Uh, it needed an oil change, so I left it at the shop for the day and had my friend Kat drop me off at work.”

“Oh. Any exciting plans for tonight?”

“No, not really.” Bria ignored the surge of guilt she felt at lying to Rosalie. She liked the sweet human a lot and was beginning to think of her as a friend. She didn’t lie to friends.

You really think telling Rosalie that you’re going with Jace to his cousin’s engagement party is a good idea?

Nope, she didn’t. “How about you? What are you doing tonight?”

“Oh,” Rosalie traced her finger along the top of Bria’s desk, “not much. Just going to the movies with Lincoln.”

Bria’s eyes widened, and she sat forward. “You have a date with Lincoln?”

“No. Yes. I mean, I’m not really sure.” Rosalie was trying to act casual but she was almost vibrating with excitement. “He didn’t actually say it was a date when he asked me this morning if I wanted to go to the movies, but he’s picking me up at my house and driving me to the theatre.”

“That sounds like a date to me.”

“Do you think so? Because I thought so too but then…”

“I think it’s a date.” Bria wished she could be happier for Rosalie, but she had a very bad feeling that Lincoln was going to break her heart.

Rosalie pulled on a lock of her curly hair. “I was thinking of wearing that blue dress. Do you know which one I mean?”

Bria nodded. “It looks really good on you.”

“Thanks. I’ve worn it a couple times to the office, but Lincoln hasn’t seen me in it. I think it’s dressy but not too dressy, you know. Like it says I want to look good but I’m not desperate about it.”

“I think it’s perfect for a date at the movies,” Bria said. “Hey, Rosalie?”

“Yeah?”

“Just be careful around Lincoln, okay? He’s a nice guy, but he’s a lion shifter, and they’re players.”

“Not all of them. You said that yourself. Your lion shifter wasn’t a player.”

“No, he wasn’t but -”

“Bria?” Betty walked into reception. “Would you mind scanning and emailing a document for me? I hate to ask but I’m already running late for Jay’s band recital.”

“I don’t mind.” Bria took the document from the raccoon shifter.

“Thank you. I’ve put the email address on the stickie on the front. If you could cc me on the email, that would be great. Bye, ladies, have a great weekend.”

Betty waved as she ran out the door. Rosalie glanced at her watch and Bria said, “Why don’t you leave a little early?”

“I left early last Friday.”

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