Romance: The Tiger's Hired Mate: BBW Tiger Shifter Romance Standalone (Spicy Shifters Book 2) Read Online Free

sharply.  The dark anger she’d seen earlier resurfaced and she went rigid in her chair.  “I’m not going to chain you up inside a cave and drop rats into your hair.  You’re getting a two week paid vacation at one of the most expensive weddings of the decade,” he sneered.  A shadow flitted across his face.  “You have more choice than you can ever begin to imagine,” he said more gently.  Amanda could taste the bitterness in his tone and frowned.
    “I’m very grateful, Mr. Tarran,” she said with feeling.  “Don’t worry, I won’t let you down.”
    Joshua gave a sharp nod.  He retrieved his i-pad from the corner of the desk and switched it on.  Amanda sat in awkward silence, unsure what to do.  After a few moments Joshua looked up at her and scowled. 
    “You can go now,” he said with an imperious wave of his hand.
    Amanda bridled at the gesture but kept her cool.  She’d just saved her job and was about to get the biggest career break of her whole life.  She needed to remain professional and focus on playing the loving girlfriend.  Her heart sank.  If Joshua was going to be like this for the whole two weeks, she was going to have to give an Oscar winning performance. 
    “Thank you, Mr. Tarran,” she said dutifully and got to her feet.
    “Don’t thank me, just don’t mess this up,” Joshua replied, returning his attention to his i-pad.  “Make sure you’re ready to leave on Friday.  You’ll get an advance on your salary too.  Go and buy yourself some suitable outfits.  Remember, you’re going to be on show for two weeks so make sure you make a good impression.”
    Amanda nodded stiffly and headed for the door.  Any notion she had that he might be remotely interested in her died there and then.  He was playing a bigger game and she was just a pawn.  Well, if that was the case so be it.  She didn’t need a man to be happy.  She needed no one but herself.  As she left the office, her mind raced with the implications of what she’d just agreed to.  All she could do now was hope for the best and hope she did enough to please the high and mighty Joshua Tarran.  If nothing else, it was going to be a pretty interesting two weeks.
     
     
    * * *
     
                           

 
     
     
     
     
    Joshua pretended to study his i-pad as Amanda left the office, waiting until she’d closed the door before tossing it aside and putting his head in his hands.  He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a muffled groan.
    “Why am I such an arrogant dork?” he hissed to the darkened room.  “Moron!  Moron!  Moron!”
    He heaved himself out of his chair and stalked over to the drinks cabinet.  Amanda’s perfume still lingered in the air, and he breathed in deeply, savouring her scent.  As he poured himself a scotch on the rocks, he replayed the scene that had just unfolded, wincing at his behaviour.
    He had been far too arrogant, pretending to be the big man.  She must have thought he was a complete and utter jerk.  In fact, he’d been surprised that she’d even accepted his strange proposal.  He’d been both relieved and terrified when she did say yes, that now he was completely confused.
    He took a swig of his drink, enjoying the sharp burn as it slipped down his throat.  It calmed his nerves and he started to think a little clearer about what had just happened.  He couldn’t help the way he acted around her.  The girl was intoxicating, provoking feelings inside him he hoped he’d mastered a long time ago.  He let out a bitter laugh.  Clearly he wasn’t the big player he liked to present to the world.
     
    He sighed heavily and wandered back to his desk.  Sinking back into his chair, he pictured Amanda sitting opposite him.  His mind travelled over her curvy, perfect body and her cute little face.  He longed to run his fingers through her silky hair, trailing kisses along the side of her face and neck, pressing her against his body and enveloping her