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

apartments surrounded crystal bright swimming pools.  It was like some kind of fantastical dream world, a passionate love letter to beauty and opulence.
     
    “The Shere Khan is my humble effort to stimulate the jaded palettes of the ultra-wealthy,” Joshua had informed her in his droll way.  “Nestled away on the virtually unknown island paradise of Maho, my little hotel caters to every single whim and need of its exclusive clientele, for the right price of course.  You see, Miss Brooks, the rich are afflicted with a terrible disease called boredom.  The Shere Khan does a damn good job of relieving the symptoms, but the illness can never truly be cured.  People are never satisfied.”
    There had been the same underlying bitterness in his tone when he’d explained this that she’d detected back in the office, on the day he’d made his extraordinary proposition.  It struck her that despite his fabulous wealth and power, Joshua seemed to be carrying a deep unhappiness inside him.  It both sparked her sympathy and curiosity.  She wanted to know more of this troubled, complex man.  He had an irresistible veil of mystery around him that she was eager to peer behind, if only he gave her chance.
    She’d certainly not had much chance to get to know him so far.  Ever since she’d agreed to attend Natasha Grant’s wedding, he’d been nowhere near the office.  The next time she saw him in the flesh was when a limousine had turned up at eight am on the appointed day to take her from her apartment to the airport.
    Joshua had been waiting in his private jet, and barely grunted two words to her before retreating to his private cabin.  Much to her chagrin, he’d left her with a pile of paperwork to get on with for the duration of the journey.
    Amanda turned away from the monitor and looked around the compartment she was sitting it.  Joshua’s jet was a flying mansion in itself, with spacious living apartments, cocktail bar, conference room and fully functioning galley with its own chef.  Joshua emerged from his quarters from time to time to briefly explain about the hotel and to check on her work, but for most of the trip he stayed sequestered away playing on his PS4, as Amanda found out when she went to see him to clarify something.
    Despite her luxury surroundings and the prospect of arriving at the hotel, she was regretting taking him up on his offer.  It was now painfully clear he had not even a flicker of interest for her, neither romantically or as a potential friend.  She’d been hired for a specific role, and she was beginning to doubt she’d have any chance of convincingly playing the loving girlfriend. 
    She virtually knew next to nothing about the man, and she had no idea of how to interact with the wealthy and cultured people she was no doubt going to be mingling with.  She would make some ghastly faux pas, she just knew it, and end up humiliating herself. 
    It wouldn’t be the first time she’d been laughing stock so she was tough enough to handle it, but Joshua would also be humiliated as a consequence and she severely doubted he’d be as philosophical about it as she would be.  He would fire her for sure, and she’d be back to square one like she was when she escaped from Scott.  It was not fair.
    Joshua’s sudden arrival stirred her from her broodings.  He sauntered across the cabin, looking damn fine in his pale blue summer shirt and turned-up tan coloured chinos.  Navy slip-ons encased his bare feet, and he wore a pair of uber-cool steel-rimmed shades over his eyes.  Amanda felt a warm flush in her cheeks and tried not to ogle the firm contours of his torso that were complimented by the shirt.
    “Well, Miss Brooks are you ready for your date with destiny?” he asked breezily, coming to stand over her.  He gazed around distractedly, not even deigning to look at her.  Amanda felt a surge of irritation.
    “Amanda,” she said quietly.
    She saw his eyebrows knit together behind his