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

that and then some."
    Julie was tempted. Really tempted. But she didn't like the conditions. From what she had gathered, Ryan Lawrence would be a difficult man to work for. While she was normally a polite person, Julie didn't hold back when she thought someone was being rude and disrespectful. She wouldn't be able to cope.
    She shook her head.
    "Sorry, no deal. I'm not working for you."
    Lawrence looked incredulous.
    "You'd rather be unemployed than work for me? Be an adult, Julie."
    "I am." Julie wagged a finger in his face. "I'm not going to be made your lapdog and be a laughing stock."
    "I'd never do that."
    "Really?" Julie stepped away and turned her back on him, heading up the porch steps. "Goodbye, Mr Lawrence."
    "You've got twenty-four hours." Lawrence's voice followed her up the stairs. "My card's under the door."
    "I won't be changing my mind." Julie said over her shoulder, not missing a step as she got her key out and opened the front door.
    She heard Lawrence sigh. It sounded like he was giving up.
    "Suit yourself. But the offer's still there until this time tomorrow night."
    Julie didn't turn around as she heard Lawrence walk away and his car bleep its locks off. She ducked into her house and slammed the door, leaning her forehead against the polished wood. She thumped a fist into the doorframe.
    "Bastard."
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Her cell phone rang just as Julie got out the shower. Slipping on a robe over the towel she wrapped around her body and using a smaller towel to rub her hair down, Julie hurried to pick up her cell, which she had left on the kitchen counter.
    "Hello?"
    "Hey, it's me. Where were you? I thought you'd got lost."
    "Oh, hi, Laura." Julie hopped onto a stool and laid the towel round her shoulders. "Sorry, was having a shower. How was your time away?"
    Laura had a habit of calling in sick at irregular intervals but Julie knew Laura was skipping town with Ian and going to motels to have hours of wild sex. Laura was always going on about Ian's prowess in bed, so much so Julie had to block up her ears so she didn't hear every single detail.
    "It was awesome." Laura sighed. "You wouldn't believe how romantic Ian was."
    Julie snorted.
    "I thought you accused Ian of being the most unromantic bastard you could think of. You were talking of breaking if off because he wasn't romantic."
    "I was a little hasty. He showed his soft side finally." Laura's voice sobered. "I heard what happened with the cafe. I'm so sorry."
    Julie felt the tears welling up and swallowed.
    "Thanks."
    "I bet it was him."
    "What?" Julie wondered if she had missed something. "Who?"
    "Lawrence. I bet he started the fire."
    "Why would you think that?"
    "He would do it to spite you after you turned him down." Julie had told Laura about Lawrence's attempt to book her cafe for a party the same evening. "He's nasty like that. Anything to make sure whoever turned him down, and that doesn't happen often, gets something bad happen to them. Makes him feel better."
    Julie wanted to believe it but she had seen two sides to Lawrence. One was an arrogant man who expected to get his own way; the other was compassionate and had him offering her money to help out, albeit at a price. Plus Laura could say outlandish things, believing them to be true. She was a dramatic woman.
    "That sounds rather childish, doesn't it? Besides, we don't have proof that he actually did torch my place."
    "Give me a couple of days and I can prove it. I'll find the proof."
    Julie groaned. She pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose.
    "No. Don't bother."
    "Why not? I can..."
    "No. I know you, Laura. You'll find something you believe is the proof and we could end up sending an innocent man to jail."
    "But if he did..."
    "Then we'll find things the proper way. Let the police handle it." Julie's headache was slowly getting worse. "Okay?"
    "Okay."
    She could see Laura's annoyed pout in her mind's eye. Her friend loved to dish up