Promise of Paradise by Tianna Xander Read Free Book Online

mountain lion!” Nadya started to point, then thought better of it. What was to stop the thing from taking her arm off? “It-It’s—” She shook her head, stopping herself before she told the other woman it was Luc.
    How could it be Luc? Sure, she’d seen some crazy crap traveling with the carnival all these years, but she certainly had never seen anything like that before. Maybe she was going crazy.
    “Lucas Martin!” The waitress rested her hands on her hips with a scowl. “What the devil do you think you’re doing? You know it’s against health regulations for you to be in here like that. Change back this minute.”
    “What?” Nadya couldn’t say much else.
    “He’s trying to show you that he’s not crazy. He really can shape shift.” Sarah reached out and patted her hand. “You aren’t going crazy and he’s not a nut.” She smiled. “See? Everything will be fine now.” The woman ignored the fact that the mountain lion behind her was changing into a person, clothes and all.
    “But—but.”
    “But nothing.” The woman sighed. “Are you going to sit there and tell me that you would rather have one human man who will eventually get some sort of mid-life crisis and masturbate to sex videos of younger women or cheat on you over two hot shifters who will never leave you and never stray?” She turned away and mumbled, “What the hell is wrong with human women? If my guys were still alive, I’d jump on them so fast their heads would spin.” She turned away and wiped at her eyes. “If only we had been able to bond before they went off to fight.”
    Luc stood in front of her, looking as good as ever. “Are you ready to eat and listen, now?”
    Reaching out, he grasped Sarah’s arm before she walked away. Apparently, like most men, Luc didn’t pick up on the fact that Sarah was upset. “I think we’re ready to order.” He glanced at Nadya. “Do you mind if I order for you?”
    “No. Go ahead.” She didn’t know if she could wrap her mind around reading the menu.
    “Great.” He turned to the other woman. “We’ll take two steaks with fries and a side of broccoli.”
    “How do you want those steaks?” All professional now, Sarah held her pen poised over her order pad.
    “I’ll take mine rare, the lady…” He paused and glanced at Nadya. “How do you like your steak, darlin’?”
    “Medium. Not too pink, though, if you don’t mind.”
    “One rare, one medium coming up.” Sarah hurried toward the kitchen.
     
    “Can I walk you back to your room?” Luc asked an hour later as they exited the diner.
    “I…um…sure. I guess.” Nadya shrugged. What was it with the men in this town?
    “Do you have another shift today?”
    Nadya didn’t know why, but his question made her nervous. “Not today. The rest of the day is mine. I have two shifts tomorrow, though.” Apparently, one of the girls made an appointment to see the town’s doctor. Nadya agreed to cover her shift because working was always better than spending the night alone.
    “Great! What do you say that we spend some time together?”
    Had he read her mind? Nadya wanted nothing more than to spend time with anyone instead of being alone. “Sure.” She shrugged, acting nonchalant. She didn’t want him to know exactly how much his invitation meant to her. No one wanted to appear desperate.
    “Can I ask you a question…about being a shifter?”
    “I had hoped you would ask me all sorts of questions over dinner, but you managed to talk about anything but what I am.” He grinned down at her and held out his arm for her to take it. “First, though, I wish you would trust me again. Prove it by taking my arm.”
    “Who said I trusted you before?” She bumped against him and grinned. “I’m not sure I trusted you before. What makes you so sure?”
    “I’m not.” He shrugged one shoulder. “I guess maybe I was being optimistic.” He glanced down a side alley next to a large store. “Would you mind if we stopped