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

jet lag or something.  You don’t have to see her until tomorrow after the wedding.”
    Amanda was genuinely touched by this belated attempt to placate her, but now she’d worked herself up she couldn’t unwind again. 
    “It’s fine.  I’m curious about meeting her, though it seems odd that she and Ashley would be dining together on their wedding night.  Isn’t it bad luck for bride and groom to see each other before the big day?”
    “Natasha isn’t much frightened by superstitions,” Joshua replied, “and Ashley just does what he’s told.  She insisted we all have dinner together before tomorrow weeks ago, and I had no real objection.  Now she knows I’ve brought you to the wedding celebrations, she’ll be desperate to check you out so she’ll want to be here tonight more than ever.”
    “She’s in for a big disappointment,” Amanda said sourly.  “I’m nowhere near her league.  I hope you’re ready to get laughed at, I know I am.”
    “You’re head and shoulders over her,” Joshua said with sudden feeling, “don’t ever do yourself down.”
    There was a pure rawness in his voice when he said this that brought Amanda up short.  She looked at him curiously.  Joshua was looking down at his feet, a sad expression on his face.  Once again, the veil of arrogance had dropped, and he was showing his gentler, more compassionate side.  Amanda couldn’t be really sure if it was just an act, a manipulative trick to get what he wanted, but she much preferred him this way.
    “I’ll try not to,” she said.  “Come on, we best get ready for the onslaught.”
    Joshua’s sparkling blue eyes lit up and he gave her a boyish smile.  “Lead on, Miss Brooks, I have no doubt you will perform superbly.”
    Amanda laughed, feeling the tension lift.  In one fluid movement, Joshua had linked arms with her and they walked back into the suite proper.  Similar to his office in New York, Joshua’s private domain within the Shere Khan was mostly wood and had an old fashioned feel to it. 
    The huge living space was held aloft by thick pillars that had been shaped to resemble tree trunks, sweeping upwards to the peaked ceiling with its sturdy rafters.  The polished wooden floor was bedecked with woven mats and scattered with easy armchairs and sofas that looked like they belonged straight out of the Gilded Age.
    A long rustic dining table with high backed padded chairs had been set out before a large stone fireplace.  Leading off from this central area were several private apartments, two of which were Joshua’s and Amanda’s respectively, as well as a large kitchen where staff were busy preparing the forthcoming meal. 
    The suite was also equipped with a games room that came with a pool table, gym equipment and gaming consoles, while a hot tub and large pool were installed out on the roof terrace.  All in all, it was a self contained reflection of the slivers of Joshua’s personality Amanda had so far glimpsed; heavy seriousness laced with an edge of boyish playfulness.
    Joshua’s Blackberry, which was resting on the dining table, suddenly let out a warning din, making her jump a little.  Joshua picked up the device and put it on speakerphone.  “Yes, Rebecca?”
    “The axis of evil is on its way up,” Rebecca’s wry voice replied.
    “Thank you, Rebecca,” Joshua drawled.
    He switched off the phone and gave Amanda an encouraging smile.  “Ready?”
    “As I’ll ever be,” she replied.
    They walked over to the elevator and waited for their guests to arrive.  Amanda rehearsed her greeting, and mentally sifted through all the small talk topics she’d prepared beforehand.  Following Joshua’s not-very-helpful advice of scouring the internet for everything she could find on art dealing, Amanda now tried desperately to recall as much of the data she’d called up on her phone as she could. 
    Hopefully their guests tonight would not be that well-informed, but she wasn’t going to risk