Claimed By The Lion: A BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance Standalone (BBW Romance, BBW Shifter Romance, BBW Paranormal Romance, Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) Read Free

this to having to see more patients and do more fundraising, but sometimes he lingered a little longer than usual. Altogether, sometimes she thought he was a rather strange man with peculiar tics. Still, she enjoyed the times when he actually was pleasant with her, though they were few.
    Jackson himself felt like he was spending too much time out of his office. He wasn’t sure what drove him to leave its confines when he had been so comfortable there, but (somehow) the allure of the living room where Juliet worked called to him. He, of course, had found he didn’t have the necessary skills to talk to her - he normally could be charismatic enough when needed, but at home, he couldn’t find the will to act outside of his normal disposition.
    She didn’t seem to mind - she smiled and listened to him, even talked back to his random musings. He’d normally end up just leaving the house, acting as though he had somewhere to go when he really did not. He thought that was easier and less embarrassing than milling around trying to think of something to say.
    He didn’t enjoy the feeling of vulnerability and self-deprecation. He hadn’t really ever been that way before with a woman (more because of his inherent apathy than anything), and it troubled him.
    On Saturday morning, he decided to invite her to breakfast. He sometimes liked to go out to a local diner for their pancakes, but he didn’t like to eat alone. Since Adam and Rebecca were busy with popping out a baby, they hadn’t been able to join him in a few weeks. He figured he might as well ask his secretary so he could start up a rapport with her. Or, at least, more of a rapport with her.
    He knew she woke up quite early, so he walked slowly to the guesthouse, trying to amp himself up. He could hear the faint tune of music coming from the place, though he thought he might be imagining it. Like the heavens were egging him on. He peered into the glass sliding to see Juliet dancing around the guesthouse as she cleaned. Her moves weren’t particularly skillful, but she seemed to be enjoying herself.
    Juliet was in her own little world, thinking Jackson would stay inside for the day as he normally did. She liked to turn on internet radio on the computer Jackson “loaned” her and dance as she cleaned just to make it all a little more interesting. She looked over to the sliding door, about to clean it, when she noticed Jackson peering in. She jumped back in surprise, nearly toppling over the couch in her small living room.
    She opened the door, blushing bright red, “Good morning, Jackson. What a pleasant surprise.”
    “Sorry to interrupt you,” he wanted to smile and laugh, but he wasn’t sure if that was the right reaction. “I was hoping you may want to join me for breakfast.”
    “Okay,” she answered, still seeming embarrassed. “I just have to get dressed. Can you give me like fifteen minutes?”
    “Of course. Just come into the house when you’re ready.”
    She nodded with a smile and closed the door, running into the bedroom of the guesthouse. He turned and walked swiftly back to the house. Once he got inside, he burst into peals of laughter. What an awkward encounter that had been! Growing up wealthy, he mostly knew women who were a bit snobbish or the Paris Hilton type party girl. Juliet seemed kind, sweet, and earnestly unassuming. She was like a breath of fresh air to him.
    She entered the house a short time later, wearing some clothes of Rebecca’s. Still, she looked beautiful in casual clothing and little make-up. It seemed she and Rebecca had similar body shapes. For some reason, he hadn’t really noticed her wearing Rebecca’s clothes before. Perhaps he just wasn’t looking all that closely at Juliet.
    “I hope it’s okay if I wear these,” she said with a slight smile. “I really didn’t have any clothes for myself.”
    “Oh, it’s no problem. Rebecca keeps things here for guests if they can fit into the things. She said she probably