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

status of one of her tasks. The breakfast took on a very formal and professional note, as if it were simply a business meeting. Juliet wondered if she had dressed for such - she thought the whole thing would be more casual. He was dressed casually (or, at least, as casual as he got.) Fortunately, once they got their food, the conversation stopped - saving her from more work topics.
    “So, was this meant to be a work breakfast?” she asked as they waited for their check.
    “What do you mean?” he asked innocently.
    “Well, all we talked about was work, so I figured this was just a work breakfast. Should I write it off?”
    “I did do that, didn’t I?”
    “You did.”
    “I’m sorry. I guess I just got nervous, so I started talking about what I know. Which is work.”
    “It’s okay,” she smiled. “I don’t know why you’d be nervous though.”
    “It was a personal venture, you know. I usually only go to breakfast with my brother or people I already know.”
    “Not with some strange woman?”
    “In so many words, I guess.”
    “You don’t have to be nervous around me, Jackson. I’m not anyone important.”
    “You’ve become important to me.” She gave him a surprised look. “I mean, you’re very helpful as a secretary.”
    The check arrived as she grinned from ear to ear and blushed. He also blushed, paying the check in cash and ushering her out quickly. He explained to her a mall was just down the mall, so they would go there to shop for her new clothes. She thanked him graciously as she still felt butterflies flying through her body joyously, whereas Jackson felt his own insides becoming clammier and clammier.
    He wondered to himself if he had meant this to be a date and failed miserably. He supposed he had in both respects. This wasn’t exactly the best news for him and his dating prowess. Of course, most of the women he dated were other wealthy women or knew he was wealthy and liked him for that. Juliet knew of his wealth, but didn’t seem mesmerized by it. He also hadn’t exactly made the best first impression, so he wasn’t able to woo her with his charm. She knew him at his worst, so it would be difficult to see him otherwise.
    But he did his best to give her all she wanted while shopping. He mostly followed behind or looked for men’s clothes and met her afterwards. He gave her some money so she could pick clothing on her own. He felt it would be better not to smother her. She seemed happy enough to pick out some things for herself, but he couldn’t be sure.
    As they walked out of the mall, she stopped before the fancy dress store, staring into the window wistfully.
    “Isn’t that gorgeous?” she looked in at a jade dress hanging in the window. “I wish I could wear it.”
    “Why don’t you try it?” he asked with bags in his hands.
    “Oh, I won’t fit into it.”
    “There’s no point in not trying.”
    He nearly pushed her in and asked for her size of the dress in the window. The woman who worked there was a little snotty about it, but she grabbed the dress and led Juliet to the dressing room. Jackson sat on a chair outside her room, feeling as though he were the boyfriend waiting for his girlfriend to get finished. He liked that feeling.
    After a few minutes, she walked out in the dress. It accentuated all her curves and made her look gorgeous. She noticed him looking her up and down with an expression she couldn’t quite interpret.
    “Do you like it?” she asked. “Does it make me look fat?”
    “It doesn’t make you look fat at all,” he answered with a certain tenderness she hadn’t experienced with him. “You look beautiful.”
    She held back her smile, “It’s expensive though.”
    “Don’t worry about it, Juliet. Everyone deserves to look beautiful some time. Plus, it would be a disservice to that dress not to buy it.”
    She smiled, “I wouldn’t want to inconvenience the dress.”
    “That’s very admirable of you.”
    She smiled wider and changed back