Spring for Tiger: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Shifter Seasons Book 2) (5 page)

“
Crystal, you look happy today,” I said, greeting the pre-teen from the front seat of the truck.

Normally Crystal wore little expression on her face, but today she was all smiles as Zeke helped her climb into the backseat of his truck.

“I
just got this freshly washed for the weekend,” Zeke announced, smiling, and patted the side of the door as he closed it.

I smiled. Zeke had purchased the truck used and it came with its share of dents and scrapes, but he treated it like gold, better than I’d ever treated my luxury sedan. I wasn’t used to driving around in a beat up pickup but it was better than taking the bus everywhere, which is what I’d been doing since swapping lifestyles with Susie.

“
How are things at school?” I asked.

“
Awesome!” Crystal grinned.

“
Whoa!” Zeke said. “That’s quite a change from last week. What’s going on?”

“
I tried out for the drama club and I made it in.”

“
Congratulations!” Zeke cried enthusiastically as he turned the key in the ignition.

“
That’s great,” I added. “Tell us about it!”

“
Well, I was interested in joining the club but I was kind of nervous about trying out. Anyway, I went to the meeting and we had to get on stage and act out something.”

“
Act out something?” Zeke asked as he drove the truck along the busy road.

“
Yeah, one of the club members was passing a bucket that had slips of paper in it with scenes on them. We each took turns, pulling out one of the slips and then doing what it said.”

“
So what kind of scenes were there?” Zeke pulled up to a red light and glanced back at Crystal.

“
One kid had to pretend he was a monkey. Another had to act like they’d just turned ninety…It was fun!”

“
So what was your scene, Crystal?” I asked.

“
I had to pretend that I was pregnant and getting on a bus!”

“
That’s crazy,” Zeke said as the red light changed and he stepped on the gas. “Where do these kids come up with these things?”

“
Are you going to show us how you acted out the scene?” I asked.

Crystal giggled, shaking her head. “Maybe later, it would be hard to do that in the car.”

“
Well, they must have liked it,” Zeke grinned, “because now you’re in the club.”

“
Yeah,” Crystal smiled proudly, “they were cracking up.”

“
Good for you, Crystal.” It sounded like she had found a good group of kids to hang out with at school and I was happy for her. I liked Crystal and I knew her happiness was important to Zeke.

“
We’re almost there, folks,” Zeke announced.

“
Look!” Crystal pointed out the car window to the movie theater in front of us. “There’s a huge line!”

“
Ah, we’ll get in. It’s a big theater. But why don’t you two get out and get tickets while I park, just to be safe?”

Crystal and I climbed out of the truck and walked over to the line.

I shook my head as I looked around; the line to get into the theater extended down the street. “With all these people, I’m not sure we’ll make it in.”

“
A lot of them are probably here to see one of the other movies,” Crystal said confidently. “‘Shifter in Love’ did not get the best reviews but I still really want to see it.”

“
You are really into movies and acting, aren’t you?”

Crystal nodded. “I read about all the movies and watch TV shows about how they made them. It’s fun. There’s Uncle Zeke…” Crystal pointed towards him, walking in the distance. We waved so he could spot us.

“
Parking wasn’t so bad, but the line looks longer than I thought,” Zeke frowned, glancing at the crowd as he joined us.

“
Crystal thinks we’ll make it in. But worse case scenario we can see a different movie and come back another time.”

As we chatted I looked around the area. My favorite department store, Duncan’s, was just up the street. I used to spend several days a week at Duncan’s buying the latest cosmetics, pretty shoes, and designer label clothing. I’d usually have a bite to eat at the café in the store. The café featured a variety of low calorie salads and lean protein dishes. I had never eaten at the burger joint we planned to go to after the movies but I had a feeling the food would be quite different.

When we got to the head of the line, there were still tickets left for ‘Shifter in Love’. Zeke treated us to buttery popcorn and sodas and we headed into the theater.

We slid into comfy seats in the middle of the theater and Zeke put his arm around me. As the opening credits rolled I glanced over at Crystal. She was oblivious to everything around her, totally absorbed in watching every bit of the action that crossed the screen.

I crunched a few pieces of popcorn and followed them with a big gulp of soda. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had such a rich treat or gone to a movie theater, for that matter. It was such a simple thing, yet so nice. Zeke turned to me and gave me a deep, long kiss. As I settled back into his strong arms, feelings of guilt washed over me. This was a nice, kind man, and here I was, being deceptive. I would have to tell him the truth. But for now, nestled into his chest, I just wanted to watch the big screen in front of me and escape from my thoughts.

“
So what did you
really
think of the movie, Crystal?” Zeke asked, laughing.

“
Uncle Zeke, it was awesome!”

“
I don’t know if it was
that
good, honey,” Zeke teased.

“
It was the best movie ever! Come on, you liked it a lot too. When the hero and heroine made up and kissed at the end I saw you smiling Uncle Zeke!” Crystal caught the look in Zeke’s eyes and realized he’d been joking. She lightly punched him in the arm.

From the minute the movie ended and we’d walked out of the theater, Crystal had been bubbling over with enthusiasm.

“
It was great,” I agreed. It was a really nice movie and fun seeing it on the big screen. I had always stuck my nose up at going to the movie theater in the past, but I knew I wouldn’t make that mistake again. I had really enjoyed myself. And despite it being a soppy, hand me the tissue box chick-flick, I knew that Zeke had liked watching it too.

“
Yeah, it was good,” Zeke admitted. “You picked a winner, Crystal.”

I grinned at Zeke. Despite his burly, sexy exterior, the tiger man was really a teddy bear.

“
Are you ready for some mega-burgers?” Zeke asked.

“
Yes! I’m starving!” Crystal exclaimed. “Make mine a double patty, with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, mayo, ketchup and cheese on a sesame seed bun. And I’ll take fries too. Queenie’s has the best fries!”

“
I know it! Just thinking about them makes my mouth water. I’m starving for sure,” Zeke roared.

I laughed. “It sounds like you’re both pretty hungry. I could certainly eat something too.”

“
Let’s head over to the truck then,” Zeke said, leading the way. “I’m parked near Duncan’s and we can drive to Queenie’s Burgers. Maybe we’ll get ice cream cones at the Ice Smoothie Palace after. Yeah, that would be good!”

Despite eating like there was no tomorrow, Zeke’s abs were washboard flat. I only wished I could indulge like that on a daily basis. He had to be burning thousands of calories when he ran in his tiger.

Strolling towards Zeke’s truck, we chatted about Crystal’s school, the movies, and the huge mega-burgers and fries we were all about to indulge in.

When we reached the truck, Zeke quickly pulled the back door open and helped Crystal climb in, then cheerfully opened the front passenger door for me.

“
After you, my sweet and beautiful lady.”

“
Silly man,” I said, blowing him a little kiss. I was just about to climb in the vehicle when I heard a voice call out from behind me.

“
Janet! Janet Sayer!”

I turned to see Bob, my former fiancé, walking towards us with a woman. She was young and pretty. From the looks of what she was wearing she didn’t have much in her bank account. I wondered if this was the woman he had cheated on me with. She was a lot younger than someone Bob should be dating. I looked over at Bob. He was wearing a navy blazer, a nice pair of tan khaki slacks, and sporting a hard to miss large, gold watch on his wrist. They were both holding several bags with the Duncan’s logo on the front.

“
Well, hello Bob,” I said icily. I knew that I should get in the truck, but I couldn’t resist asking even though I already knew the answer. “Is this your new girlfriend?” Inside, I knew his answer really didn’t matter. Despite the hurt and lies he’d put me through I was glad it had happened. I would never have met Zeke if it hadn’t.

“
She—uh, she’s just a friend.”

“
Uh huh,” I said in a voice that conveyed my disbelief.

“
If I’m just a friend,” the woman pouted, “why did you give me these big diamonds?”

She pulled back her thick brunette hair, revealing a pair of diamond studs in her ears.

“These diamonds are two carats each!” she exclaimed proudly.

I let out an audible gasp. They looked suspiciously like the diamond he had given me—same size…same setting…only earrings, not a ring. I was willing to bet they were fake—just like mine had been.

“
They are nice, aren’t they, and so huge,” she said smugly, enjoying what she thought was my jealousy.

Bob grimaced, “Don’t be a show off, now, honey.”

“
But Bob, they’re so pretty and I know they had to have cost you a fortune,” she whined.

“Why did you stop me, Bob?”

“I miss you, Janet, and…I love you. I wanted to see if there was any chance that we could get back together…”

I glanced at his new girlfriend. She stared at Bob in shock. I looked back at Bob. I could see his left eye was twitching a lot—he was up to his ears in lies. But it didn’t really matter. I didn’t care about Bob at all.

“Not a chance, Bob,” I said, cutting him off. “Come on Zeke, let’s go.”

“Bob!” His girlfriend whined, reaching for Bob’s arm.

 
Bob’s eyes narrowed and his lips grew thin and tight. “What about you, Janet? Is this your new boyfriend?” he sneered, pointing towards Zeke. “Oh my, what a snazzy truck he has, dents and all. You’re really slumming it these days, aren’t you Janet?”

I frowned. How had I not seen what an asshole this loser was before?

“
What the heck is going on here?” Zeke asked, a quizzical expression on his face.

I could see Crystal staring out at the scene from her seat in the car, her eyes as wide as saucers as she witnessed the exchange. Bob was being so rude!

“
I’ll tell you later,” I said. “Let’s go, Zeke.” I nodded towards the woman next to Bob. “Oh,” I said quietly, looking at the woman, “you may want to have those diamond earrings checked.”

The woman’s eyes widened. “Checked?”

“
Just to make sure they’re real. Your boyfriend here…I mean, er, ‘friend,’” I jerked my thumb towards Bob, “has a nasty habit of giving out fake diamonds.”

The woman whirled around, glaring at Bob. “Is this true?”

“
It’s bullshit,” Bob muttered, his lips tightening.

Despite his words, I could see from the concerned look on the woman’s face that she would be visiting a jewelry store in the very near future to get her ‘diamonds’ looked at.

“
Take care, Bob,” I called out as I started to turn towards the truck.

I didn’t have to look at him to know that Bob was furious.

“
Look, bitch,” Bob snapped at me.

“
What did you just call my woman?” Zeke growled angrily. It felt like he was ready to pounce on Bob.

I put my hand against his chest to soothe him. “Just ignore him, Zeke. Let’s get out of here.”

Bob wouldn’t quit. “You didn’t want to marry me because you think I’m after your money?” He let out a nasty chuckle. “Well, what do you think a guy like this,” he pointed at Zeke, “who drives a beat up truck and wears tattered jeans is looking for?” With that, Bob grabbed the arm of the woman he was with. He turned on his heels, pulling her along with him, and marched off.

I could feel Zeke seething as he started after them. I was so afraid he was going to create a scene.

“
No, Zeke,” I called out. “Please…let it go…Crystal’s watching.”

I could tell the thought of Crystal watching him from the truck stopped him in his tracks. He turned back towards me.

“
What the hell? Where does he get off calling you a bitch?”

“
He’s just an idiot, Zeke. He’s not worth the time of day.”

“
He’s a fucking dickhead. And he said I was after your money? What money…what the hell is going on here?” Zeke asked. “Janet, what is this all about?”