Spring for Tiger: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Shifter Seasons Book 2) (6 page)

“
Please, let’s get in the truck, Zeke,” I motioned towards the vehicle.

Zeke frowned, but he pulled open the door and helped me climb in. I tried to think of what to say. How was I going to tell him I wasn’t who he thought I was—that I was living someone else’s lifestyle?

I was very wealthy and I didn’t have to think twice about the roof over my head or how I was going to eat that day. I knew that Anne and Susie didn’t seem to think this was a big deal…they thought it would be an awesome surprise to tell someone who thought you were poor that you were actually rich. But they didn’t know Zeke very well.

Money did not mean a lot to him. He was just as happy wearing a twenty-dollar pair of jeans from the value section of Savemart as he would have been wearing a two thousand dollar suit from Duncan’s department store. He would enjoy chomping on a mega burger from Queenie’s as much if not more than a fancy dinner from a top notch steak house. Zeke liked simple things.

Zeke didn’t place much value on how much money a man—or woman—had in their bank account, what they were driving, or the address they lived at. He valued truth and honesty. I had been neither.

Zeke shut my door and went around to his side of the truck.

“
Janet, what’s going on?” The words spilled out of his mouth as he climbed into the truck, slid behind the wheel and slammed the door shut. “You were engaged to that jerk? And what money was he talking about? What’s going on?”

I exhaled deeply. Shit. I knew I was going to have to tell Zeke, but I really wanted to wait for the right time...and this was not it.

Zeke gripped the wheel tightly. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

I glanced towards the back seat. I could see Crystal sitting quietly and I knew she was listening intently.

“
Um, it’s ah...well…I was engaged to the man we just saw. His name is Bob.”

“
Really? That surprises me.” Zeke tried to focus on the road but I could see his mind whirling. “He doesn’t look like your type at all—all slick and stiff in that fancy suit.”

“
He’s not my type,” I said firmly. “I mean, well, he was, but he’s not anymore. We were engaged but I broke it off.”

“
You fell out of love?” Zeke asked.

“
Kinda, sorta…”

“
Kinda, sorta? Either you did or you didn’t?”

I cleared my throat. “Well yes, I did fall out of love with him, because I realized the kind of man he was.” After falling in love with Zeke, I’d realized that I’d never truly loved Bob. I was more in love with
what I thought Bob was—
ambitious, sophisticated and successful than the man himself.

Zeke nodded. “Ok, that makes sense. Though I don’t know why you didn’t realize he was an asshole from the get go…I certainly did.”

“
Yeah, I should have. He was just all flash; not down to earth like you.”

Zeke grinned, “Well, thanks, I appreciate that.”

“
He pretended to be something that he wasn’t,” I said softly, my face starting to flame. Gosh, who was I to talk?

“
He’s probably like some of those kids at school that run around like they own the place just because they have fancy shoes or live in a big house,” Crystal said.

“
Exactly, Crystal, Bob’s just a pompous ass.”

“
Some people suck,” Crystal said sadly.

“
He even gave me a fake diamond ring and acted like it was real.”

Zeke arched his brows, “he gave you a fake diamond ring?”

“
Yeah,” I responded softly.

Zeke sputtered, “He’s an asshole. What a creep!”

“
I know,” I pursed my lips.

“
I’m sorry he hurt you, baby. Guys like that disgust me. But I’m happy for me that things didn’t work out and you broke up with him.”

“
A fake diamond…that was really mean, Janet,” Crystal piped up.

I felt guilty they were being so sympathetic towards me.

“
And you work at Courtland’s Gems,” Zeke shook his head. “Like he didn’t think you would check every angle of that ring under a microscope?”

“
Right, but I didn’t work for the jewelry store at the time we got engaged.”

“
Oh yeah, that’s right. You just started working their recently,” Zeke suddenly looked puzzled. “So you said before you had just moved here from Maryland. Did you meet him in Maryland and move here to be with him?”

“
No, I…” I bit my lower lip. I really did not want to discuss this in front of Crystal. “You know, if you don’t mind I’d prefer not to talk about it right now.”

“
Ok,” Zeke pursed his lips.

“
I’m hungry,” Crystal called out from the backseat.

“
Is everyone ready for a humongous burger?” Zeke asked. “We’re almost at Queenie’s.”

“
I’m ready!” Crystal hollered.

I looked out the window. Normally it would be fun to go to eat with Zeke and Crystal but today I felt kind of sick. Seeing Bob had reminded me of his lies, and of course that made me think of mine. I wasn’t any better than Bob.

“
So, let me get this straight,” Zeke leaned forward.

We were sitting at the kitchen table in Susie’s apartment and I had just finished telling him the truth—everything that I had withheld from him over the past few weeks.

“
You traded lifestyles with Susie. You are not broke, you are rich...and you are working at Courtland’s Gems temporarily?”

“
Pretty much,” I said glumly, hanging my head.

“
I don’t get it,” Zeke said. “I mean, I get the fact that you think men are after you for your money, but why did you think pretending that you’re someone you’re not would help?”

“
I guess I thought it would help me to know who really liked me for me,” I said softly.

“
But it was a lie,” Zeke said, frowning. “You were living a lie.”

“
I realize that now,” I muttered, “Susie suggested it and at the time it just seemed like a good idea.”

Zeke furrowed his brow, “So you’re blaming Susie?”

“
No…no…I, well at the time, it just seemed ok. I guess I was only thinking of myself and making sure I met a man interested in me for the right reasons. I wasn’t thinking that I would end up being dishonest.”

Zeke’s jaw tightened. “But when you met me and we clicked…why didn’t you just tell me? Why haven’t you told me all these weeks we’ve been seeing one another?”

“
I was afraid to, Zeke. I know you value honesty and being real...I was afraid of what you’d say when I told you the truth.”

“
I don’t know what to say, Janet. Is that even your real name? Or was that a lie too?”

I could feel my face grow hot. “Yes, Janet is my real name.”

Zeke jerked his head. “I don’t know who you are at all.”

“
I’m me, Zeke. Everything I’ve said and done with you has been real. It’s just my background isn’t quite what I said, and…”

Zeke’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe you just like playing with people. You were bored with your rich friends and shopping and eating fancy meals, so you decided to see what slumming it with the poor folk was like to entertain yourself for a while.”

“
No! That wasn’t it at all!” I cried out.

“
Maybe now you’ll go back and tell them about the poor, lovesick maintenance man, and…”

“
Stop it, Zeke! That’s not true.”

“
How do I know? How do I know why you’re really here or who you are?”

“
Zeke, I…”

Zeke waved his hand dismissively. “I’m going for a run to clear my head.”

“
Zeke please, let me explain more.”

“
I think you’ve said enough, Janet.”

Zeke’s jaw was tight and his eyes distant. I knew that look. He shook his head and began to transition into his animal. His body tightened and his bones started to crackle and elongate as tufts of fur sprouted out from his skin. But though this process always fascinated me, I could barely focus on him shifting as tears welled up in my eyes. My eyes blurred and my head spun. Through my haze, I saw him nudge the door open and run out into the cool night air.

I slumped over the table. I felt absolutely miserable.

~ * ~

“
So, then what happened?” Susie asked, her eyes wide in anticipation.

I was standing behind a jewelry case at Courtland’s fighting back tears as I told Susie and Anne what had happened with Zeke.

“
It was awful,” I said, shaking my head. “He went for a run. It seemed like he was gone for hours and hours. Finally, I heard him come back and go into his apartment down the hall. I knocked on his door but he didn’t answer. The next day I saw him and it was like he looked right past me. He didn’t see me. I tried to talk to him but he just responded curtly without emotion. Was what I did the worst thing in the world or something?”

“
I think Zeke must just internalize things. Maybe he was lied to as a child,” Anne said.

“
Switching lifestyles has been so much fun for me,” Susie burbled. Then she caught the expression on my face. “I’m so sorry it worked out like this for you. I just never dreamed someone would be upset to find out that the person they loved wasn’t broke but had a lot of money!”

Anne grimaced. “I don’t think it would bother most people.”

“
He said that I was toying with him.” I felt sick as I remembered the look on Zeke’s face when he’d discovered I’d been lying to him. At first it was a look of shock, but then it was like he felt nothing at all...He didn’t see me in the same, loving way he had before.

“
Do you want to extend our lifestyle swap?” Susie asked eagerly. “You could try and make up with Zeke?”

I shook my head. “I…I think we’d better switch back. I don’t think continuing this lie will help anything,” I added miserably. “I’ve learned a lot living in your apartment and on your budget, Susie. I’ve taken a lot for granted and I won’t do that again. I’ve learned so much working here at Courtland’s, too. I recognized myself in some of the customers. Now I realize what a pain in the ass I could be at times.”

Anne patted me lightly on the shoulder. “Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

“
I deserve it. I realize what a bragging, presumptuous b-i-t-c-h I used to be.” God did I ever. My eyes had really been opened since working at Courtland’s and meeting all the customers that felt the world was just lucky to have them in it.

“
Janet, we love you. You are not a bitch,” Susie said firmly.

“
Yes, we care about you very much,” Anne added.

“
I know I’ve been hard to take at times. I appreciate you saying that.”

“
Anyway, I’ve thanked Sam for letting me work here.” Samantha Courtland was the owner of Courtland’s Gems. She had inherited the shop when her husband, Jon, passed away suddenly, leaving her with their two young children and a mountain of financial debt. The jewelry store had been doing better lately but it was still struggling.

“
Despite my complaining about some of the customers and the long hours,” I grimaced, “I enjoyed it and I think this is a fantastic business. Sam has been doing an awesome job, but unfortunately it’s overstretched financially.”

“
We know,” Anne said sadly. “Jon bought a lot of merchandise he shouldn’t have. But things have improved since Sam took over. Thankfully, Samantha has an eye for what will sell—he really didn’t.”

“
That’s true,” Susie said.

“
I just hope it’s been fast enough to keep the doors open,” Anne added. “I would hate to see Sam lose the business.”

“
Or us lose our jobs,” Susie grimaced, shaking her head.

“
That’s not going to happen,” I replied.

“
I hope not,” Susie said. “God, I’m living paycheck to paycheck as it is now.”

“
Today will
officially
be my last day on the floor.”

Aw that’s sad,” Susie said. “It’s been fun to work with you.”

“
I know we’ll still see you, since we’re all so close, but we’ll miss seeing you every day at work,” Anne added.

“
Oh, you’ll still be seeing me,” I smiled. Despite the pain of what happened with Zeke I had finally done something right, and I was eager to tell them.

“
You will both be getting pay raises and more hours.”

“
What?” Susie cried out.

“
How is that possible?” Anne asked. “Did Sam win the lottery?”

“
I think Sam has a fantastic business opportunity here and she sure has some of the best employees, so I decided to invest. I am paying off the debt so Sam won’t have that high interest rate every month. We will be able to pay you both more and increase your hours if you want that.”

Both women had shocked looks on their faces.

“
I’ll also be in to help out around here in an unofficial capacity when you need it and I’ll do some of the office work to help take the burden off of Sam.”

“
Wow! I don’t know what to say!” Susie grinned from ear to ear.

“
Fantastic!” Anne chimed in.

The buzzing of my cell sounded and I pulled it from my pocket to take a peek. Crystal? Why would she be calling me?