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

the bed.   
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 7: Wild Hearts
     
     
     
    Miserable and confused, Amanda tried to find solace.  After Joshua had left her and she’d pulled herself together, she’d showered and dressed and escaped from the suite.  She had spent most of the day drifting around the hotel, trying to avoid people and figure out what was going on. 
    Now, as evening deepened, she’d come down to the private beach that bordered the one side of the building.  It was surprisingly quiet and Amanda went down to the far end near some rocks, and settled into the sand to watch the waves and the sunset.
    The tranquil surroundings did little to calm the storm in her heart and mind.  Joshua’s transformation had to have been a trick, she told herself.  It was another game of his, probably some scheme to get back at Natasha.  It had all been done by special effects.  There just wasn’t any logical way that he had really transformed into an animal.
    He had said she was his mate, the only true love of his life.  She closed her eyes and hugged herself.  It was all lies.  He couldn’t possibly love her.  She had nothing a man like him would want.  She was not a thoroughbred like Natasha.  She was just an ordinary curvy girl a million miles from what he was used to.  Sure, he’d defended her honour after Natasha’s little stunt but that was only because he was a philanthropist at heart. 
    Like the island of Maho, Amanda had been in desperate need and he’d tried to help her.  He’d probably bedded her out of sympathy.  Perhaps this whole tiger routine was something he did with all the girls he slept with if he was afraid they got too clingy or try and blackmail him. 
    That was it.  He’d scare them out of their wits so they wouldn’t get the hell away from him.  Well, it had worked.  Amanda wanted off this island and she never wanted to see Joshua ever again.
    “Hello, do you want some company?” an all-too-familiar voice said from behind her.
    Amanda turned round, and openly glared.  “Toby,” she said with real venom in her voice.
    Toby raised his hands and gave her a disarming grin.  He was casually dressed in a black short-sleeved shirt and long, stone-grey cargo shorts.  Since arriving for the wedding he’d been working on his tan, so now he was the same deep bronze as Joshua.  Amanda had to admit, he looked good.
    “Hey, don’t shoot,” he said in a soothing tone.  “I come in peace.”
    “What do you want?” Amanda asked brusquely, in no mood for him.
    He squatted down next to her, and dipped his eyes shyly.  “I just wanted to see how you were doing.  I haven’t seen much of you since the wedding.”
    “That’s because I’m avoiding you,” she snapped, no longer feeling the need to show him any respect.  “After that little trick your sister pulled, I’ve developed an allergic reaction to spiteful rich jerks.”
     
    Toby nodded.  “Point taken,” he said.  “It was about that I wanted to talk about.  Natasha can be a real bitch when she wants to be.  I’m sorry that she hurt you.”
    “You were much a part of it as well,” Amanda said accusingly.  “Why should I believe you care?”
    “Hey, I tried to talk her out of it, but she insisted,” Toby replied, going on the defensive.  “When she sets her mind on something she won’t be swayed, and she doesn’t care who gets hurt.  What she did to you is nothing compared to some of the tricks she’s pulled.  If I could, I’d turn my back on her altogether.”
    “Why don’t you then?” Amanda demanded.  “If she’s so difficult just walk away.  It is possible, though it hurts.”  She thought about Joshua and a lump came to her throat.
    “Natasha holds all the purse strings,” Toby said mournfully.  “Dad doesn’t think I can be trusted out on my own so he gave Natasha sole control of my trust fund.  If I don’t dance to her tune she’ll leave me high and dry.”
    Amanda folded