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

going back to the ranch. I have something for you."
    "What is it?"
    Ryan grinned and winked.
    "It's a surprise."
    #

 
     
     
     
     
    "What are you doing to do about Laura?" Julie asked.
    It was an hour later. Ryan, now showered and dressed, was driving Julie back to the ranch. Julie had also dressed in an old pair of jeans and a baggy black t-shirt of Charlie's. Greg and some of his men had arrived when they were about to leave, Greg promising to clean the place up and move the body. Julie worried what the authorities would say but Greg assured her he would make sure nothing was left to implicate her or Ryan.
    "I've already reassigned her work and cleared out her desk." Ryan glanced at her. "I've also notified the police. She should be in the cells by now."
    Julie stared out the window.
    "I still can't believe she did this."
    Ryan laid a hand over hers in her lap.
    "Don't beat yourself up. You didn't know."
    "I'd still like to get my hands on her."
    Ryan grunted his agreement and they drove in silence until they got to the ranch. Ryan pulled up outside his apartment and helped Julie out. He held her hand as they went up to the door and Ryan let them in.
    Julie stepped inside and gasped. The whole place was lit with candles. Small ones were dotted around the room with two larger candles situated on the coffee table. The whole room smelt of cherry blossom, her favourite scented candle.
    "Wow. When did you do this?"
    Ryan stepped up behind her and put his arms round her waist.
    "I called Greg just before I left to follow you and asked him to set them up."
    He pressed a kiss to her cheek and led Julie to the couch, urging her to sit before sitting beside her. Julie looked around her, wondering what the special occasion was.
    "What's all this for?"
    Ryan sat back and pulled her to him. Julie squealed and fell across his lap. Ryan turned her so her bottom was snug against his erection, which twitched when she wriggled. Ryan groaned and held onto her.
    "Stop it or I won't be able to tell you what I want to say."
    "Sorry."
    Julie stopped. Ryan rubbed his hand up her back, his other hand on her thigh.
    "I was going to tell you all about me tonight. What I really was. You'd guessed half of it but I wanted you to know the other half. Because I had something big I wanted to talk to you about."
    "Ryan?"
    Ryan kissed her gently, pulling away when Julie started to kiss him back. He smiled, his eyes glowing warm amber.
    "I love you, Julie." He said. "My beast knew as soon as it saw you that you were my mate. I wasn't going to let you walk away. Seeing you with Ian..." He let out a shuddering breath. "That scared me."
    "It scared me, too." Julie laid her palm against his roughened cheek. "I'm glad you got there in time."
    "I wouldn't leave you alone." Ryan kissed her palm and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small square box. "I know it's early and we haven't really gone on any proper dates but I wanted to give you this."
    Julie took the box. Her heart rate picked up. She knew what this was but her brain was taking a while to process it.
    "What's this?"
    Ryan chuckled.
    "Open it and find out."
    Julie opened it. And gasped. It was a simple silver band, encrusted with tiny diamonds that sparkled in the candlelight.
    "Like it?"
    "It's beautiful."
    Ryan nuzzled her neck, pressing a kiss to her ear.
    "I was going to ask you to marry me tonight." He said against her jaw. "Be my wife and my mate. I always thought I'd never settle down before I was thirty, that I'd be my dad's age before I found my one and only but you blew that out of the water. I'm not letting his pass me by."
    Julie stared at him. Had he really done what she thought he'd done?
    "So this is a proposal?"
    "Yes." Ryan looked at her anxiously. "Do you accept?"
    Julie grinned. She slipped off his lap and held out the box, laughing at Ryan's confusion.
    "Propose to me properly and I'll think about it."
    #

     
     
     
     
     
    Ryan laughed, his heart slowing down. For a moment,