Claimed By The Lion: A BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance Standalone (BBW Romance, BBW Shifter Romance, BBW Paranormal Romance, Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (2 page)

IV.

Juliet hoped after Jackson opened up with the staff meeting that he would also open up more to her. He didn’t, though he did make more appearances out of his office. He attributed this to having to see more patients and do more fundraising, but sometimes he lingered a little longer than usual. Altogether, sometimes she thought he was a rather strange man with peculiar tics. Still, she enjoyed the times when he actually was pleasant with her, though they were few.

Jackson himself felt like he was spending too much time out of his office. He wasn’t sure what drove him to leave its confines when he had been so comfortable there, but (somehow) the allure of the living room where Juliet worked called to him. He, of course, had found he didn’t have the necessary skills to talk to her - he normally could be charismatic enough when needed, but at home, he couldn’t find the will to act outside of his normal disposition.

She didn’t seem to mind - she smiled and listened to him, even talked back to his random musings. He’d normally end up just leaving the house, acting as though he had somewhere to go when he really did not. He thought that was easier and less embarrassing than milling around trying to think of something to say.

He didn’t enjoy the feeling of vulnerability and self-deprecation. He hadn’t really ever been that way before with a woman (more because of his inherent apathy than anything), and it troubled him.

On Saturday morning, he decided to invite her to breakfast. He sometimes liked to go out to a local diner for their pancakes, but he didn’t like to eat alone. Since Adam and Rebecca were busy with popping out a baby, they hadn’t been able to join him in a few weeks. He figured he might as well ask his secretary so he could start up a rapport with her. Or, at least, more of a rapport with her.

He knew she woke up quite early, so he walked slowly to the guesthouse, trying to amp himself up. He could hear the faint tune of music coming from the place, though he thought he might be imagining it. Like the heavens were egging him on. He peered into the glass sliding to see Juliet dancing around the guesthouse as she cleaned. Her moves weren’t particularly skillful, but she seemed to be enjoying herself.

Juliet was in her own little world, thinking Jackson would stay inside for the day as he normally did. She liked to turn on internet radio on the computer Jackson “loaned” her and dance as she cleaned just to make it all a little more interesting. She looked over to the sliding door, about to clean it, when she noticed Jackson peering in. She jumped back in surprise, nearly toppling over the couch in her small living room.

She opened the door, blushing bright red, “Good morning, Jackson. What a pleasant surprise.”

“Sorry to interrupt you,” he wanted to smile and laugh, but he wasn’t sure if that was the right reaction. “I was hoping you may want to join me for breakfast.”

“Okay,” she answered, still seeming embarrassed. “I just have to get dressed. Can you give me like fifteen minutes?”

“Of course. Just come into the house when you’re ready.”

She nodded with a smile and closed the door, running into the bedroom of the guesthouse. He turned and walked swiftly back to the house. Once he got inside, he burst into peals of laughter. What an awkward encounter that had been! Growing up wealthy, he mostly knew women who were a bit snobbish or the Paris Hilton type party girl. Juliet seemed kind, sweet, and earnestly unassuming. She was like a breath of fresh air to him.

She entered the house a short time later, wearing some clothes of Rebecca’s. Still, she looked beautiful in casual clothing and little make-up. It seemed she and Rebecca had similar body shapes. For some reason, he hadn’t really noticed her wearing Rebecca’s clothes before. Perhaps he just wasn’t looking all that closely at Juliet.

“I hope it’s okay if I wear these,” she said with a slight smile. “I really didn’t have any clothes for myself.”

“Oh, it’s no problem. Rebecca keeps things here for guests if they can fit into the things. She said she probably won’t be wearing most of it anymore anyway with the baby coming.”

“Did you talk to her about it?”

“I sent her an email when you were going to stay.”

“And she was your old secretary, right?”

“Correct.”

“Is that how she and your brother met?”

“They went to college together. He had me hire her in the hopes that would bring them together,” he sighed. “It did. I’m not sure why he didn’t just ask her out, but I have rarely understood my brother’s choices. Would you like to go?”

“Yes, I’m really hungry.”

“We can shop for some clothes for you as well if you want,” he said as he held the door open for her. “Then you can have your own.”

“Oh, we don’t have to do that. I probably don’t have the money for it anyway.”

“Don’t worry about it. I have plenty of money to go around.”

They walked to his car, the one he had hit her with, and he drove leisurely into town. She felt comfortable with him, and no longer felt she needed to look over her shoulder. Perhaps his arrogance and cynicism made her calmer because he didn’t let the world scare him. He expected the worst from everything around him, so he molded it to his favor.

“If you’re so wealthy, why do you do so much fundraising?” she asked after a pause in their conversation.

“Well, I mean, we’re doing a lot of cancer and medical research which does require quite a bit of money,” he said. “The money we have is old money, you see. So it’s more in a trust fund to keep the whole family sustained than to just spend on our company.”

“But your brother is in the company too, right?”

“Well, yes, but my other brother and sister aren’t. They’re doing something else. And aunts and uncles both need money too.”

“Oh, I see.”

“If we have excess, I donate it to charities and other medical research. Sometimes we fundraise just for that because some of these charities are doing really incredible work.”

“Well, that’s admirable.”

He shrugged, “As a doctor, I always wanted to figure out something that would help make people well.  Plus, both my parents died of cancer, so I wanted to figure something out so we didn’t die too. The regrowing of limbs and that is more Adam’s pet project. He had a friend who lost his legs in Iraq.”

“Ah, so there’s a personal side to it.”

“There’s always a personal side to things. If you’re not driven by something you know, you probably won’t be driven by anything.”

“Wise words.”

He gave a slight smile, “It’s my job to appear to be the wisest person you’ll ever know.”

“And it’s working quite well.”

He laughed (the first laugh she’d brought from him), “Thanks for the morale boost.”

He parked and guided her into the diner. The Japanese owner welcomed Jackson with a smile, and spoke to him in Japanese while leading the two back to a secluded table. The man smiled at Juliet, giving her a quaint “welcome,” then rushed off to seat more guests and grab menus.

“You know Japanese, huh?” she smiled, trying to play off how impressed she was.

“My dad thought it was important to know many languages in the business world. We traveled a lot too.”

“How many languages do you know then?”

“I know quite a few,” he took a deep breath through his nose. “I don’t like to brag though.”

“That is something to brag about though.”

“A lot of people know different languages, Juliet. I’m just one of them.”

He gave a slight close-lipped smile, and she smiled back slightly, matching him. The owner returned, talking amiably with Jackson again and giving Juliet a smile. The man gestured to her, then said something she didn’t understand. Jackson smiled demurely, but said nothing. The man took their orders, gave the two another smile, and went on his way.

Jackson talked about work mostly with his monotone, emotionless voice. Juliet listened politely and answered when he’d ask her about the 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 into her clothes. When they bought the dress, she felt like Cinderella suddenly realizing the beauty of her life once meeting the prince. Jackson carried her bags, looking quite handsome, and gave her the necessary compliments to make her feel pretty. She enjoyed her time with him, which she didn’t expect.

“Thank you for all of this today,” Juliet said as they drove home. “I really appreciate it. I’ve had a hard couple months, so this is just so perfect.”

“I’m happy to help,” he smiled, not turning to her, but his amber eyes acknowledging her.

She kissed him softly on the cheek then returned back to her seat. The clamminess within him dried and warmed. He’d never felt so lucky to receive a kiss on the cheek - they usually disappointed him. But with her, it felt like a sweet and special gift. When they arrived at the house, he wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her, but he just walked her to the guesthouse and then went back inside to work.

The only thing he felt particularly skilled at was his work. Romance felt beyond him.

V.

The meeting on Monday went just as well as the Monday before. Rebecca also took part in the meeting, saying she wanted to “get back into the work spirit,” but Jackson thought she was just trying to feel out the new secretary. He decided not to say anything to Juliet, who seemed to be not at all troubled by Rebecca’s appearance (and, in fact, she wasn’t.) Jackson was pleased with the way his projects and the research were progressing.

“I enjoy these staff meetings,” Juliet smiled after the meeting was over. “You do this every week, correct?”

“Yes. We used to meet up for it, but everyone’s lives have become so busy,” he answered with his usual dour look.

“I feel like you’re an old hermit up here all alone. It’s like you’re the beast in
Beauty and the Beast
.”

“I have thought about waxing a bit more with all the hair I have.”

“I just meant you’re secluded.”

“And a bit rough around the edges?”

“A bit grumpy, yes.”

“I can buy that,” he nodded. “I must get back to work now, as should you.”

“Yes, we probably should. But, since you did interrupt me during my day off, I feel you owe me a nice, casual meal for enjoyment, not work.”

“I suppose that can be arranged. I can make reservations for tomorrow.”

“I was thinking a picnic. Today.”

“A picnic?”

“Yes, out on the grounds. You have a beautiful backyard.”

“I do have a lot of work to do today though…”

“You’re going to work all your youth away, Jackson. Your looks won’t last forever.”

He gave a slight smile while she gave her normal wide one. With her new clothes, she looked more comfortable in her skin, which made her more beautiful to him.

“I’ll expect you outside at noon,” Juliet stood and prepared to leave the room. “I’d prefer it if you were on time, but it’s informal. If you must be late, you must be late.”

He nodded and stood as she left the room. He felt a bit out of his element, but also enjoyed being brought out of his general routine. He hadn’t thought about how secluded he’d become in his home. Since his parents died, he’d mostly stayed there on his own. Perhaps he had been in mourning all that time - or perhaps it gave him his own freedom from the real beast inside.

He shook out of that thought. He felt like if he thought about it, then somehow Juliet could read his mind. It wasn’t something he enjoyed thinking about.

Before noon, he paced in his office, going from one end of the room to the other. Maybe he would just not show up - she did say he could be late if he got tied up, and he did have a lot of work to do. He sighed, eyeing the clock as it hit twelve. It’s just a picnic. He stood up straight and made his way outside, his heart pounding against his ribcage with nervousness.

Lucy laid on a blanket outside, her hair shining in the sun. A basket sat next to her, making the whole scene look quite picaresque.

“Come lay next to me,” she called to him as he walked up. “It’s very nice to just feel the sun on your skin.”

He kneeled down next to her and then mimicked her position. “I hope this isn’t a long lunch. I really must get back to work.”

“Ease up a little bit, Jackson. Come on,” she smacked him playfully. “Take a deep breath and breathe in the fresh air.”

He took a deep breath as she asked, smelling the roses and taking in the pollen he knew gave him allergies. “I feel myself calming.”

“That is something you need, for sure.”

They stayed there for quite some time; normally, he would’ve counted the minutes, but he decided he needed a moment to just chill out. He also enjoyed the feeling of her being so close to him, the two of them breathing the same air.

“Do you feel relaxed?” she asked.

“I do.”

He felt her sit up, “Then I think it’s time to eat.”

“I kind of like just laying here.”

“Take your time then. I’m going to eat though.”

He sighed, leaning up to watch her take out some picnic items from the basket. “You really went all out, huh?”

She shrugged, “I’m a big fan of picnics. My mom and I used to go on them pretty often.”

“Ah, I see. Did you um… grow up around here?” He focused on not talking about work.

“Not really. My step-dad moved to this area when I was in college.”

“Your mom too?”

“My mom left when I was twelve. So, I don’t know,” she answered, her smile waning and her pretty eyes looking off into the distance slightly. She quickly recovered, however. “I liked to think that she moved to Europe and became a model. She used to tell me stories about her dreams and all the things she had wanted to do before she met my dad.”

“What, so marriage and having a kid ruined her life?” he immediately cringed at his natural insensitivity.

              “I guess you could say that if you’re the eternal cynicist,” she smiled. “My dad died before I was born, and if you knew my step-dad, you would understand. He’s uh… he’s a real piece of work.”

              “But why would she leave you?”

              She shrugged, “I don’t think she was ever the same after my dad died. She married my step-dad to give her some kind of means, but it didn’t really work out. She always used to say that when she looked into my eyes, she saw my dad, and I could tell how sad it made her.”

“I have my dad’s eyes too.”

She smiled, “I didn’t know him, so I don’t know. I guess I always hoped that one day she would come back for me, you know? She’s just… taken her time.”

              “Yeah,” he took another deep breath. “So, your step-dad raised you?”

“Pretty much. I lived with my grandma for a long while until she died when I was seventeen. Then I lived with him because there wasn’t anyone else.”

“Oh, I see. Life, huh?”

              “Life,” she smiled again. “We all have our sob stories. But, we don’t all have delicious salami, am I right?”

              “Right,” he actually smiled. “I do like salami.”

              “Everyone does.”

              She kept up her smile, though she did feel a little sad from the turn of the conversation. For some reason, Jackson’s general unemotional attitude helped her move on from the subject. He rolled with the punches, as he did with the conversation. She took a deep breath herself, wondering if she should tell him about what she was running for the night he hit her.

              Instead, she pulled the wine bottle from the basket, and suggested they live it up just a little bit. She figured he’d say no, but he grinned and shrugged. He opened the twist cap, asking for cups. She shrugged back, taking the bottle from him and taking a drink.

              “We could just go in the house and get glasses,” he said, watching her.

              “We could, but where’s the adventure in that?” she held up the bottle as if she were toasting him.

              “I guess I’m not very good at adventure.”

              “Well, I can help you with that.”

              “I knew you were good for something when I hit you.”

“Good enough for an insurance claim, at the very least.”

He laughed, “That’s right.”

They continued with their picnic, talking about more uplifting things and enjoying the sunlight. The lunch went longer than one on a normal workday, but Jackson said since they had a “business breakfast” on the last Saturday, it should be okay.              They each went off to their separate work areas with smiles and excitement for something big coming their way.

Yet, they both had their own lingering secrets hiding underneath, which scared them both.