the poor victimized wife. It was a concerted effort to get hold of Cyrus’s assets, and however you cut it, those pictures of him naked in public didn’t look good.
“Clearly, Mr. White is not only a man of dubious character, but he’s been engaged in an extramarital affair,” opposing counsel said.
“Mr. White,” the judge said. “Can you explain these?”
Cyrus conferred with his attorney. There was no explaining away the fact that he was naked in the middle of the street. Not to a human judge at least. The day was suddenly looking a lot bleaker. What could he do? Cyrus decided to tell the truth.
“That lady was having a problem and I helped her out.”
“Naked?” the judge asked.
“Two men were bothering her. When I intervened, I lost my clothes.”
“And these two men, where are they now?” the judge asked, concern written all over her face.
“Gone, I would say.”
“And where were you, Mrs. White, when this occurred?”
“I was pulling out of the parking lot.”
“All right. Thank you, Mrs. White.”
His wife smiled. The judge seemed to be considering the situation. Oh, no, lay it on me, Cyrus thought. With my luck, I’ll be going to jail for indecent exposure. The judge studied the photos. Cyrus waited silently for the hammer to drop.
“This is, indeed, unfortunate, Mr. White. And it raises a whole host of questions.”
Cyrus sighed.
“But those questions aren’t relevant to the matter before us today.” The judge glanced at the photographs once more before putting them down.
“I strongly suggest you accept your husband’s more than fair offer, Mrs. White. Because if you choose to go to trial, you might wish you hadn’t.”
Cyrus wasn’t sure he had heard her correctly. Would the photos really not influence the judge’s decision? His wife conferred with her lawyer for a few seconds.
“We accept their offer,” opposing counsel said.
“Well then, I think we’re done here,” the judge said.
Really? Was it actually over? After all this time had she actually agreed? Was he about to be a free man? Why had the judge dismissed the photos? Sure, they weren’t evidence of an extramarital affair, but in terms of his character, there was no denying that, in the human world at least, they made him look like a freak.
Everybody rose from the table. “Bye,” Cyrus said to the judge, unsure how to address her. Surely a “thank you” was out of line, though that was exactly how he felt.
“Goodbye, Mr. White,” the judge said. And Cyrus thought he caught the slightest glow in the judge’s eye. That had to be it. He hadn’t scented her, but there was no mistaking that glow. The judge was a shifter. She understood the vagaries of being caught naked after an unplanned shift. And she had, Cyrus thought, just saved his ass.
∞ ∞ ∞
Kendra rose to face the day. Was Cyrus the one? She couldn’t help but think so. The tiger she had shared her bed with was more than a dream. He was a flesh-and-blood reality with whom she might just share a bright future. And despite her desire not to dwell on the future so soon after meeting him, she couldn’t stop her human side from coming around to the idea. They would be perfect together—hey, they were perfect together.
Kendra checked the time. Even though she’d slept in, it wasn’t yet midday. Her body was still stiff from the night before. She wasn’t sure if it was the sex or the dancing, or both, but she felt like she’d been through the wringer. The dancing sure had gone well, though. One more night and she’d have enough to pay for her car repair. Given she wasn’t on until early in the evening, she wondered what she’d do with the rest of her day? Dream, no doubt. Dream about the glorious tiger shifter who had entered her life.
Kendra hopped in the shower, enjoying the hot water as it sprayed down over her. She knew that as soon as she toweled off, the sudden change in temperature would cool her down. Her heat would, of
“Clearly, Mr. White is not only a man of dubious character, but he’s been engaged in an extramarital affair,” opposing counsel said.
“Mr. White,” the judge said. “Can you explain these?”
Cyrus conferred with his attorney. There was no explaining away the fact that he was naked in the middle of the street. Not to a human judge at least. The day was suddenly looking a lot bleaker. What could he do? Cyrus decided to tell the truth.
“That lady was having a problem and I helped her out.”
“Naked?” the judge asked.
“Two men were bothering her. When I intervened, I lost my clothes.”
“And these two men, where are they now?” the judge asked, concern written all over her face.
“Gone, I would say.”
“And where were you, Mrs. White, when this occurred?”
“I was pulling out of the parking lot.”
“All right. Thank you, Mrs. White.”
His wife smiled. The judge seemed to be considering the situation. Oh, no, lay it on me, Cyrus thought. With my luck, I’ll be going to jail for indecent exposure. The judge studied the photos. Cyrus waited silently for the hammer to drop.
“This is, indeed, unfortunate, Mr. White. And it raises a whole host of questions.”
Cyrus sighed.
“But those questions aren’t relevant to the matter before us today.” The judge glanced at the photographs once more before putting them down.
“I strongly suggest you accept your husband’s more than fair offer, Mrs. White. Because if you choose to go to trial, you might wish you hadn’t.”
Cyrus wasn’t sure he had heard her correctly. Would the photos really not influence the judge’s decision? His wife conferred with her lawyer for a few seconds.
“We accept their offer,” opposing counsel said.
“Well then, I think we’re done here,” the judge said.
Really? Was it actually over? After all this time had she actually agreed? Was he about to be a free man? Why had the judge dismissed the photos? Sure, they weren’t evidence of an extramarital affair, but in terms of his character, there was no denying that, in the human world at least, they made him look like a freak.
Everybody rose from the table. “Bye,” Cyrus said to the judge, unsure how to address her. Surely a “thank you” was out of line, though that was exactly how he felt.
“Goodbye, Mr. White,” the judge said. And Cyrus thought he caught the slightest glow in the judge’s eye. That had to be it. He hadn’t scented her, but there was no mistaking that glow. The judge was a shifter. She understood the vagaries of being caught naked after an unplanned shift. And she had, Cyrus thought, just saved his ass.
∞ ∞ ∞
Kendra rose to face the day. Was Cyrus the one? She couldn’t help but think so. The tiger she had shared her bed with was more than a dream. He was a flesh-and-blood reality with whom she might just share a bright future. And despite her desire not to dwell on the future so soon after meeting him, she couldn’t stop her human side from coming around to the idea. They would be perfect together—hey, they were perfect together.
Kendra checked the time. Even though she’d slept in, it wasn’t yet midday. Her body was still stiff from the night before. She wasn’t sure if it was the sex or the dancing, or both, but she felt like she’d been through the wringer. The dancing sure had gone well, though. One more night and she’d have enough to pay for her car repair. Given she wasn’t on until early in the evening, she wondered what she’d do with the rest of her day? Dream, no doubt. Dream about the glorious tiger shifter who had entered her life.
Kendra hopped in the shower, enjoying the hot water as it sprayed down over her. She knew that as soon as she toweled off, the sudden change in temperature would cool her down. Her heat would, of
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