Secret Baby Lion: A BBW Lion-Shifter Romance (Shift Your Fate Book 2) by Cara Wylde Page B

up at Tristan to know he was studying her every move. “Damn shifter… Can’t do anything without him sneaking around and sniffing me out.” She locked the box with a small key which she then slipped inside the pocket of her jeans. She stood up, grabbed the box and stuffed it inside the kitchen cupboard. The rattle of tableware told anyone who was paying the slightest attention to their surroundings that wasn’t the place where the box usually stayed. She’d move it later, but now she had to deal with the two uninvited guests in her kitchen.
    “What can I do for you?” Camille turned around and finally took in the woman standing next to Tristan. Her mind went blank for a second, and her stomach and gut started doing wild tricks that made her thank the heavens she hadn’t had lunch yet. She was just Tristan’s type: tall, curvy, with full lips, and a healthy blush on her cheeks. Camille swallowed hard and tried to smile.
    Tristan gently placed his hand on the small of Liv’s back and pushed her forward.
    “I’d like you to meet Olivia Jensen,” he said. “She’s… a good friend.”
    The women shook hands.
    “I’m Camille. Nice to meet you.”
    “Olivia.” She squeezed the woman’s hand, and a chill ran up her spine. Her fingers were so bony and her skin so cold! It was as if Camille wasn’t entirely… alive. Of course, that was a stupid thought. Still, the girl’s slender body looked more like a shell. She could have been beautiful if she hadn’t been almost anorexic. Long, blonde hair, pale blue eyes, fair skin. A few years ago, Olivia would have given anything for those traits. Then she grew older and wiser, and learned to love herself.
    “I love your dress,” said Camille.
    Liv let go of the girl’s hand and tried to smooth down her blue dress. It was a mess, actually. Crumpled and a bit sweaty, as she hadn’t had anything else to wear.
    “Thank you.” She studied Camille quickly, in hopes she’d find something to compliment. Unfortunately, they had really taken her by surprise and found her wearing an old T-shirt and a plain pair of jeans.
    “Would you like to take a seat? I could offer you a glass of… something…”
    “No, thanks,” said Tristan. “Olivia must drive back to New York today. I showed her around a bit, introduced her to everyone.”
    Camille cocked an eyebrow. This was strange. This was really strange. Tristan never brought anyone home. She knew he dated lots of women, shifters and humans alike, but he had never brought a lioness home or, even worse, insisted that a human female met the members of his pride. Could she be… the one? Could she be his mate? The thought of it stabbed her right in the heart. She almost doubled back when she felt the blade of disappointment and hopelessness twisting and twisting. She fought to keep her back straight.
    “I’d love to have a glass of… something with you when I come back,” Olivia offered. She could tell Camille wasn’t overly enthusiastic about the situation, but she wasn’t sure why. She seemed different from all the other people she had met today. Frail, lonely, isolated. It was hard to understand how someone could feel lonely and isolated when belonging to such a tight, loving community, and Liv hoped she’d find out when they’d get the chance to chat a bit over coffee. For some reason, this girl stimulated her motherly instinct. Olivia wanted her to be safe and happy, just like she wanted Liam to be safe and happy.
    Butterflies started flapping their tiny wings inside Tristan’s stomach when he heard Liv intended to come back. Since the day before, he had been trying to come up with ways of convincing her to stay or return as soon as possible. Now he didn’t need to apply any of them.
    “Sure,” said Camille. “I’d love to. Stop by whenever you like.”
    “I will. Thank you.”
    They talked about meaningless things for a few more minutes, then Tristan asked Olivia if she was hungry. She was, indeed.