Chapter Two

River Thomas

“What?” I nearly shout when my boss informs me I am being transferred. “Why?”

“I need someone a little more experienced for the new customer I acquired, and the boss man has agreed this would be the best solution.”

“So, I’m going to be working for Carter Lawson directly?”

“Yes. But a word of warnin g— he is a lot more formal than our department.”

“Don’t care,” I reply as I scramble to gather my things. “Thanks, Mr. Horton.” I smile as I hurry my ass out of the shared office and over to the elevator.

This is exactly what I need. A brand-new start.

I took Devon’s advice and filled out the dating application form, just like we both knew I would. It was a little different from the forms I have seen before but that didn’t matter. I filled that sucker out and hit “send” before I could second-guess myself. Now, I have a new, more prestigious job and I finally got rid of my deadbeat boyfriend. For a Monday, this day is going fantastic.

Hitting the button for the top floor, I smile to myself as I wait for the elevator to carry me toward newer and better things.

Exiting the elevator, I turn left and walk right into a mountain of solid muscle and fall flat on my ass. My gaze travels from expensive shoes, over a tailor-made suit, up thick thighs to a broad chest, and on to a scowling face.

Shit.

If he didn’t look at me like something stuck to the bottom of his shoe, I might think he was attractive. His hand reaches down to help me up.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

“Miss Thomas, I assume,” his deep voice washes over me.

“River.”

“I am Mr. Lawson.” He turns and walks down the corridor clearly expecting me to follow.

Usually, something like that would grate at my nerves but I simply scamper along after him. This man puts off alpha energy like he took a bath in it. I can’t help myself. Looking around I notice this floor doesn’t have a single Christmas ornament even though the entire building, including the elevator, has been decorated.

“Here is your desk,” he says and gestures to the left side. “Unless I buzz you, I am not to be interrupted.”

“Ever?” I ask.

“Never.” Then he strides away from me and closes the door to his office.

Well, that was … weird? Interesting? I don’t know how to describe that interaction. The man has a magnetism that would turn the head of every female, but his personality may need a little work.

Instead of thinking too hard about that, I take my seat and get everything ready for whenever my new boss calls on me. I boot up the computer on the desk and log in with all my credentials before checking my emails.

My phone pings in my handbag and I pull it out. A match on Love n Shenanigans. That was fast.

I take a long look at the closed door to Mr. Lawson’s office. Fuck it. I can’t wait until I’m home to check this. I need to do it now. Opening the app, I find a notification with a short message I quickly click on.

Congratulations! We have selected a match for you based on your specified criteria. Below is all the information required to assist you in making a decision on whether to proceed or decline this match. For your protection as well as that of your match, we keep your identity private.

Happy Dating

The is a link below the message that leads me to the profile my match created. I contemplate waiting until I get home to view it, but I have never been known for my patience. Also, I am curious as hell right now, so I open the link.

Potential Match Profile

According to the profile you completed when signing up with HelpMate.com, we have selected the best match for you. For your safety and those of other members, all names are hidden. If you choose to disclose any information, including your name, this is at your own risk.

Basic Information

Name: ****** *****

Screen Name: Boss9090

Age: Thirty-five

Species: Tiger

Job Description: Business Owner

Marital Status: Single

Dependants: None

Describe yourself using ten words or less: Attentive, Considerate, Demanding, Professional, Hard Working

Person who referred you: The Owner, Faith Konnors

Additional Information

Sexual Designation: Male

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

Are you willing to date outside your species? I would prefer to date within my species but as long as the other person is not a human or a smaller shifter, I might be convinced.

Hobbies: I don’t have many. But I do like boating and fishing on the odd occasion.

Do you have any kinks you would like taken into consideration? I have experience with most things and if I find something I haven’t done yet I am always open to new experiences. I am a very dominant person in and out of bed and that should be made clear.

Please describe your perfect partner/partners: I need someone who is strong physically but not afraid to show vulnerability. The person should be able to follow directions. I won’t tolerate a brat.

Additional Notes

As stated before, I would like to be matched to a physically strong shifter. I also need someone that knows the value of discretion.

I smile as I reread the profile a second time. This is exactly what I need. This Monday couldn’t get any better. I fire off an in-application message and hope my match responds sooner than later.

The intercom on my desk goes off and I hurry to answer it, blushing deeply from the guilt of being caught goofing off at work. I know he didn’t see me, but it feels like he had a sixth sense about what I was doing and is going to call me out on it.

“Yes, Mr. Lawson,” I say too cheerfully.

“Bring a notepad. I need you to sit in on this call.”

He disconnects without saying anything else. Asshole. I quickly grab my tablet and stylus before heading to his office. After knocking I let myself in.

Carter is seated behind an exquisite desk with the most beautiful view of the island just outside his window. I wouldn’t be able to get a single thing done if I had a view like that. No wonder he faces the other way.

He scowls at me before directing me to a chair in front of his desk.

“Continue,” he says.

A voice with a French accent floats from the speaker of his telephone and I get to work taking notes and trying not to steal glances at my unnecessarily hot boss.

****

Carter Lawson

The moment I laid eyes on her I knew she was going to be a problem. I could see exactly what Horton was complaining about. She may be dressed in perfectly acceptable work attire, except for those damn heels, and there is no cleavage or some such on display but that doesn’t make her any less sexy. Her curves are visible even with the pantsuit she is wearing. No amount of clothing could hide the way her body looks. Full breasts, wide hips, and thick thighs.

I lick my lips just thinking of River sitting in the reception area of my floor. I could scent the fact that she was a shifter the moment we collided in the hallway. She has the air of a predator, a meat eater. It’s easy to see the way she moves and how she carries herself. She knows she is at the top of the food chain and that confidence simply adds to her appeal.

Sadly, she is an employee, and short of firing her first I could never lay a hand on her. And I may be a massive asshole but I won’t fire a young woman only to get her into my bed.

The ringing of my direct line pulls me from my thoughts, and I glare at the offensive item.

“What?” I ask harshly.

“Carter, my friend,” Pierre White says in return. “As friendly as always.”

Already his French accent grates on my nerves and I consider hanging up on him, but I know I can’t. He is my business partner, after all, and we need to have our weekly meeting.

“Hold on.”

I put him on hold and summon River to my office via the intercom. She needs to sit in on this meeting and take notes. When she enters my office, I can feel my scowl deepen as my cock strains against my slacks. She really is a sight to behold.

Ignoring my erection, I indicate which seat she should take before continuing with Thomas.

****

In all my years as the head of Titan Industries, a meeting has never felt like it lasted forever, and I work with some of the most boring people in the world. The truth is, I had to constantly stop myself from openly staring at my stunning assistant. She is an absolute distraction and all I could think of was stripping her down and mounting her over my desk.

My cock still hasn’t gone down and she left ten minutes ago. I wonder if I should take myself in hand just to take the edge off, but a notification sounds on my laptop, drawing my attention.

It takes me a moment to figure out what the noise was and when I reopen the minimized window, I see that the Love n Shenanigans website has found a match for me.

It has only been two weeks since Faith Konnors floated into my office and demanded I manage her fortune. Little did I know that little hippie woman was worth more than any of the other accounts I have.

She piqued my interest and after we finished sorting her finances, I finally asked how she had amassed her wealth. Being told it was through a dating site had me laughing at first but curious afterward. And that’s how I ended up filling out a profile.

Now, after two weeks, I finally have a match. Nervously, I read through the application twice. The fact that this woman is a Liger shifter counts to her advantage. What I don’t like is the fact that she hasn’t done anything remotely kinky in her life. Down to my bones, I am a kinky man. There are no two ways about it.

My finger hovers over the mouse pad, ready to dismiss the match, when a message pops up.

Girl9651: Hi. Not exactly sure how to do this. I’ve never used one of these sites. I would love to chat. Let me know.

My mind runs a mile a minute. Perhaps her inexperience with kink is a blessing in disguise. She doesn’t have any bad habits that I need to reteach. Everything else about her profile is exactly what I want in a sexual and life partner. Without taking time to work through my pro and con list again, I answer her message.

Boss9090: Hello. To be honest, this is my first time on a dating site as well. I was just about to give up hope.

Girl9651: I’m glad you didn’t.

Boss9090: It may be a little soon to decide if you mean that.

Girl9651: I am having the best Monday of my entire life. This is meant to be.

Boss9090: Are you one of those?

Girl9651: One of what?

Boss9090: Those people that believe in fate and soulmates.

Girl9651: Not at all. I do believe there are people more compatible with others.

Boss9090: And if I am not one of those people?

Ligress: Then I had a conversation. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and all that.

I chuckle at the sentiment. I could be wasting five minutes talking to a random stranger and then calling it quits or we could get to know one another. Who knows.

Boss9090: Why are you on this site?

Ligress: I just got out of a relationship. I need something new in my life.

Boss9090: Already looking for the next guy to tie down?

It’s a dickhead thing to say but I don’t have time for games.

Ligress: Not at all. I am tired of being down. But I wouldn’t say no to a night or two of fun.

Jesus. I wasn’t expecting her to be so upfront about it. I generally prefer women who let me take the lead but for some reason find it refreshing that she is the pursuer at this moment.

Boss9090: Tell me what exactly you want and maybe I can help you out.

For five long minutes, she doesn’t reply, and I fear I might have scared her off. I may have started out unsure about the match or even talking to her, but I find the longer it takes her to reply the antsier I get.

Girl9651: Sorry. I’m at work. And that is the most loaded question I have ever heard. If I answer that here, at my desk, and my very unfriendly boss finds out, I will probably end up fired.

Boss9090: Wouldn’t want that. What time do you get off?

Girl9651: Should be home by six.

Boss9090: I’ll talk to you then.

I can’t believe I’ve set a chat date with this woman. I know nothing about her. What I should do is get my private investigator to try and find out who she is and make sure this isn’t some kind of trap or scam. But that doesn’t feel right. Like I would be cheating. Faith Konnors assured me that her dating site works if everyone trusts the process.

Instead of calling in my PI or letting my mind wander back to our conversation, I close the site down. I need to get some work done. Between the Love n Shenanigans website and my distracting new assistant, I haven’t gotten shit done, and it’s already after noon.

Well, the upside is that it’s only five more hours before I can chat with my match again.

****

It’s almost half past five when a knock sounds on my office door.

“Come in.”

I assumed my assistant had already left for the day but find myself proven wrong when she pushes open my office door.

“I know you said not to disturb you,” she says demurely. “I just wanted to make sure you don’t need anything else before I leave for the day.”

I stare at her in dismay. Our business hours are from nine to four. I fully believe that overworked staff cause problems.

“Do you know our business hours?” I ask.

“Yes, sir,” she says and diverts her gaze to her feet for a moment. “But I didn’t want to leave without speaking to you first and I was still busy in the copy room.”

She has a brilliant submissive streak to her. It’s rare to find it in predatory shifters and that only makes it all the more exquisite.

“You may leave for the day,” I say looking away from her. She is beyond off-limits to me, so I need to stop thinking of her in any other way. “And don’t stay late again,” I chastise. “It lowers efficiency and productivity. There is always tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir,” River says before leaving and closing the door behind her.

She is going to be a problem in the future. I will have to find a different position for her as far away from me as possible. But I can’t just pass her off to the next person, I need to figure out if she is competent first.

Opening a blank document on my laptop, I draw up a list of projects for her to complete in the next few days. It’s almost Christmas, after all, and perhaps I can gift someone a brand-new assistant. Even if the thought of her working for anyone else makes my tiger uncomfortable.