Read The Billionaire Jaguar's Curvy Journalist: BBW Panther Shifter Paranormal Romance for Free Online

wall.” She smirked. “Of course, you’ll have some explaining to do if you get lucky.”
    “I’ll cross that bridge if I get there,” he said, lifting his cup again. He liked this woman.
    “Customer’s always right,” she said, getting out of the chair and getting up. “You realize I have to charge extra if I’m going to sell the art right off the wall—which one did you want?”
    “The cat,” he said, “and that’s fine. How much? I might have enough cash.”
    “Cash sounds fantastic. The cat? That’s one of the bigger ones—four hundred sound all right? It’s professionally framed, right here in town, custom mat they did a great job.”
    “I’m sold,” he said. “Four hundred’s fine, and I’ve got it.” He pulled out his wallet and started counting out the cash.
    “She said you liked cats,” she said, taking the picture off the wall. “Cash works better anyway for the story. ‘This guy came in with a fat roll of—’wow, fifty-dollar bills. Nice.”
    “You’re right,” he said. “That is a good story. Pleasure doing business with you.”
    “Likewise,” she said, taking the money from the table and handing him the photo. “You have a great day, Mr. Larson.”
    “Paul,” he said. “Please. I’m not much on formality.”
    “Well, I hope I’ll see more of you, Paul.” She smiled. “I’m Tina.”
    “I’ll stop by again,” he said. “Good coffee. Do I take my cup up, or leave it here?”
    “I’ll get it,” she said. “You’re good to go whenever.”
    He drained his cup, got up, and walked the photo to the door—right as Abby walked through it. “Oh,” he said. “Um...nice to see you.”
    He heard Tina mutter “busted” under her breath.

7
     
    Paul Larson, billionaire corporate entrepreneur, looked like a little kid who’d just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He had something—he had one of Tina’s photos under his arm. The cat?
    “He made me do it,” Tina called out.
    “Do...do what?” What the hell had they been up to?
    Paul held up ‘Sunday Morning Catnap’ sheepishly. “I liked your picture.”
    “He didn’t realize it was yours,” Tina said. “I’m a witness.” She picked Dora’s empty plate off her table. Dora was ignoring all of them, lost in whatever she was reading this week. “He figured if he bought it from me it wouldn’t look like kissing ass.”
    “You two are a regular pair of secret agents,” Abby said. She looked at Paul. He looked...well, he looked great. He was wearing a collared dark green shirt, no jacket or tie, with dark tailored pants. Slacks, her grandmother would’ve said.
    “I don’t think I’ll quit my day job for a career in international espionage,” he said. “Have you filed that article yet?”
    “You’re in luck,” she said. “Just did. But are you sure you don’t want to see it before you get this whole ‘date’ thing set up?”
    “Hey, I asked even before I knew you were a great photographer,” he said. “And there’s this nice woman I met, real friendly, good cook—”
    “Oh, really?”
    “Yeah, and she says there’s a nice place right down the road. The Ram’s Head.”
    “Yeah, you can’t trust her,” she teased. “Got family there. You know these small towns. Nepotism.” Tina pretended to ignore her.
    “You dropped in for coffee?”
    “It’s kind of my treat for a job well done,” she said. She got to hang out with Tina and drink something delicious.
    “How ‘bout I get yours? I wouldn’t mind a second cup.”
    “I’ll fill you up,” Tina said. “You want your usual, Abby?”
    “Please,” she said. She deserved something sweet. Other than Paul. “You have raspberry?”
    “I do! You want one, Paul? They’re really good. On the house, since you’ve already been so generous.”
    “Sure,” he said. “Raspberry what?”
    “Turnovers,” she said. “With icing on top.”
    “That does sound good,” he said, sitting back down by what must have been his