Free ALIEN SHIFTER ROMANCE: Alien Tigers - The Complete Series (Alien Invasion Abduction Shapeshifter Romance) (Paranormal Science Fiction Fantasy Anthologies & Short reads) by Tanya Jolie Page B

question. It was like asking why the sun came up. “Because I can’t.”
    Bruce grasped both of her shoulders. “But you have to. You are putting yourself and everyone around you in danger. Do you realize that?”
    “So you can’t tell me a thing?”
    “It’s not my secret to tell.”
    Anita nodded, placing a hand on his cheek. She figured if she was soft with him, if she could make him feel comfortable, then he just might open up to her. As ridiculous as it sounded, she felt the need to open up to him.
    He flinched at first, but then seemed to melt into her touch.
    “You’re hurt.”
    He nodded. “Yes, I am.”
    “In more ways than one.”
    “In more ways than one.” He nodded, placing his hand on top of Anita’s. They were both tired of fighting: the world and each other.
    She sighed, glancing around her at his disheveled house when a thought came to mind. “Are you going to be alone tomorrow? For Thanksgiving?”
    He glowered at her, as if he didn’t understand what she had said before his face softened and he nodded. “Never mind that.”
    “No… You shouldn’t. Come with me.” the phrase sounded foreign once it was out of her mouth, but she couldn’t deny that thought of not having to spend Thanksgiving alone with her father lifted her spirits.
    “I couldn’t possible—” Bruce tried to dismiss her.
    “Yes, you can.” Anita clutched at his jacket with both of her hands. “Look, my father is a Supreme Court justice. You should meet him.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “I’m meeting your father?”
    Anita giggled. “It’s not like that,” she said, even though she hoped her words weren’t true.

Chapter Three
    Anita rang the doorbell of her childhood home as she stood on the porch of a house much farther outside of D.C. than she would have liked with Bruce, their relationship status listed as complicated, standing next to her. As she waited for her father to make his way to the door, she had to physically restrain herself, holding her hands together, to refrain from reaching out and grabbing his. Somehow, just having him standing there next to her wasn’t enough.
    Before she had time to cave into her more base desires, the door swung open and before her stood her father, Richard Rhodes, his tall frame towering over her, the gaze of his dark eyes diluted by the readers he wore to cover his face. He glanced at Bruce, his eyes narrowing as he examined him. “You’re the new ambassador, correct?” he asked as he extended a hand.
    Anita tried let the fact that he hadn’t so much as looked at her since he opened the door bother her.
    “Yes. Bruce Harrington, sir.” He shook Richard’s hand.
    Richard nodded, glancing at Anita, before turning and stepping back into his house.
    The two of them followed him inside and, as Anita turned to shut the door behind her, she took note of the scent of turkey baking, vegetables steaming, and sauces boiling. “Is Gabi hard at work?” she asked as she continued into the house.
    Richard just nodded at her. “You can go greet the woman if you want.”
    Anita set her jaw; his dismissive manner only made her want to disobey. So, instead of following his directions and breaking off into the kitchen, she said, “I don’t want to bother her. I can just join you in the study, if you want.” She could feel Bruce’s eyes on her.
    Richard narrowed his eyes at her. “I was going over some case files. You can’t look at any of them.”
    “I know,” she said in a strong voice.
    “So, what could you possibly want with my study?”
    “I don’t know, to spend time with you?” She had all but forgotten about Bruce’s presence for the time being.
    Richard released a sharp breath. “I invited you to dinner. I didn’t expect you to be early.”
    “Well, I’m sorry if my existence is an inconvenience.”
    “Don’t be dramatic.”
    At that, Bruce cut in, placing a hand on Anita’s arm. “It’s perfectly okay if he wants to get some work done. We could just