Free Claimed By The Lion: A BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance Standalone (BBW Romance, BBW Shifter Romance, BBW Paranormal Romance, Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) by Laura Sexton Page B

stay,” he said wearily. “My secretary is on maternity leave for another month, so I do need someone. Do you have any experience being a secretary?”
    “I do! I was a secretary all through high school and college,” she grinned, wiping her tears and jumping up to hug him. He pulled away before she could wrap her arms around him. “I swear I won’t disappoint!”
    “You can stay in the servants’ quarters out back. We haven’t had anyone living there for years - you know, since that kind of went out of style. After a month, you’re going to have to find something else to do, do you understand?”
    She nodded, attempting to hug him again, but not succeeding. “You don’t know how much this means to me. Will you… will you tell me your name now?”
    “I’m Dr. Jackson Leo. I have been working on cancer research, creating new limbs and organs, things like that. You can help me with appointments, calls, etc. I’m mostly working on funding right now, being the face of the company and all.”
    “It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Leo.”
    “Here,” he handed her a bundle of paperwork, “these people need to be called today to set up meetings. I have designated times and dates when it would be good. Here is my scheduling book if those days and times do not work. I need to do some dictation before I go into the office in an hour. All right?”
    “Understood.”
    “Great.” He got up and walked into some other room she hadn’t investigated before.
    She sat down on the couch, completely relaxed for the first time in a few weeks. This job wouldn’t be so bad, she thought. Especially if she just got to look at her boss everyday. He wasn’t especially kind or warm or even in any way likable, but he didn’t talk much so his looks could do all the talking.
    In the other room, Jackson collapsed into his office chair. He had been so relaxed in the past few weeks since finally figuring out how to survive without his secretary. Everything had been going so well. Now he had to take in some wounded soul and let her live in the guesthouse. He had to admit, the girl did seem pretty (although he couldn’t exactly tell with all the bruises.) He somewhat wondered how she had gotten so beaten up, but then again he felt it was better to have some secrets between them.
    He certainly didn’t want to tell her his.

 
    III.
     
    Jackson kept a good eye on Juliet’s health through the coming days, just in case there was some internal injury he missed - he did hit her with his car, after all. She seemed fine though and took to the work with fervor. He appreciated her zeal, but it made him feel slightly guilty because he’d have to fire her when his real secretary returned. His real secretary was his sister-in-law, and that just wouldn’t do to fire her .
    Juliet, on the other hand, noticed every day how well her bruises were healing and how she was starting to finally look normal. She didn’t get any second glances from her new boss, and he didn’t seem to be softening any, but she hoped if she worked really hard, he might let her keep the job. He hadn’t made any promises of that kind, but she desperately wished he’d let her stay. She didn’t have anywhere else to go.
    Plus, the work interested her. Juliet herself had majored in Molecular Biology in school, so it all seemed very new. After graduating, her step-father offered her a job at his company for a year so she could take a break before grad school, but that didn’t end up working out. Now she just had a degree she couldn’t really use without more education. She’d wanted to be a doctor, but a doctor’s secretary seemed fine too. It might give her some hands-on knowledge she didn’t have before.
    After about a week, Juliet felt completely rejuvenized. During the weekend, Jackson mostly ignored her, staying out of the house or in his own room. He suggested she get out and do something on her own, but even he could tell she was too fearful to leave. He still