Free Liars and Tigers by Breanna Hayse

that
very pleasant."
    "Well, you haven't been
a total ass lately. It makes you tolerable to be around. Don't push your luck
though," Misha snipped at his boyish smile. "Do you think flashing
that dimple will make me succumb to your charms, Mr. Hodges?"
    "One can only hope,
Miss Miller. Do you swim? I've never seen you even stick your toe in the
water."
    "Yes, I can swim. I
just prefer not to."
    "Well, one of these
days I'm going to get you into that pool and see how a wet cat reacts to cold
water," Alex teased.
    "Try it, and you'll get
scratched. I don't do pools, and I don't do bathing suits. I've told you I am
extremely modest and don't like to expose myself."
    Alex raised his eyebrow at
her statement. It dawned on him that she had very little in the way of a
wardrobe, so perhaps it wasn't just her absurd modesty, but the fact that she
didn't own a bathing suit.
    "I need a new suit
anyway," he mentioned, picking at the navy blue trunks he wore. "This
one is just plain ugly. Maybe we can hit the store later. Come with me and help
me pick one out, and I'll buy you a new one too."
    "I'm not wearing a
bathing suit, Alex. Ever. You know why now. End of story."
    "You don't have to…"
    Misha rolled her eyes.
"I'm not skinny dipping either. What is it with men? You are like a dog
with a bone. Let it go, please, I am not comfortable with anyone looking at my
body."
    "One day you might meet
someone and…"
    "When that happens then
he, and only he, can see me naked. Oh, look! Rodin is getting brave."
    Alex chuckled as Misha
successfully changed the subject. He could be patient if he wished to be, and
he knew that this girl was well worth the wait. She was like her rescued cats,
skittish and gun-shy, and needed a lot of time and patience to help her learn
to trust. He wished he knew more about her, and the reason why she was so
defensive. Jack knew most of it, but refused to share her story with him. Alex
sighed. One day, she would open up and share her heart.
    Together, they watched the
cub inch his way into the pool, first resting his front paws on the step with
his back end remaining dry. Gingerly, he introduced his left rear paw to the
water, paused, and then brought his right foot down to the step.
    "I don't think Kena's
too happy about her kitty," Misha giggled, as the dog rumbled a warning
growl. Rodin ignored her, walking across the steps and crawling over the
mastiff's back. In one smooth motion, he was in the pool. Kena jumped to her feet,
barking frantically at the splashing cub.
    "I'll get him,"
Alex sighed.
    "He's fine. Bengals are
made for the water. Let him learn how to swim," Misha reassured him.
      Alex just shook his head and dove into
the pool, making sure he drenched Misha in the process. Rodin followed him as
he swam laps, and then crawled into his arms when he stood in the shallow end.
The tiger cub purred loudly, licking the water off his chin with a rough
tongue.
    "You're getting too big
to carry for much longer, kitty," Alex said, cradling the cub
affectionately before handing him over to a very wet and annoyed Misha. "I
think he's hit the fifteen pound mark. I'm just glad he hasn't decided to make
my fingers part of his diet. Those little piranha teeth are sharp as
hell."
    "I can't believe you
got me wet, you jerk."
    "You needed some
cooling off," he said, wiping his face with a towel. He watched as Misha
flipped the cub onto his back and rubbed the furry tummy. "You know you
won't be able to do that for much longer, honey."
    "Yeah, I know. I gotta
enjoy it while I can, right?"
    Alex watched her, his heart
aching. She needed to remember the cub was not a pet and would have to be
introduced to a habitat as soon as he was old enough to fend for himself. Right
now, though, Alex did not have the heart to break Misha's delight. His new
roommate was quite a challenge to get to know, surprising him on occasion with
a few tidbits of information about herself, which he was quick to jump onto.
Like her weakness for