Twice The Growl (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance): A BBW in need of a date + Two hot Alphas looking for a mate = The hottest triad ever. (Paranormal Dating Agency Book 1) Read online

  Then there were the curves. In that prim black dress, she’d hidden what he could clearly tell was a gorgeous body. Wide at the hips and narrow at the waist, she was attention-grabbing. Her large breasts and round ass made his cock stand to attention. He licked his lips, savoring the lingering taste of her need.

  “I want her,” Connor growled softly.

  Theron nodded, feeling the same need for the tiny sexy woman. “Me too. We can wish.”

  Theron didn’t bother knocking. He listened to the steps of his aunt closing in on them. A few moments later and the door opened to his favorite person. Four feet eleven, and an absolute firecracker, Geraldine “Gerri” Wilder knew exactly how to make any man, no matter how old or tall, feel like a misbehaving kid.

  “Get your ass down here and give me a kiss.” Gerri slapped his arm. The move didn’t sting or hurt, but was her way of getting him to remember she was the adult as far as she was concerned. “You know I can’t reach your cheek unless I have the stepstool out.”

  “Sorry, Aunt Gerri.” He chuckled and bent down to kiss his aunt.

  Gerri tossed the white chunk of long hair she usually had falling at the side of her face back. The white strands contrasted with the rest of her black hair and gave the older woman an exotic flair.

  Gerri harrumphed. “Get your asses inside or I’ll have to find that stepstool.”

  Theron and Connor entered Gerri’s apartment and grinned. The scent of fresh baked bread, cake and cookies hit them. They loved when she baked, which was all the time.

  “You know I love you, Gerri,” Theron began.

  “Oh no you don’t.” She shoved them away from the kitchen toward the dining area. “You’ll have to eat dinner before I bring out the sweets. You know the rules.”

  Gerri didn’t care that they were both in their thirties or ready to be the Alpha triad for the Wildwoods Pack. Nope. She only cared that they behaved how she wanted. So they humored her. Besides, both of them loved her to bits.

  “How’s the mate hunting going?” Gerri asked as they sat down to dinner. The table had been set with large platters of food for the three of them. Being shifters meant large appetites and Gerri accommodated and indulged her nephew and his friend.

  The mate hunting was going poorly. With Theron, the Alpha, and Connor, the Omega, being the leaders of the Wildwoods Pack, it made it difficult to find a mate that could be shared between them. Either Theron couldn’t find a woman he wanted to help them lead due to her lack of personality, or Connor didn’t feel a woman’s emotions were in the right place to be their mate.

  “It’s not going anywhere,” Connor replied.

  Theron watched his best friend, the one person he shared everything with, including women, sigh in defeat. Their link as Alpha and Omega made them closer than twins, but it also made it difficult to find a woman right for them. Women in the Wildwoods Pack were petty, jealous, and not the kind either would choose to be the third puzzle piece of their Alpha triad. The woman they needed had to be...right. She needed to be open to, not just their relationship, but the link that would ensue between the three. She would be just as Alpha as Theron and just as emotionally empathic as Connor once their bond sealed.

  “If you two boys would stop being so hardheaded,” Gerri grumbled, passing the mountain of mashed potatoes to Connor. “Then it would be easier for this to happen.”

  Connor shook his head, his blond hair mussed from running his fingers through it. “She has to be right. A woman on her own. With a personality to match. Someone who won’t let the fact that we’re who we are intimidate her.”

  Theron grinned. “And she better be a stunner.”

  Gerri glared and curled her lip. “Of course, how could we forget that important bit?”

  “Hey.” Theron chuckled. “She has to agree with both our human and animal sides. That’s four degrees of approval.”

  Gerri’s dark brow lifted slowly. “Because you are such a discerning Alpha.” Then she turned to Connor. “I know you need to emotionally connect. But him?” She motioned a finger at Theron. “He’s a whore.”

  No. He wasn’t. Theron loved women. All shapes and sizes. Although he preferred the short, curvy kind with more than a little to hold on to. He really liked the glasses and long curly hair of Gerri’s neighbor. She reminded him of a sexy librarian or schoolteacher. There were also her lips. Christ those pouty lips had given him instant visuals of her mouth on his cock.

  “Anyway, we give up,” Connor said. “We want you to help us.”

  Gerri perked up in her seat. She glanced back and forth between them before speaking. “You’re both in agreement with this?”

  Not if Theron had his way. But if she could get them someone as sexy as her neighbor, they were all for it.

  “Yes, we are,” Theron agreed half-heartedly.

  Gerri’s gaze focused on him. “You will do whatever I say to get you the mate that’s right for you?”

  He hated having to revert to a dating service, even if it was a paranormal one.

  “Yes. I know all about the success of your dating service Aunt Gerri. I don’t like having to go through this to get the person that should come to us naturally.”

  Gerri shrugged, cut her steak and then grinned. “Sometimes you need an extra set of hands.” She giggled. “Well, in your case a third set.”

  His aunt was too much. Connor grinned. Then they were all chuckling.

  “Do you need like a list of things from us?” Theron asked. He already knew who he would suggest to her. Even if she wasn’t good mate material he’d love to get his hands on his aunt’s neighbor. Her scent had driven his wolf to wake and want to play.

  Gerri frowned. “Do I look like an amateur?”

  Connor’s blue eyes widened. “No, but...”

  “You will take what I suggest and you won’t question me. I know who you two need.”

  And that’s why Gerri was the one handling the Paranormal Dating Agency and they handled the pack.

  “If you’re sure you don’t need anything from us, then we’re open to whoever you have in mind,” Theron stated for them.

  They’d discussed it. Sharing a woman wasn’t uncomfortable for them. Due to their connection, it was easier to bond with a third. Though they were not blood related, the animal spirit link between them was so strong, it was almost like they were one entity. Theron was the Alpha that fought and kept people in line. Connor was the emotional rope that united the pack. He took the brunt of the pain, frustrations and turned it all into soothing peace. Together they made the Alpha pair. Once they had their mate they’d be the Alpha triad.

  With the meal over, they moved to the living room. That’s when Gerri finally let them have cake. Theron didn’t even attempt to hide his love for his aunt’s baked goods. Gerri was amazing when she baked.

  “We should take you to live with us, Aunt Gerri,” Theron mumbled between cake bites.

  “I don’t think so. I have a business to run.” She grinned and sat back on her comfy sofa with a smile. “But you are both welcome to visit me whenever you want.”

  “So...” Connor glanced at him. His worried look told Theron he needed reassurance regarding the mate business. They both knew women in the pack would make life difficult for whatever female they chose if she wasn’t part of the Wildwoods Pack.

  “Connor, darling.” Gerri leaned forward and patted his knee. “Stop stressing so much. The right woman will come for you.” She turned to Theron. “I do need to make sure you both will do what I say. It won’t be as simple as you might expect. It’s not like I’ll find your mate in the blink of an eye.”

  Theron’s animal went on alert. He worried that putting their faith on a dating service would be another failure in their search for a mate.

  “We understand.”

  “Alright.” Gerri nodded sharply. “Be ready for a possible date soon. It might be a little out of the ordinary, but I think it will work out for you boys.”

  Theron glanced down at
the delicious cake, no longer hungry. Figured that anything to do with a mate would be a new challenge. They hadn’t realized how much of a challenge it would be.

  When Theron’s parents and their third passed in a forest fire, he hadn’t fully understood the difficulty of being part of the Alpha triad. He only knew that his parents expected it of him and he would do whatever was necessary to keep the reins on his pack. Even if it meant going outside the pack to find their third.

  * * *

  Tally had already changed into her pajamas when Mrs. Wilder sent her a text to come for some cake. The scent of the woman’s baking had filled Tally’s apartment and made her crave sweets like she was looking for a high.

  She didn’t have to knock, Gerri opened the door before she even got to it. “Hi, Mrs. Wilder.”

  Gerri rolled her eyes and motioned her into her apartment. “I’ve told you that Mrs. Wilder makes me feel old. And I am not that old.”

  Tally grinned at the older woman’s pout. She sat down on one of Gerri’s pretty beige sofas. The cake was already served and sitting on the coffee table, along with some tea.

  “Thank you so much, Gerri.” Tally didn’t worry about eating sweets late at night. She was too stressed to think about her body. Besides, she was comfortable in her skin, for the most part. Unless really sexy men stared at her the way the two in the elevator had. Like she was a feast and they were starving. That definitely made her wonder if she was missing something when it came to her body. Some kind of image she wasn’t aware of. Men didn’t usually go out of their way to smile at her like the two had that day.

  “You’re very welcome.” Gerri sat across from her and picked up the notepad next to the cake at her side. “So, I’ve been thinking about your message.”

  Tally knew she should have worded it better, but she couldn’t. The truth was, she needed help. “The ‘I need your help before I look like a loser in front of my family’ one?”

  Gerri’s lips twitched and curved into a full blown smile. “You won’t look like a loser.” She waved a blue pen in Tally’s direction. “You have me now. I would never allow it.”

  Tally thought of her ex and her family members. They were all so close. She’d always felt like the outsider in her own family because of Paul. Nita was the only one who knew her side and believed her. Everyone else had been taken in with Paul’s slick game. He knew how to work people into believing whatever he wanted. For a while, she’d been one of the people fully invested in him. Then one day, the blinders came off.

  “Did you come up with anything?” Tally asked. A sliver of nerves made her hand shake. She hated being so up in the air. She couldn’t not go to the damn wedding. Paul had broken her off from the group and made it seem she was the one who had destroyed the relationship with Paul instead of him with his lies.

  She had nothing to hide. So why should she be the one not attending. Fuck Paul. And the rest of the family if they felt she was at fault over a relationship too fucked up to work. She’d be damned if she let them push her away. If she didn’t go it would be her choice. Not their opinions that would do it.

  “I did.” Gerri considered her for a long moment.

  “Okay...”

  “I have some questions for you first.” Gerri glanced down at her notebook.

  Tally picked up her tea and took a gulp.

  “Have you ever had a ménage?”

  She choked on the tea she had in her mouth. Gerri passed her a napkin without batting an eye, as if used to that kind of reaction.

  “Excuse me?” She coughed.

  “Honey, you do know what a ménage is, right?” Gerri’s features crinkled in concern.

  “Yes, I do. And no, I have never had a ménage.”

  What the hell did that have to do with getting her a date for a wedding from hell?

  “Would you be averse to one?” Gerri shook her head. “Wait, that’s wrong.”

  Thank goodness she’d realized it was wrong to be asking her things like that.

  “I mean, would you ever allow yourself to be involved with two men at once?”

  She blinked. Her mouth hung open with surprise. She couldn’t even find a way to tell her that it wasn’t any of her business. Obviously asking the older woman for help had been a bad idea.

  “Gerri.” She put the cup down, ready to stand. “I really don’t think—”

  Gerri gave her a look that shut her up. “If there were two men that could give you the most amazing sex of your life, would you do it?”

  Well, when she put it like that.

  “Um.” She bit her lip. “Together?”

  “Yes, together.”

  “Are they going to do stuff to each other or only to me?”

  Gerri gave a tired sigh. “No, darling. It’s all about you.”

  “Hey, I don’t know much about this stuff or how it works,” she said, a little irritated that Gerri looked at her like she was a woman having sex for the first time. She’d had sex, dammit. She hadn’t had any amazing sex. She’d had lots of crappy sex for sure.

  “I’m sorry, Tally. I don’t mean to put you on the defensive. There are ménages that involve men and women all getting involved with each other. I want to know your preferences.”

  “I wouldn’t be averse to trying. I mean, I’m not a damn virgin but I’m not stuck in the old ages either. I’m not the most adventurous woman out there,” she admitted. “Two good-looking men? Giving me great sex? That is kind of a no-brainer.”

  Gerri chuckled. “Smart woman.”

  She leaned forward, trying to see what the hell was on the notepad. “What does this have to do with my date?”

  “Nothing. Merely curious.” She shrugged. “We have so many handsome men in my system. Care to describe how you like yours? Are you more into businessmen with kind eyes and wicked smiles or do you prefer hot bikers with tattoos and ass-hugging jeans?”

  “Shit. If I could get those two rolled into one, I would be the happiest woman in the world.” She sighed.

  Gerri had described the two men from earlier. The image of the two men pleasing her in all kinds of ways sent her temperature skyrocketing.

  “Got someone in mind already?” Gerri’s eyes went wide for the first time. “You do!”

  She shook her head in denial, heat crowding her cheeks. “I remembered your guests from earlier. Those guys were sinfully sexy.”

  A slow, predatory grin slid over Gerri’s lips. “My nephew and his friend. Yes, they are very handsome boys.”

  More like hot as hell with a side of scorching, but handsome worked too.

  “How’s your luck been with men?” Gerri asked.

  She didn’t bother lying. “The pits. All I meet are jerks or rejects from the weirdest date club.”

  “Really? But you’re such a pretty girl,” Gerri mused.

  “Come on, Gerri.” She twisted her lips into an unhappy smile. “I know I’m not bad looking, but my hair is too curly, I have too many curves and my attitude apparently needs some sweetening was what my last two dates told me.” She clenched her teeth hard. “They also said I shouldn’t have such high expectations because looks aren’t everything,” she grumbled, folding her arms over her chest. “This because I mentioned to one guy that his profile photo was not him.”

  “Oh?” Interest sounded in Gerri’s voice.

  “He used a photo of a very good-looking man. A man he looked nothing like.” She frowned, growing angry all over again over that episode. “Apparently the photo was of a British actor. My date said he was always told he looked like that actor so he didn’t see the need to post his own photo when that would do.”

  “But he doesn’t look like the actor?”

  She bit her lip to keep from growling. “No. The actor had hair. My date didn’t. The actor was fit. My date looked like a slob. His sweats had stains on them. And...” She scrunched her nose. “He had really yellow teeth.”

  “Wow,” Gerri said. “That sounds like a terrible date.”

 
“It gets worse.” She glanced down at her plate covered with smudges of icing. “He took me to have coffee and I ended up having to pay for him because he ‘forgot’ his wallet.”

  “Oh, you poor girl.” Gerri gasped, horror visible over her features.

  “I have at least one hundred other stories like that. Dating sucks and I won’t do it anymore. But I need someone to come to my family wedding and I want the man to be the hottest you can find. Even if I never see him again,” she said hopefully. “I want everyone to shut their mouths about my dating life already. So, can you help?”

  Gerri nodded. “Yes, I believe I can.”

  “The hotter the man, the better. I want tongues to wag.”

  Gerri’s giggles filled the apartment. “My dear, you are most definitely my kind of client. I have exactly what you need.”

  “Good.” She stood. “I’ll need him for my first event, the bridal shower, in a week. Have him show up at the restaurant. I don’t have time to come home. I have a long day and we’ll have to meet there.” She headed for the door with Gerri by her side. “I trust your instinct. So whoever you pick for this I’m okay with.”

  Gerri grinned. “I’m glad. You’ll have an open mind though, right?”

  She had the biggest open mind. Shit. She was letting an elderly friend find her a man for a wedding. If that wasn’t crazy she didn’t know what was.

  “Yes, I’ll have an open mind.” She stopped at the door. “Make sure he has hair, nice teeth and clean clothes. Other than that, I can probably let everything else slide.”

  “Can do,” Gerri promised. “Don’t worry. Your dream date will come true.”

  She laughed. “I’ll settle for a nice guy. One who won’t expect me to put up with body odor.”

  “Trust me, nothing like that here.”

  She nodded and waved as she headed for her side of the floor. “Good night, Gerri.”

  “Good night, Tally. Have faith. It will all work out.”

  Easier said than done.

  THREE