Safari Island Shifters: The Complete Collection(36)

Branch turned and saw a shy-looking redhead holding two beers. He got off the chair. “Sorry.”

“No problem.” She kept her eyes down as she put the beers down and took her seat.

“These are my friends Branch, Shane, and Brent,” Lily said. “Guys, this is Maura. She’s staying at Blue Sky Resort for the weekend.”

Branch couldn’t take his eyes off the stunning redhead. Her eyes were still hidden by her long lashes, but he was sure he saw a flash of pale green. Her island tan offset her freckles in the cutest way. She had a smallish chest but her bodacious hips more than made up for it. He managed to get a good look at her ass before she sat down and he was tempted to give it a little squeeze. The girl was gorgeous. Too bad she was married. Blue Sky was the honeymoon resort. It was super romantic and offered discounts to couples who also got married on island. That was it for his night. He wasn’t going to be able to find any girl prettier than her. It was going to be another night at Casa Dunkin.

“Blue Sky Resort?” Shane asked. “So your new husband let a pretty girl like you out for the night alone? He must be real trusting.”

“I don’t have a husband,” she said softly.

Branch almost did a gleeful dance. He was going to have to get her to relax first, but he was in business. He couldn’t believe his luck. “Where are you from?”

She looked up for the first time and met his eyes. They were a beautiful pale green with speckles of brown. “Elway, Florida.”

Branch put down his beer and looked at her more closely. “I’m from Elway.”

“You are? Did you go to Elway High?”

He thought back and tried to place Maura before answering. He had been a bit of a prick in high school. More than ten years removed from those days, he still cringed to remember how immature and cruel he’d been as a teen. He’d been on the football team and very popular, yet he’d gone out of his way to make people’s lives hell. At the time, he thought he was so funny but now he was embarrassed by his actions. He’d spent most of his ten year reunion apologizing. His old classmates had been very kind but he had never been ever to fully forgive himself.

Mercifully, he couldn’t remember ever saying anything mean to a pretty red-haired girl. Maura looked near his age but he didn’t remember any smoking hot redheads in his class or the years before or after his. He was drawing a total blank.

“I did. I’m coming up on my fifteen year reunion,” he said finally.

“It’s going to be my fifteenth year soon. I don’t think my class is going to do a whole meetup, though.”

“I think my class was the last to really be into it.” Branch was still trying to place her pretty face. He couldn’t believe that he would forget someone like her. She had to be young enough that they never have crossed paths at school.

“We didn’t even do a ten year, so I’m not holding my breath.”

“Whoa. It’s like a little town meetup here,” Shane said. “Did you guys know each other?”

“No,” Maura said quickly.

Branch shook his head. “I don’t think so. No reason we can’t get to know each other better now, though. You still in Elway?”

Maura nodded. “I am. My family is from the area, so it’s hard for me to move away.”

“I know how that is.” Branch finished his beer. “I’m buying a round of shots. And everyone’s drinking.”

Lily groaned. “Only one. You know what happened last time.”

“I love drunk Lily,” Brent said. “Never a dull moment with her around.”

“I have to work in the morning, so it’s only one,” Lily insisted.

“You too.” Branch put his arm around Maura’s shoulder. “A little present for my hometown honey.”

She smiled nervously. He didn’t know what was going on with her, but he needed to loosen her up. His elephant was as excited as his human side was. Now that he’d met her, she was never going to be able to forget about Maura. He didn’t care how long it took to convince her, she was going home with him tonight.





Three


“Are you sure?” Branch asked, pouting. “You’re on vacation. There’s no good reason for you to be going home this early.”

“I’m tired. It’s my first day on the island. There’ll be plenty of time to stay out late,” Maura said firmly. “I don’t want to miss the last bus back to the resort.”

Branch pulled her in for a tight hug. He pressed his entire body against her and whispered in her ear. “Well, then, reserve one of those late nights for me.”

Maura nodded and pulled herself from his grasp. “Sure. Thanks for the drinks. I had fun.”

“Come on. I’ll walk you to the bus.” Lily took Maura by the hand and led her out of the bar. “Sorry. Branch is a real ladies’ man. He’s not used to hearing no.”

Maura was having a hard time walking. She’d had way too much to drink thanks to Branch. All night, he’d kept the shots and margaritas coming, and she’d wanted to forget about John and have fun so badly that she’d kept drinking.

“I had a nice time.” Maura spoke slowly so she wouldn’t slur her words.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to ride with you to the hotel?” Lily asked, sounding a little worried. “It wouldn’t be a big deal at all.”