Safari Island Shifters: The Complete Collection(38)

It had to be Maura. Lily had offered to go with her, but Maura had turned her down. Finn had no idea that what he’d done, but Branch was pretty sure Lily was going to be pissed when she found out. Clearly, she didn’t want Maura to have anything to do with him. Too bad. Branch was going to get to know the beautiful redhead a little better. It was more than a good time now. He was interested.

Branch rushed home after work and changed quickly. He put on a nice pair of slacks, a button-down shirt, and a blazer. He knew he looked great and there was no way Maura would turn him away. He caught a bus to one of the resorts and walked to the restaurant. It was another humid and hot day that had turned to a very warm night. Warm summer nights always put him in a good mood. There was an electricity in the air and it made him feel even more hopeful about the night.

He’d been to the dinner theater once before, and it hadn’t been fun. This time was a lot more promising. The restaurant was full, and all the guests were buzzing with excitement.

Branch walked to reception confidently. “Treble. I’m a little late and my lady is already seated.”

Thankfully the receptionist was a newbie and didn’t recognize him. “Right this way, Mr. Treble.”

Maura looked shocked when she saw him. He swooped in and kissed her on the cheek. “Hey, doll.”

“Looks like he made it after all,” the receptionist said to Maura. “Enjoy dinner, you two.”

“What are…What is…?” Maura couldn’t even get a full question out.

“I heard you were coming on your honeymoon dinner alone.” Branch put his arm around the back of her chair. “I thought you could use the company. I’ve never seen this show either.”

Maura swallowed. “A Broadway actress is here to perform tonight. This is way beneath her, but I heard that she’s dating the head chef.”

“Really?” Branch had seen Parker Travers out at Club Safari and there was always a beautiful girl on his arm. “I thought his girlfriend was a model. I met them once or twice, and she didn’t look like a Broadway singer.”

Maura showed him the program. “Jasminda.”

“That makes much more sense.” Branch laughed. “I never thought a chef would get so much play. He must have broken up with the model. Not so nice for the girl, but this is great for the island.”

Maura nodded. Her hands were shaking. It was so cute. “I’ve never seen a show like this before.”

“It’s pretty unique.” Branch put his hand over hers to she’d stop trembling. “A mermaid theme, I think. The website says that it’s the only one of its kind in the whole world. I doubt that, but it sure sounds nice. Looks like the advertising works. This place is packed.”

She nodded again and then stared at their hands.

The waitress came with their first course. Branch almost groaned. He’d forgotten that Parker was a vegan chef. It was going to be bird food for the night, and he hadn’t eaten before he left. He was going to have to suck it up for one night.

“This is pretty good,” Maura said. “I was worried about the whole vegan food made by a cheetah-shifter thing.”

“It is good,” Branch lied. It tasted like grass. He was sure it would all taste like grass. No matter. He’d eat all the grass on the island if it meant he could have one taste of Maura. “Do you like vegan food?”

“I’m a vegetarian but I haven’t ever tried to go full vegan. If all the food was this good, I would consider it.”

Branch nodded politely. Vegetarian. He loved meat. He wondered if his carnivorous ways would bother her. He would never be able to go vegetarian but he could probably do two meatless days a week. He was already eating ramen all the time, it wouldn’t be a big stretch to eat meatless pasta two nights a week.

Maura was much more relaxed now that the lights were dimming. She leaned back into his arm and kept her eyes trained on the musical. The second course came out as the music started. Branch had guessed right; it was a riff on The Little Mermaid. It wasn’t exactly the most romantic musical, but the lead actress was great. He was no expert, but the woman was head and shoulders better than any of the other performers.

“You ever been to Broadway?” he asked Maura at intermission. Their final course was coming out. Some kind of lentil and bean monstrosity.

“Never. I’ve wanted to go to New York for a while, but never got around to it.”

“You say it like you’re dead.” Branch chuckled. “If you want to go, just go. What’s stopping you?”

Maura looked at her fork. “Nothing, I guess. I didn’t want to go alone, and I couldn’t find anyone to go with.”

“I’d go,” Branch said.

“Really?” Maura looked at him.

“Yeah. I would.” He was mostly just saying what he thought would make her happy, but a part of him did want to go. Oddly enough, he wanted to take her. She’d sounded so sad when she said no one would go with her. It made him feel strange. He didn’t want to hear her talking like that. She was too nice to be that lonely.

She smiled. “Maybe one day.”

“Maybe next summer.”

“Sure.”

The show started again and their conversation was cut off. He was starting to hate the dinner-musical idea. You couldn’t talk about anything when you were watching a musical. That was why it was usually dinner and a movie. Not dinner during a movie.