Safari Island Shifters: The Complete Collection(48)

“Stop it, Mama. You’re embarrassing me.” Clementine Blue tried to look humble and demure. It wasn’t something she was used to, but it felt wrong to crow at the Walmart. She was out shopping with her mom and they’d come across her People cover. It wasn’t the first time they’d seen one of her magazines on the newsstand. Her Ma just went crazy seeing her on the national magazines.

“You can pretend to be humble all you want, Clementine Blue. I made you, and I’m as proud as a peacock. I always knew you were special, and I’m glad the world agrees with me.”

“I’ve got this.” A tall country boy stepped up to the register and gave the cashier money. He tipped his cowboy hat at Clem. “I can’t believe I been standing behind a celebrity this whole time. Congratulations.”

Clem tucked her hands into the pockets of her cutoff shorts. “Thank you. But I’m sure you don’t even know what I did.”

“I sure do,” the boy said. “You cooked. I watched an episode or two. The whole town’s seen it. You’re our first celebrity.”

“She sure is.” Bunny grabbed the case of beer off the counter. “Thanks, sugar.”

“You gonna be at the bar later tonight?” the boy asked.

“Maybe,” Clem called over her shoulder as she and Bunny left the store.

When they got outside, Bunny scolded her. “You are not meeting that boy anywhere.”

“He’s young enough to be my son around these parts,” Clem laughed. “I don’t even think he’s old enough to get into a bar.”

“You can go to the bar if you want, though,” Bunny said as they got into the car. “You don’t have to stay in drinking with your parents.”

“Not this again.”

“You’re never going to get married if you don’t put yourself out there.”

“I’m on the cover of a national publication. I don’t know how much more ‘out there’ I can get.”

“Speaking as your agent, you did good with the magazine cover. But that ain’t gonna get you a husband.”

“Have you heard anything since the magazine came out?” Clem changed the subject. She was sick of having the ‘get married’ conversation. She was fresh off a win on So You Think You Can Cook?. She’d won enough money to open her own restaurant, but she wanted to keep the money and work under a more experienced chef.

Clem knew she had the chops to plan a menu and cook incredible food. She just had no idea how the business side of it worked. She spent all her time perfecting her cooking and none on business. Opening her own restaurant seemed like a faraway goal. She’d never dreamed she would get the chance to do it so young. She didn’t want to screw it up before she even got started.

“I heard one that you might like,” Bunny said. “There’s a wedding coming up on Safari Island. It’s going to be covered by Modern Bride and all the rest of the big dogs.”

“I remember the first one ended with a kidnapping. I’m not sure I want to get mixed up in any of that.”

“That was a personal issue. Wasn’t related to the resort at all.”

“And then last summer they had that PFA thing. Remember? Someone almost got stabbed. That place is bad news.”

“It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It would be a nice way to get a foot in the door with them. They have chefs doing residences at their restaurants.”

“What, I’d go and cook for them?”

Bunny nodded as she turned onto their street. “Yup. You’d be head chef at one of the joints on the island. It would only be for a few months, but the pay is really good.”

“That could be my way to get my feet wet.”

“Exactly. It’d be like running your own place without any of the risk.”

“But I need to get invited first.”

“And if you do this wedding, you’ll be on their radar. It would be a great vacation, too. I’m sure you’re ready for a little R and R after all the media hoopla.”

“I could use a short break. This would be a working vacation, but I could go lie on the beach when I’m not cooking.”

“A wedding would only be a day or two of cooking. After you convince the bride and groom to use you, of course.”

“You mean I have to audition?”

“I guess you could say that. It sounds like the job is yours. The couple asked for you specifically. The couple could say no but I doubt it. Plus, they’ll pay for the whole thing. They’ll fly you out first class and you stay for free at one of the resorts.”

“Would you come with me?”

Bunny shook her head. “Daddy needs me to stay home for a few months. He was lonely with both of us out in Hollywood all that time.”

“As long as you find me an assistant, I’ll go.”

Clem could already feel the sand under her toes and the sun shining down on her bare skin. She was going to get an all-expenses-paid trip and her mama wasn’t coming. It was a miracle. She loved her ma, but they desperately needed a break from each other. Finding an assistant would be a breeze. Even if the bride and groom hated her, at least she’d get the free week-long vacation.

And the best part was, she wasn’t even going to have to think about men. She wouldn’t have to worry about dating or flirting or any of that since it was a working vacation. It was her lucky day. She couldn’t wait to book her flight.