Safari Island Shifters: The Complete Collection(62)

She opened her eyes and looked around. She was on a couch with a blanket draped over her. The room wasn’t familiar.

She knew she was on Safari Island and she had gone to a bar the night before. Everything past that began to get blurry. She looked at her phone as her stomach clenched painfully. Shoot! It was already ten in the morning.

“You’re awake.” A very handsome man came into the living room with a pan in his hand. “How do you like your eggs?”

“Bathroom?”

He pointed. “Down that hall.”

What could have been a very nice morning turned into a nightmare as she jumped off the couch and ran. She made it to the bathroom just in time.

She sat on the cool tile with her head close to the toilet for what felt like an eternity. For a bachelor’s bathroom, it was very clean. Cleaner than her bathroom back home, even. That was nice. She had only been sick like this once before, and that was at frat house. That had been a disgusting enough experience to scare her off drinking to excess ever again.

Well, that and the unfortunate effect alcohol had on her behavior. Had she been sober, that hottie would have been a very welcome sight in the morning. Whoever he was, he was damn good-looking and probably a nice guy. He cooked and kept a clean house? Already head and shoulders above the guys she’d been dating lately.

Not that it mattered. She would never see him again. He lived on Safari Island, and she was throwing up in his bathroom. Not exactly a meet cute.

Screw Mitch. This was all his fault. Her boss had given her a big talking-to last night when they’d arrived on the island. They were there to interview some PR guy for their big TV special. Joan had wanted to include some information about park security and the cost of the extravagant weddings the company put on, but Mitch had told her that wasn’t the point of the special. This wasn’t hard-hitting reporting. They were a travel magazine, so they would focus on all the new attractions. People weren’t interested in the stuff she wanted to cover.

It really pissed her off. She knew she should be grateful for her internship, but she really wanted to be doing more. When she’d earned her masters in journalism, she’d thought she would have more freedom with the new degree. So far, it hadn’t counted for much. She’d taken the extremely low-paying internship because it would give her experience. She did want to be a travel reporter, but more like Anthony Bourdain. She wanted to talk about more than just the pretty stuff.

After talking with Mitch, she’d been so annoyed, she’d gone out drinking. And now here she was with her head in a toilet, with a hot guy making her breakfast that she couldn’t possibly eat. Plus, she was already late for her pre-interview with the Gallows. She was supposed to meet them at their island home at ten, and it was now ten-twenty. She was going to look so unprofessional. If she didn’t show up soon, they might even tell Mitch about it.

When she was sure her stomach was all the way empty, she looked around for toothpaste. She put some on her finger and ran it around her mouth and then used Mr. Hottie’s mouthwash. Finally, she pulled her hair back into a ponytail and wiped off her smudged eyeliner. Not great, but presentable. There was no time to go back to her hotel and change, so she’d be wearing a halter top and jeans to the interview. At least she didn’t smell like beer or cigarettes.

She borrowed some of the man’s deodorant and surveyed herself once more. Not so bad. It was a small miracle she’d decided to drink in Safari Town last night and not at the club with her crew. The Gallows were only a short walk away. But first she had to figure out exactly where she was and make her awkward exit from the house.

Joan went back to the living room where the hot guy was sitting on the couch. He stood up as she came into the room. “Feeling better?”

She nodded. He was tall, broad shouldered, had deep brown eyes and black hair. He was strangely pale for someone living on a tropical island but still incredibly handsome. Exactly her type. Too bad she wouldn’t be able to pursue him.

“I feel fine.”

“Want to eat? I’ve already made some toast and coffee. I was going to make omelets but you can go toast and coffee if you’re feeling a little sick.”

“You don’t have to cook for me.” Her stomach rumbled loudly.

He smiled. “I think you’re lying. How about toast to go? I don’t want to let you leave on an empty stomach.”

“Just some toast to go,” Joan relented. She didn’t want her stomach growling during the interview. She was already late, but it didn’t matter how late she was at this point. The Gallows were going to remember her as that late intern. “This is embarrassing, but what’s your name?”

“Ward.” He put out his hand. “You’re Joan. Never got further than that last night.”

She nodded. “So then did we…?”

His licked his lips and laughed. “We did not. But not from lack of effort on your part.”

Joan cringed. “Sorry. I don’t drink often for that exact reason.”

“Please. It was flattering. It’s not every day that a beautiful woman follows me home.”

She blushed. “Do you have any butter or jam?”

He nodded and took them out of the fridge. She still felt a little wobbly, so she sat at the breakfast bar. She buttered two slices of toast and put grape jam on two others, making two breakfast sandwiches. Ward watched her every move.