Safari Island Shifters: The Complete Collection(68)

“But people have done it multiple times,” Joan pressed. “Either the security team isn’t so great or these people have a reason to be so motivated.”

“Their groups are lying,” Maura said angrily. She was sitting on the edge of the couch and her eyes were blazing. “It’s mostly people like me who are too trusting. We believe what the group leaders say, but they’re lying. There are no mistreated animals here and nobody is hiding anything.”

Branch put his arm around his wife and eased her back onto the couch. “I think there are some people still who want Safari Island to fail. But we’ve been here ten years and we’re going to be here for a lot longer than ten more. We’re a good company and a great travel destination.”

Joan nodded. “Thanks for speaking with me. I’ll see you guys later this week when Mitch comes to do your interview.”

Maura and Branch walked her out. Joan laughed nervously to herself as she walked to the bus stop. That hadn’t gone as planned. They were so incredibly happy, just like Chet and Addison. She had one more couple to interview but it was probably going to be the same. She had really been hoping for something more interesting with the Dunkins, but their story was apparently exactly as Safari Corp had explained it. No subterfuge or conspiracy theories.

Could it really be that easy to find someone? She couldn’t help but think about her own dating life. She had never been that happy in a relationship. She had dated very nice guys, but none of them had made her feel the way Branch made Maura feel. She wondered if it was because Branch was a shifter. Maybe the mate connection added a little extra something to the relationship. But her own parents weren’t shifters, and her mother was still head over heels for her father thirty years into their marriage. No, it wasn’t just that Branch was a shifter.

She had to laugh at herself. That little interview had her questioning her entire love life at a bus stop. This island really did have something special about it. Maybe that should be the focus of her side project. Everyone she had talked to had left the island changed.

That was something. Even better than her shifter children idea, because her bosses would love it. This was something that Safari Corp would even get behind because it would help with their marketing. Who wouldn’t want to go on a life-changing vacation on a tropical island?

She was starting to get excited about the idea. Maybe she’d finally get her very own byline in the magazine. Heck, maybe they’d let her do a little segment for the TV special. She would have to talk with Ward about it on their date.

*

As she got ready for the date, all she could think about was her article idea. She had been nervous about the date before, but now she had a purpose. She was going to mine Ward for any and all information for her new project. They didn’t have a blog on the company website, but there were weddings featured on the page for the island wedding service. Still, as the marketing person, Ward had to have some stories that would help her or he could introduce her to people who did.

Thinking about work was helping to keep her nerves down. This date was mostly a waste of time. No matter how good-looking the gazelle shifter was, the relationship couldn’t go anywhere. She lived in the US and he lived on Safari Island. She wasn’t into the long-distance thing, and she wasn’t about to be moving anytime soon. It wouldn’t work for her job. She didn’t know where she was going to go after the Travel mag gig, but it had to be somewhere that would pay her well.

She was secretly hoping the date would go terribly. At least then she wouldn’t feel bad when she couldn’t see Ward again. It was a one-night thing with a definite expiration date.

She was going to be leaving in a few days, but at least she’d get a nice work contact out of the whole thing. Maybe she and Ward could stay friends. That was almost as good as a relationship, right?





Five


“Come in!” Ward had been waiting on pins and needles. He wanted to wrap Joan in a big bear hug when she knocked on his door. It had been an uneventful day at work, which was great. He had been thinking about this dinner all day. He was a pretty good cook but he had still run his menu by Clementine. If a world-class chef thought the menu was good, it should knock the socks off his date.

“Smells good,” Joan said. She was wearing tight jeans and a tank top. Even in the simple clothes, she looked amazing and glamorous. Ward loved a woman who could dress down and still be comfortable.

“Thanks.” He led her to the kitchen. “I’m glad I finally get to cook something for you.”

“I ran out of here pretty fast last time, huh?”

“You did.” Ward looked in the oven. “The bread will be done in ten minutes, so don’t leave before that.”

Joan looked at the dish resting on the oven. “You made lasagna?”

“Sure did. It’s veggie lasagna and there’s a salad on the table.”

“I’ve never had the patience for this one. I always get bored cutting up all the vegetables and end up with just cheese.”

Ward laughed. “I’m sure that’s delicious too. I cut up the vegetables way early. If you try to do it all at once, it can be a bit daunting. Break it up over two hours and you’re good.”

“Thanks for the tip.” Once the bread had come out of the oven, they sat at the table to eat. “How was your day?”