Safari Island Shifters: The Complete Collection(7)

The blonde turned when they got closer. Her face was absolutely perfect. She caught Chet’s eye and smiled. It felt like he had been punched in the gut and his breath hitched in his chest. His normally calm rhino was in an uproar.

She put her hand out. “You must be one of Shane’s and Max’s friends. I’m Addison.”

Chet wiped his suddenly sweaty palm on his jeans before shaking her hand. “I’m Chet Gallow and this is my friend Branch. The guy who looks just like Max is Finn.”

Addison nodded at Branch and Finn. “Nice to meet you, guys. This is my friend Lily.”

Lily smiled at the men and Finn sidled up next to her. “We’ve got shots coming for the table.”

Chet didn’t hear what she said next because he was transfixed by Addison close up. Her eyes were so dark blue they almost looked black. She had cute little dimples and rosy cheeks. Her skin was bronzy and glowing. He inhaled deeply to smell her coconut perfume.

He must have been staring a little too hard, because Shane stepped between them.

“How’ve you been, man?” Shane had his back to Addison and his face was a warning.

Chet puffed out his chest. “Been real good. Break up any good fights on security?”

Shane’s jaw twitched and he wasn’t even trying to fake a smile anymore. “Sure. You know how it is. Men love fighting.”

The air was tense. Shane was a big man and wily. Chet knew that Shane wouldn’t mind throwing a punch or two over a pretty girl. While he was the head of security at the Safari Park, he was still a hothead. But Chet wasn’t afraid. He knew in human form or shifted, he could take Shane any day of the week. He was interested in Addison. Really interested. He wasn’t going to be run off by some stupid hyena. Shane could find another girl.

They stood staring each other down until Branch got between them. “I think our shots are about to get here. Maybe you two should back up and let the pretty waitress put down our drinks.”

Chet looked away from Shane and saw that one of the waitresses was staring at them with wide eyes. He backed up and let her put down the tray muttering an apology.

As soon as the drinks were on the table, Addison slammed hers back and jumped off her barstool. She walked around the table quickly and took Lily by the hand. “Thanks for the drinks, guys, but we have to be off. I’m feeling pretty tired.”

“Are you?” Lily looked at Max and Finn pouting. “I’m feeling pretty awake now. Just an hour more?”

Addison shook her head and yawned. “Nope. Too sleepy. Maybe we’ll see them again.”

Lily reached into her purse to pull out her phone but Addison was already pulling her through the crowd. She gave the twins an apologetic look and shrugged. They were lost in the sea of people before Chet could say anything.

“Nice work, *,” Shane spat. He bumped Chet with his chest. “You scared them off. What’s your problem?”

Branch pushed him back. “Calm down, Shane. I don’t think it’ll look too good for the head of security to start a fight with Safari Island’s most decorated employee. Use your head, man.”

“Whatever. I’m going to go dance. I’ll see you guys later.” Shane grabbed the two shots closest to him. “Maybe try not stealing my girl next time, Chet.”

Chet let him walk away. He wasn’t interested in the club anymore anyway. He had to find Addison. He had a good feeling about her. With her fast exit, she probably wouldn’t want to see him that night anymore, but he would find her. He’d use his connections to find out where she was staying and talk to her. His rhino told him this wasn’t a girl to let slip away.





Four


“You still owe me.” Lily kicked at the sand. She and Addison were taking a stroll on the beach before lunch. Ever since Addison had pulled her from the club, she hadn’t stopped going on and on about how pissed she was.

It wasn’t Addison’s fault. She couldn’t stand being stuck between those stupid meatheads another second. They’d been having a great time until Lily had spotted Max. She had convinced Addison to sit with the airport worker and his security friend.

“Actually, this is your fault too,” Addison said. “If you hadn’t made me sit with those guys, we would have had a nice night. We could have danced until the sun came up. But no. You had to go and flirt with the hot guy.”

Lily stopped and put her hands on her hips. “Are you seriously trying to tell me that you didn’t think Chet was mad hot?”

“It doesn’t matter if he’s hot or not. He and Shane were being totally out of hand. They would have probably gotten into a fight and gotten us kicked out of the place. At least now we can go back.”

Lily crossed her arms and kept walking. “Shane works for security. They wouldn’t have banned us.”

“Fine. I didn’t want to spend my night getting hit on by guys acting like buttheads. That isn’t why I came here. I thought we were going to have fun. Isn’t this trip about me and you having fun and not about some dumb guys?”

Lily pouted. “I guess, but I still want to meet some hot guys. And Max and Finn were the hottest guys I’ve seen here.”

“We’ll find hotter guys. Don’t worry. This place is huge and there are lots of guys.”