Ruffled Feathers Read online

  “I guess that’s your hypothesis, then. You can test that,” she replied. “I propose that for the right amount of gooeyness, you need to hold the marshmallow further from the flame, but for a longer time.”

  He clinked his beer bottle against hers. “I look forward to tasting the result.” That reminded him of another question. “How long exactly will you be here for?” He hoped she wasn’t packing up soon.

  “Oh, um, it’ll depend on how things go with your mayor, obviously.” She pulled at the label of her bottle. “But ideally four weeks. I want to give the PhD students plenty of time to learn fieldwork techniques.”

  Four weeks. He could work with that. It’d give him time to get to know her better and have more dates. “And when do those students get here?”

  “The four of them will come down the day after tomorrow.” She glanced at him. “I came early to set some things up and find suitable spots for the nets. And maybe a little to enjoy the peace and quiet.”

  “So much for that,” he murmured, leaning closer. She sounded like she needed peace and quiet. He wanted to make sure she got it. They’d finished dinner and he knew he couldn’t stay with her all night. But he also really wanted to kiss Madison, just once.

  Her cheeks flushed. “You’re excused.”

  “I was interesting enough, then?” He watched her closely for any hint she didn’t also want to kiss him. But she’d leaned closer, her eyes darting down to his lips.

  “Definitely!” Her cheeks reddened more. “I mean I—”

  He kissed her and never wanted to stop.

  Just pressing his lips against hers sent desire pulsing down his spine, and that was before she deepened the kiss.

  How had he thought kissing her once would be enough?

  He moved to wrap one arm around her, feeling her body underneath her baggy hoodie. His other hand rested against her cheek, and then he ran it through her hair.

  She moaned into the kiss, their knees bumping when she tried to get closer. Her hands landed on his thighs, and her touch burned through the fabric.

  He pulled her in, and when he was about to pull her into his lap, he realized they had to stop now, or he wouldn’t want to anymore.

  And going by the way her fingers dug into his thighs, neither would she.

  He pulled away with some difficulty, his hands still lingering on her body and in her hair. “Um.”

  “Yeah.” Her slow smile made him want to kiss her again.

  He swallowed hard. “I should probably leave… we’ve got a big day tomorrow talking to the mayor.”

  One eyebrow rose. “We?”

  “Of course.” He took both her hands. “I’m coming with you.” He wouldn’t let her do that by herself. “I want to help.”

  “You want to come with me?” She sounded genuinely puzzled. “You don’t have to. I can handle it and you have more important things to do.”

  He squeezed her hands. “I want to help you.” Besides, right now the only other important thing he had planned for tomorrow was making her dinner. And cleaning up around the house. His place had to be perfect for her.

  “Okay.” She smiled. “I need your help anyway, since you haven’t even told me where you live.”

  Oh, right, he hadn’t. He’d been so focused on making sure not to spill any other secrets that he hadn’t realized it was ridiculous to keep it from her now. “Kirkwood.”

  Her eyes widened. “I was there this afternoon to buy food and supplies! I never even—everyone there was a shifter like you?”

  “Maybe not everybody.” Some people in Kirkwood were humans married to shifters. “But most of them, yes.”

  “I never even had a clue…” She looked down at her feet, at the marshmallows left in the package.

  “That’s kind of the point.”

  Her eyes met his again. “So that’s how you knew I was here. The guy at the check-out asked if I was here to hike, so I explained things to him.”

  “Yeah, small town grapevines work like that.”

  She was silent for a long moment. “That sounds exhausting. Constantly having to be on your guard around visitors like that.”

  “It’s not that bad.” He squeezed her hands reassuringly. “We’re used to it.”

  “It still sounds exhausting.”

  He couldn’t deny that. “All the more reason for us to work together, right?”

  “Right.” She looked determined. “I’ll call your mayor tomorrow morning for an appointment, if you give me the number to her office. I hope she has time.”

  “I’ll look it up tomorrow and text it. She’ll make time for you.” He knew Kathleen would want to talk to the ornithologist herself. “I wouldn’t worry about that. She probably won’t be able to meet you until the afternoon.”

  “All right, that should give me time to get things in order around here.”

  “And then tomorrow evening, we can celebrate with dinner at mine.” He grinned when she smiled at that.

  “Or commiserate.”

  “Celebrate.” He knew she could do it.

  She rolled her eyes. “Fine. Tomorrow evening.”

  “It’s a date.”

  Her smile grew. “After that kiss, I should hope so!”

  He kissed her again, all too brief. “I can’t wait to see you again.”

  “Me neither.” She sat back, looking nervous suddenly. “Can I—is it okay if I watch you shift?”

  His hawk preened inside of him. She is impressed with us and our agility in the air!

  She never even saw us fly… And considering how dark it was, she wouldn’t see much now either. “Yes, that’s okay.”

  “Do I need to do anything? Step back? Turn off the stove?” She released his hands.

  He laughed at her enthusiasm. “I didn’t know you were in a hurry to get me to leave!”

  “I’m not! But hawks don’t fly at night and I don’t know how long it’ll take you to fly back home!”

  “I appreciate the concern.” He kissed her again. “I don’t need much space. Sit tight.”

  He got up with some reluctance, stepping away from her and the cooking set-up. He didn’t want to bump into anything by accident.

  When he shrugged off the coat so his wings wouldn’t get caught in it, she wolf-whistled. He tossed her the coat with a laugh. “This is far as the striptease goes.”

  “Boo.” She threw a marshmallow at him, and it bounced off his stomach, landing at his feet.

  “Keep booing and I’m not making dessert tomorrow.”

  She mimed zipping her mouth shut.

  He couldn’t stop smiling, but shifting required his complete concentration. He closed his eyes and tried to forget that his mate was right there watching him.

  But his hawk was eager to show off. The change came over him much faster than usual, and he knew he was going to be sore tomorrow. Shifting too quickly always left him with muscle aches the next day.

  The sweatpants fluttered to the ground while he spread his wings, circling above her head.

  She gasped. “Oh, wow…”

  He swooped down so he could perch on his empty chair. It was wobbly and not meant for talons, but he stayed upright. Once he settled, he focused on Madison.

  Her eyes were wide as she leaned closer. She reached out with one hand, then pulled it back.

  He awkwardly shuffled closer, feeling less graceful by the second, but he wanted her to know it was okay to touch him.

  “Can I?”

  He bobbed his head, hoping it didn’t look as silly as he felt.

  She admires us! His hawk wanted to show off by flying, but Simon knew he should stay still if he didn’t want to spook her.

  “I’m taking that as a yes.” She reached out again, her hand brushing against his back carefully.

  He did his best to stay still, but it was difficult not to shudder in pleasure.

  She grinned and ran her hand down his back a few times before pulling her hand away. “You’re stunning. The colors… I�
�ve never gotten to see a hawk this close before. I’d love to see you during the day.”

  He preened, making her laugh, then spread his wings and took off. The chair fell on the ground, but he was up above the trees, circling and staying quiet. A hawk calling now would only disrupt the other animals.

  We should return to our mate immediately! We cannot leave her!

  Tomorrow, he reminded himself firmly. He’d see her again tomorrow.

  And hopefully, she wouldn’t want to leave.

  4. Madison

  She’d woken up in her tent with a grin on her face and her stomach tied in knots from nerves.

  She was going to have to convince a mayor to let her do research here.

  A bird shifter mayor.

  And she’d see Simon again. Her stomach squirmed for entirely different reasons.

  She couldn’t believe a guy that hot and sweet was into her as much as she was into him, but that kiss sent heat through her body just remembering it… maybe tonight after dinner they could do a lot more than kiss.

  But first she had to have breakfast and heat water for her instant coffee, and find the nicest clothes she had brought with her. She hoped Mayor McFadden didn’t mind jeans, because that was the best Madison could do.

  Once she had her coffee in her travel mug, there was no point putting off the inevitable and she rang the mayor’s office. Simon had texted the number, along with more reassurances. She’d stared at his message for way too long while her stomach fluttered.

  Her mouth was dry when the secretary picked up, but once Madison explained who she was and why she was calling, the secretary quickly transferred her to the mayor. The secretary had sounded surprised but hadn’t stayed on the line long enough for Madison to get a sense of her feelings on the matter.

  “This is Mayor Kathleen McFadden. You’re the ornithologist who set up camp yesterday?” The woman’s voice was serious but warm.

  Madison appreciated someone who got straight to the point. “Good morning, I’m Doctor Madison Adams from Pinevale University. Simon Miller gave me your number. I met him last night.”

  “Yes, he mentioned that when he called earlier this morning. I’d like to get your side of the story as well. If you don’t mind?”

  Madison wondered how Simon had explained things, but the mayor didn’t sound angry or annoyed. Maybe she wanted to know how Madison felt about shifters. She gave the mayor a summary of how she’d untangled Simon from the net, and how he had no choice but to shift before she banded him.

  The mayor stayed silent throughout, except for a hum or an ‘I see’.

  “I know shifters are a big secret, but you shouldn’t blame him for shifting and revealing the secret under those circumstances.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she wished she could take them back. She didn’t get to tell the mayor what to do, and she needed the other woman on her side for her plan to work. But the thought of Simon getting blamed and punished for this made her blood boil.

  “I’ve already had a word with him. But I understand this was your first encounter with a shifter?”

  “As far as I know,” she replied. “I have an idea I’d like to discuss with you.” Had Simon mentioned that as well? “An idea that lets me do my research and lets you shift. Simon told me how you all stop shifting for weeks while we’re out here, and that sounds like such a shame.”

  “A compromise, yes. We should discuss this as soon as possible. How’s your afternoon?”

  “Free.” She wanted to wait with further preparations for her fieldwork until she’d talked to the mayor.

  “Can you wait while I check with my secretary?”

  When Mayor McFadden got back to her a few minutes later, Madison had an appointment for two o’clock that afternoon.

  She eyed her notebook. If she wanted to reach a compromise, she had to get to work.

  And at least it’d distract her from day-dreaming about Simon all morning.

  ✽✽✽

  She met Simon for lunch at the local diner, butterflies in her stomach when she saw him again. He looked even better now in his own clothes, and he’d opted for jeans along with a button-down shirt rolled up to the elbows. His brown hair still looked mussed, as if he’d run his hand through it impatiently while waiting for her outside, and his dark eyes shone when he saw her walk over.

  “You made it!” He took her hand to pull her closer.

  “It wasn’t hard to find.” She grinned back. “Kirkwood’s not that big.” It was a friendly looking small town, and she’d noticed the diner yesterday from the general store down the street.

  “It’s not the size of your town, it’s how you use it.” His eyebrows rose suggestively, and she flushed and giggled while he led her inside.

  She felt the eyes of every customer on her as she walked in, and Simon squeezed her hand reassuringly.

  “Welcome to Sue’s, you here to eat in or take-away?” the hostess asked, a teenage girl whose eyes flicked from Madison to Simon and back.

  “We’re here for lunch, Katie. Is a booth by the window okay?”

  Katie nodded, leading them over to a booth in the corner and handing them their menus before heading back to the door.

  Madison browsed the menu—it wasn’t long, but what was on there looked good—and she knew everyone was watching her. She tried not to let it get to her, but it turned her butterflies into lead. If these people were already wary of her, what would their mayor be like? Something nudged her foot, and she looked up at Simon.

  “You okay?” he asked in a hushed voice.

  She shrugged, but glanced around pointedly before leaning forward. “I don’t think I’m very popular around here.”

  Simon looked around too, and the people who’d been eyeing her suddenly took an interest in their sandwiches and coffees. He reached out to take one of her hands. “Give them time.”

  Before she could reply, a server turned up. Her auburn hair was tied back in a high ponytail, and she looked like she was in her early twenties. “Hello, I’m Nicole, I’ll be your server. You two ready to order or do you need more time to decide?”

  “I’ll have my usual,” Simon replied easily. “Madison?”

  “Oh, um, the mushroom and spinach omelet looks good. And a fresh orange juice.”

  Nicole dutifully wrote it down, glancing down at the table and their joined hands a few times. “Coming right up.”

  Madison let go, folding her hands in her lap. She missed the reassuring touch immediately.

  “What?” Simon asked, sounding worried.

  “There’s no need to make yourself unpopular as well.” She knew everyone else in the diner was wondering why Simon was here with her at all.

  “I don’t care.” He opened his palm, sliding his hand a few inches closer. “They’ll gossip about me and you having lunch together anyway.” His smile widened. “Might as well give them something to gossip about, right?”

  She smiled back and took his hand. Her nerves eased somewhat. “If you’re sure.”

  He squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry about it.”

  She envied his optimism. “But it’s no fun being gossiped about. Especially since how we met isn’t even your fault. It was a complete coincidence.” If she’d turned up ten minutes later, she would’ve found a ripped up net. She knew how strong those nets were and they weren’t made to hold an adult human. He could’ve shifted and torn it to get out, then shift back to a bird to fly away.

  “True, you happened to be nearby. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have met you…” He trailed off, sounding surprisingly sad.

  She felt a pang of regret at the thought too, which was silly considering she’d only met Simon yesterday. But being with him was easy and familiar. “You probably would’ve done more recon during the day,” she said, her tone light. “You’d have blundered into my net while I was near eventually.”

  “I wouldn’t,” he insisted, a smile back on his face. “I would’ve found a nice tree to sit in.”

  “I stil
l would’ve spotted you at some point. You stand out.”

  He beamed. “Thanks.”

  She didn’t mention he stood out because a red-shouldered hawk was rare.

  Nicole turned up with a chicken club sandwich with fries on the side and a coffee for Simon, and her omelet and orange juice. “Here’s your meal!” She glanced at their joined hands, then smiled at Madison. “You new in town or just passing through?”

  From anyone else, in any other small town, she’d have taken it as a friendly curiosity from a server. But Nicole was also a shifter and everyone here was suspicious of the ornithologist who’d turned up. She smiled up at the younger woman. “I’ll probably be sticking around for three to four weeks.”

  “Isn’t that great?” Simon smiled up at Nicole, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m sure we’ll be round more often.”

  Nicole raised an eyebrow at that, clearly desperate to ask more questions. But she politely smiled at Madison again. “Then I hope you enjoy your meal, if you’re planning another visit.” She nodded at Simon before leaving.

  Madison wasn’t sure how to feel. She was perfectly capable of handling Nicole’s suspicions. But Simon standing up for her was weirdly gratifying. He had her back.

  Simon shook his head. “She’ll get used to you being here.” He ate one of his fries. “But what was that about you probably being here for a few weeks?”

  Madison shrugged. She didn’t want to mention her appointment with the mayor if people might overhear. The story would spread, and who knew how twisted it’d get by the grapevine? “It’ll depend on how the afternoon goes.” Her stomach squirmed nervously just thinking about it. She’d been sure she wouldn’t be able to eat much until she smelled the omelet. She had to let go of Simon’s hand to cut it, but it was worth it. It tasted even better than it smelled, with fresh spinach and just the right amount of cheese. “Oh, this is good.”

  Simon pushed the bowl with fries closer to her. “Try these.”

  She ate one, again pleasantly surprised at how good it tasted. Back home whenever she ordered fries, they always seemed like an afterthought to the main meal. “Also great.”