“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 still 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
