She sipped her coffee, feeling restless. Surely there was something she could do? But by the time she’d taken a quick shower, gotten dressed, and gone downstairs, Simon had already been busy with breakfast. And he’d set the table.
When was the last time she had breakfast at a set table? A rushed one at a conference, probably.
“Here we go.” He slid half the scrambled eggs onto her plate before putting the rest on his own. When he put the pan in the sink, the toaster beeped twice and two slices popped out. “Perfect timing!”
She wasn’t surprised she got both of them. “You like feeding me, don’t you?”
He frowned as he sat down after putting more bread in the toaster. “I guess it’s been a while since I’ve had someone to feed,” he mused. “And because it’s you.”
Her stomach fluttered, although her head remained skeptical. “Is that what bird shifters do? They feed their mate?” she teased.
“Yes.” He gathered some of his scrambled eggs on his fork, then offered to her.
She leaned forward to eat. “Does it bother you that I’m not sure about it?” If he resented her, she didn’t think she could take it.
He was silent for a long moment. “Kind of. I wish you could feel how I feel, because it’s amazing.” He smiled at her. “But be honest. You’re feeling something amazing too.”
She did. Something amazing she’d never felt before, not with previous boyfriends or men she’d dated years ago, before her life got taken over by research and the constant need to prove herself in order to get to the next step in her career.
But at what cost?
She wanted a career as a scientist. She wanted to become a tenured professor, like Professor Brown and others in her department. But she’d met the professor’s wife and two kids at his retirement party, and his wife had been so happy he wouldn’t be so busy with work anymore. His kids had been happy too, but they were clearly closer to their mother, joking with her, and more serious and distant around him.
That wasn’t the life she wanted.
Simon’s hand closed around hers. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head. She had no business being sad around Simon. “I was just—nothing.” She smiled at him. “I was thinking there’s no way I can make you breakfast this good.”
“I’m sure you could heat soup for breakfast,” he replied. “Or a one-pan mac and cheese while you’re camping.”
She shuddered at the thought of that.
“Good point, I’ll need to check with the students that they’ve got supplies with them. If not, I’ll take them into town.”
“You should do that today or tomorrow, anyway. Have everyone get used to them being here.” Simon got up to grab his own slices of toast.
He’d mentioned that yesterday as well, but it made her wonder. “Are you sure that’ll help? Since they don’t like having us around very much.”
“True.” He poured her the last of the coffee. “And I’m not saying Professor Brown should’ve visited the town every day.”
“Yeah, that definitely wouldn’t have improved things.”
“But since we will be working together, it’ll be good if your team comes here more often. Show everyone that you’re not plotting something evil.”
“Not that you have ulterior motives in me visiting the town.”
He laughed. “I’m only interested in having you visit one specific location.”
She sipped her coffee. They’d mentioned dating last night, but not how it’d work. “I will be very busy with fieldwork over the next few weeks.”
“Oh, I know. Obviously that comes first. Besides, I’ve got work tomorrow as well,” he replied easily. “And I get that you won’t be able to spend the night here every time.”
But he wanted her to spend as many nights as possible here.
She thought of her tent and how she’d looked forward to falling asleep with the leaves rustling in the wind, and waking up with birdsong around her. She’d looked forward to a simple breakfast and even to heating water for her terrible instant coffee.
Her tent didn’t seem so inviting anymore.
“We’ll figure something out.” Because she wanted to spend as many nights as possible together as well.
“We will.” He took her hand again. “There’s no rush. I know it’s a lot for you to take in.”
“Thanks.”
“Although…”
“What?” She wondered what had him looking so hesitant.
“My parents and sister, we always have dinner together on Friday night. I’ve already told them about you and how you’re my mate. Would you like to come this Friday? It’s fine if you don’t,” he immediately added. “There’ll be other Fridays. And it’s a lot for them to take in as well.”
A dinner with his family. She waited for her nerves to kick into overdrive, but they stayed at a reasonable level. “Why not? It’ll depend on how things are going with the students and whether I can leave them alone on a Friday evening, but sure?”
He grinned. “Great! We’ll decide later in the week.”
They discussed Simon’s schedule—he was working Monday through Friday this week—and her schedule, which involved a lot more ‘I’ll have to see how it goes’. But Madison was confident she could spend a few more evenings at Simon’s place, and Simon was more than willing to visit her in the woods even with the rest of the team around.
By the time they finished breakfast, there wasn’t a lot of time left before she had to get back to her tent. But there was one thing she wanted before she had to go.
“This may be ridiculous and you can say ‘no’.”
He raised an eyebrow at that. “I probably won’t.”
She bit her lip. “Can you turn into a hawk? It was dark last night and I never got a good chance to see you, and when am I gonna get another chance to see a hawk up close?” Without getting attacked, that was.
He’d opened the door to his backyard before she’d even finished the question. “You can look at me as a hawk whenever you want.”
When he pulled
