who were clustered around the largest building. When Kade and Blaine joined the group, Rebecca climbed the stairs to the porch so everyone could see her.
She went over the center's mission statement and then the basic rules, mostly covering things I had already read in the orientation materials. I listened intently at first in case anything new came up but my mind eventually started to wander. I glanced at Kade. He was standing on the far side of the group, almost across from me.
He was looking right at me.
When I caught his gaze, he turned away a little too fast. I felt the heat rising in my cheeks. Maybe he did like me. Not that it mattered. I couldn't be with anyone else. The guilt wouldn't let me.
Rebecca called Kade's name just then.
Kade stiffened and I saw a sheepish expression flash across his face. But then the cockiness returned in full and he smirked. "Say again?"
Rebecca jerked a finger toward the aviary. "I said get Orion."
Kade jogged toward the other building.
"All right, so the rest of this meeting is just for the baby ducks and their mentors. Everyone else is free to go back to work." Rebecca waited as most of the employees dispersed, leaving the interns and the workers we were assigned to. "Now as you know, our primary focus here is the preservation and study of peregrine falcons. You're all about to meet Orion, our education bird. He's missing part of a wing from an accident he had as a hatchling. He's been raised by us, and he's the friendliest bird we have. Thinks he's human. Ah, here we go. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Orion."
My eyes widened as Kade returned with a large, beautiful falcon balanced on his arm. Kade carefully climbed the steps to the porch, his impossibly green eyes focused on the bird perched on his fist. A heavy leather gauntlet protected his forearm from the wicked talons and curved beak. Orion was bigger than I had expected and looked fierce. The falcon glanced around alertly, occasionally flaring its wings for balance.
Rebecca pointed out Orion's distinguishing features and warned that while the beak was a formidable weapon, it was the talons you really had to watch out for.
One intern asked how Kade kept the bird on the glove. He answered, pointing out the thin straps called 'jesses' that were tied around each leg and looped through the rings in the glove.
Eventually the questions ran out and Kade took Orion back to the aviary. He glanced my way before vanishing inside but I was very careful not to meet his eyes. I had the sense he was proud I'd seen him holding that falcon.
"All right," Rebecca said. "Time for your assignments. I'll deal with the wardens and their interns first. Josh and Caylin, you and your interns get section A. Maria and Jen, you're taking section B this year. Blaine, you and Kade have section C."
I remembered from the orientation material that C covered the most territory.
Rebecca went on to discuss the assignments of the other workers and interns and then she dismissed us. "I look forward to another great season with you guys."
The group started to disperse.
"Section C?" Kade's voice startled me. I hadn't noticed him come back. "Sweet! Momma said we might get to go out there again."
Blaine nodded, grinning widely. "How early do you want to head out tomorrow? Seven-ish?"
Kade frowned. " Tomorrow ? Shit, no, I want to head out today. I've already got everything packed. I just need to finish up with Jessica. Meet you at the Jeeps in an hour." Kade was already strolling back to the aviary.
"Who's Jessica?" I asked Blaine. Was that jealousy I heard in my voice?
Blaine had an amused glint in his eye. "Not who but what. Jessica is a falcon."
"Oh."
"Come on." Blaine escorted us to the dormitory and told us to pack for our three day trip in the woods. "All you really need to bring is a change of clothes. Don't worry about tents, food, water or insect repellent. We've got that all covered."
"What should we do when we're done packing?" I said.
"I'll
She went over the center's mission statement and then the basic rules, mostly covering things I had already read in the orientation materials. I listened intently at first in case anything new came up but my mind eventually started to wander. I glanced at Kade. He was standing on the far side of the group, almost across from me.
He was looking right at me.
When I caught his gaze, he turned away a little too fast. I felt the heat rising in my cheeks. Maybe he did like me. Not that it mattered. I couldn't be with anyone else. The guilt wouldn't let me.
Rebecca called Kade's name just then.
Kade stiffened and I saw a sheepish expression flash across his face. But then the cockiness returned in full and he smirked. "Say again?"
Rebecca jerked a finger toward the aviary. "I said get Orion."
Kade jogged toward the other building.
"All right, so the rest of this meeting is just for the baby ducks and their mentors. Everyone else is free to go back to work." Rebecca waited as most of the employees dispersed, leaving the interns and the workers we were assigned to. "Now as you know, our primary focus here is the preservation and study of peregrine falcons. You're all about to meet Orion, our education bird. He's missing part of a wing from an accident he had as a hatchling. He's been raised by us, and he's the friendliest bird we have. Thinks he's human. Ah, here we go. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Orion."
My eyes widened as Kade returned with a large, beautiful falcon balanced on his arm. Kade carefully climbed the steps to the porch, his impossibly green eyes focused on the bird perched on his fist. A heavy leather gauntlet protected his forearm from the wicked talons and curved beak. Orion was bigger than I had expected and looked fierce. The falcon glanced around alertly, occasionally flaring its wings for balance.
Rebecca pointed out Orion's distinguishing features and warned that while the beak was a formidable weapon, it was the talons you really had to watch out for.
One intern asked how Kade kept the bird on the glove. He answered, pointing out the thin straps called 'jesses' that were tied around each leg and looped through the rings in the glove.
Eventually the questions ran out and Kade took Orion back to the aviary. He glanced my way before vanishing inside but I was very careful not to meet his eyes. I had the sense he was proud I'd seen him holding that falcon.
"All right," Rebecca said. "Time for your assignments. I'll deal with the wardens and their interns first. Josh and Caylin, you and your interns get section A. Maria and Jen, you're taking section B this year. Blaine, you and Kade have section C."
I remembered from the orientation material that C covered the most territory.
Rebecca went on to discuss the assignments of the other workers and interns and then she dismissed us. "I look forward to another great season with you guys."
The group started to disperse.
"Section C?" Kade's voice startled me. I hadn't noticed him come back. "Sweet! Momma said we might get to go out there again."
Blaine nodded, grinning widely. "How early do you want to head out tomorrow? Seven-ish?"
Kade frowned. " Tomorrow ? Shit, no, I want to head out today. I've already got everything packed. I just need to finish up with Jessica. Meet you at the Jeeps in an hour." Kade was already strolling back to the aviary.
"Who's Jessica?" I asked Blaine. Was that jealousy I heard in my voice?
Blaine had an amused glint in his eye. "Not who but what. Jessica is a falcon."
"Oh."
"Come on." Blaine escorted us to the dormitory and told us to pack for our three day trip in the woods. "All you really need to bring is a change of clothes. Don't worry about tents, food, water or insect repellent. We've got that all covered."
"What should we do when we're done packing?" I said.
"I'll
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