Page 23 of Wild Bred

MACKENNA

I’m unable to speak. I know what I want to say to Reid, but it’s like my mouth can’t form the words. And because words fail me, I kiss him again. I slide my hands around his gorgeous face and press my lips to his and kiss him—and, all the while, my heart bangs wildly away in my chest.

Reid and I are still lip-locked when the alarm goes off on my phone. The trill sounds sharper than usual, more urgent. Reluctantly, I pull my mouth from his. “Sorry, I—um?—”

“You have to give the owl her meds,” Reid says, giving me an understanding and yet somehow deeply sexy smile. “I know.”

I don’t want to leave him. Of all the moments to be interrupted, this is the worst.

But I also still can’t say what I want to say.

As I rush away, Reid’s words echo through my mind. I’m in a daze as I prep the meds in the office and hurry over to the owl enclosure. In my current state, it takes great effort to do even the simplest things.

Reid loves me. The words shimmer like magic through me. I swallow back the emotion in my throat, fumbling with the lock on the enclosure door. He loves me. I step into the enclosure and call out a soft greeting to the owls. Kiki eyes me as I approach, cautious but compliant as I coax her toward me.

“Good girl,” I say, gently wrapping a towel around her body so I can cradle her in my lap and administer the syringe full of medicine. When I release her, she ruffles her feathers and then settles back on her favorite branch.

Reid loves me.

My heart is still pounding away. I’m full of so much happiness right now. But I’m also overwhelmed with…something…else. I don’t even know what this other feeling is. Anxiety? Fear? Doubt?

No. It’s not doubt. The feelings I have for Reid are real. I know that much is true.

I look up and notice that Kiki is still intently gazing at me. She looks more curious now, as if she’s wondering what’s on my mind. Logically, I know that it’s far more likely that she’s just wondering why I’m still standing here inside the enclosure, but it feels more sympathetic than that.

“What’s wrong with me, Kiki?” I ask with a sigh. “Why couldn’t I tell him how I feel?”

But the owl, of course, doesn’t reply.

I leave the enclosure, handling the lock harder than necessary out of the frustration I feel toward myself. As I walk across the sanctuary grounds, the last several weeks play through my mind. I think of all the kisses Reid and I have shared. All the pleasure he’s given me. All the times he’s made me laugh until my sides hurt.

And he’s given so much of his time to the sanctuary. All of which is time he could have been renovating his house.

The more I think about it, the more guilt rises to the surface of my emotions, until it’s spilling over everything else.

“This place is amazing. I’m not just saying that to stroke your ego. This is basically my dream job.”

I laugh, beaming at my interviewee’s compliment. “Thank you. It means a lot to hear you say that.”

I just met Sara about an hour ago, but I can tell that she and I would get along wonderfully if she came to work at the sanctuary. Our personalities mesh well, and she’s exactly the kind of person I’ve been hoping to hire—easygoing, experienced, and a hard worker.

“You said you’re looking for someone to start right away, right?” she asks.

I nod. That’s what I put in the ad that I posted online. “Yes. That would be ideal.”

“Okay. Cool.” Sara glances around. “I can’t believe you’ve been doing this all on your own.”

“Oh, I haven’t, actually,” I say. “I’ve been getting a ton of help from my boyfriend.”

The word boyfriend slips out without warning. Not that Sara knows any better, but still.

“Wow,” she says. “He must love animals as much as you.”

“He’s not much of an animal person, actually. He’s just a great guy.”

“Sounds like he’s a keeper.”

I smile. “Definitely.” I steer us toward the parking area, bringing Sara back to her car. “Thanks so much for coming by, Sara. It was a pleasure meeting you. I’ll be in contact soon.”

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