Cerise straightened her sleeves. “Yes.”
I shook my head. “That doesn’t count. It’s also work.”
“Well, I just happen to enjoy work,” she countered.
“What do you do forfun?” I emphasized. “You know…hobbies?”
She took a deep breath. “I do like to have my tea and read before bed every night.”
“That’s something. But it depends. What do you read?”
She was silent.
“That’s what I thought.” I adjusted my glasses. “Academic journals…Field guides…Am I correct?”
Her face reddened ever so slightly. Was she angry? Embarrassed? She smoothed the front of her shirt, something I noticed she did often. “There’s nothing wrong with enjoying your job.”
She turned around, strode over to the rest of the group, and sat on a log, waiting for dinner.
“She’s not always like that,” Emberly said to me. “She’s actually very kind and thoughtful. But she’s obsessed with proving herself on this trip, so she’s just a tad more high strung than usual. Don’t take it personally.”
“What about you? What’s your story?”
Emberly crossed her arms and smirked. “Oh no you don’t. I’ve heard about you.”
“What? I wasn’t?—”
“My wife would be quite bothered if she heard you were attempting to use your well-known charm on me,” Emberly chastised and left to join Cerise.
I stood there, dumbfounded. I wasn’t going to make advances toward her. Not at all. I knew I had a reputation for being a heartbreaker, though it wasn’t entirely true. I flirted regularly, yes, but I hadn’t been in a relationship in years. Hadn’t met anyone worth pursuing. And I didn’t sleep around the way people seemed to think.
Running a hand through my hair, I joined the group, sitting on a log across from Emberly and Cerise, and feeling a bit ashamed. I didn’t typically care what others thought of me, but for some reason, I did tonight. And it bothered me.
Dr. Rosenshield stood. “Everyone pleasegather around the fire.”
“We’re already gathered,” I said.
Rosenshield gave me an irritated glance but looked around, noticing every member of the team was already seated, waiting for dinner. He cleared his throat. “Right, yes. Well, then. Tonight, please spend time visiting with each other. Then get to bed early, as we will be leaving precisely at dawn.” He paused, regarding me with narrowed eyes. “Precisely at dawn,” he repeated. “Is that understood, Doctor Pendragon?”
“Crystal clear, sir,” I said, waving my hand and leaning over in a mock bow.
Rosenshield shook his head and turned away. My eyes darted to Cerise who was watching with pursed lips, blatant disapproval on her face. She really wore her emotions on her sleeve though she seemed to think she hid them well.
“Anyway,” Rosenshield continued. “If we leave on time, we should arrive at our base camp early in the evening. It will be a long day. We’ll stop for meals and to give the horses breaks. Spend the day continuing to familiarize yourself with your team and tomorrow evening we will have a large meal to celebrate the start of our expedition.”
Chapter 5
A Side Project
Cerise
The cry of a garuda pierced the air above as I followed its call with my eyes, searching the treetops for the elusive bird. We were deep in the jungle, still hours away from our destination. Slivers of sun pierced through the dense canopy, bringing an ethereal glow to the brightly colored plant life.
There was a lightness in my chest and I could barely sit still in my saddle. I had missed working in the field. Missed the thrill of studying wildlife and documenting their behavior. Missed the way the sounds of nature carried on the breeze.
The bird called again and I scanned the branches above me, attempting to locate the source.
“It’s over there.” Liam’s voice startled me as he pulled his horse close. “Just beyond that branch.”
