This, the opportunity, this whole adventure was simply<i>amazing</i>! Normally it got her down when people treated her like she needed to be led around - even when she really did - but from the moment her nervous momma had hugged her goodbye at the departure gate, this entire journey had been the most exciting thing in all nineteen years of her young life! She was led through security in a large building filled with interesting sounds and eventually settled in a chair where she could hear the great planes landing and driving- taxiing? around. Even when she was aboard and clinging to the handrests, feeling the engines haul her into the skies she kept expecting to wake up from this dream.<br/><br/>Skye Lanning had wanted to get away from home. She loved her family, she did! But she was so tired of being their broken-winged bird, kept always safe in the heart of the nest. It was smothering her until she knew that she would<i>die </i>unless she could be independent and prove she was just as capable of adulting as any of her brothers. She had put in the applications, but it had taken Mister Tomlin to persuade her parents that she'd be as well cared for as if she stayed at home. Better, since going to the city would give her a chance to grow that the little farming community simply couldn't provide.  She couldn't see him on the Skype conversation, but she'd known his deep voice when he greeted her at the gate and the attendant holding her hand had stepped away.<br/><br/>He'd been so good about letting her get to know him, insisting that she reach up to feel the contours of his face and even his full lips as they spoke at the lounge. A copper-haired girl, the rolling ground of the country had ensured her milky skin stayed unmarred by freckles, scarcely a lick of sun showing on her cheeks. Mostly she kept a pair of sunglasses on so as not to make the people around her uncomfortable, but at his insistence that it would make the customs agents happier she had slid them off and let them hang from the pocket of her coat. Revealed beneath them were pale blue eyes that at first glance seemed perfectly normal. It was only at Avery's second glance - many more for most people - that he noticed what was slightly off about them. Though they turned towards whoever she was listening to, they didn't focus on anything in particular. Or at all.<br/><br/>The whole drive in to the office she was filled with butterflies of excitement and could scarcely keep from beaming. He could sense it too by the way he kept stopping the car to gentle her shoulders like her da had taught her with the horses. She wanted to tell him he didn't have to, that she wouldn't embarrass him or the trust he'd put in her but she didn't want to seem any more the girl than she already was so kept the chatter to finding out all the best things in the city and trying to work out which she could go to visit when her family visited in a couple of months. Or maybe sooner if she made a friend who didn't mind subtly guiding her!<br/><br/>When the car stopped the final time at first she didn't realise it until she'd missed the weight of his hand on her shoulders and heard his seatbelt unclasp. She couldn't feel the familiar warmth through any of the windows; she felt very lost suddenly, surrounded by the tall blocking buildings that blotted out the sun, but again he seemed to know her thoughts almost before she had them, her face an open book as he claimed her fingers and coaxed them into the protection of his powerful hand. Skye started at the first brush of skin against skin since the airport, mostly because it was unexpected. "Right, yes, right," she said, that irrepressible smile returning as she unbuttoned her coat one-handed to reveal the sleeveless peasant top Momma had helped her pick out the same morning. She was so glad he was excited they'd be working together!<br/><br/>"I can't wait to meet them too," she assured him, easing the coat from her shoulders then pausing to turn back towards him. "Can I leave this in your car, Mister Tomlin? I'm so glad you came to collect me, but I don't know- are you driving me home today, or should I take my things in for catching a cab?" She was only doing a half-day today as well, to give her time to introduce herself to everyone and then one day's work under Avery before she took the weekend to settle in. At his assurance she abandoned her coat and took his arm, following him in through the sliding doors and feeling the cool breath of the air conditioning tingle down her spine. He was taller than her, his confident stride something she could just keep up with while feeling a little bit breathless and off-balance.<br/><br/>But she was still so excited, her enthusiasm building off his to be working alongside him in his office. Mister Tomlin was a good man to be helping so many people live independently who otherwise couldn't be, and she was thrilled to be helping him to do that. And the fact that his voice made her feel all furry and warmed as he spoke close to her cheek didn't hurt at all. She flushed a little at the thought, hoping that it wasn't too visible or that at least he couldn't read her thoughts. Stay professional Skye! That thought got her past the receptionist - Emma - with a happy smile and a warm welcome to the company.<br/><br/>"I really appreciate this," she said when she thought they were alone in the lift. "I promise you won't regret taking me on. I'm a really hard worker, given the chance." She raised her chin to smile up towards where she thought his face was, then the lift doors opened and she followed him through; white flats soft on the polished floor compared to his steady ground-eating tread.