Mated to the Wilde Bear

Xavier rubbed his eyes and shuffled through the stack of applications once more. But pawing through them again didn’t change facts. Not a damn one of them was more qualified than the resume he’d already set aside.

He picked it up just as Jake and Nash entered his office.

“Hey, boss.” Jake fell into the cushioned chair opposite Xavier’s desk.

“Hey.” Nash followed suit and between the three of them, they filled the empty space inside the small corner office.

Xavier grunted back at them. He hadn’t been in the mood to shoot the shit since dinner. Or, more specifically, since that earth-shattering kiss he’d had with the DOT chic. After that horrific night senior year, Xavier had spent the last ten years steering clear of women. Somehow, after a perfect record of avoidance, Laurel Adams had gotten under his skin with almost no effort on her part, and he had no clue what to do about it.

“It’s not even ski season, and you’re burning the midnight oil?” Nash asked.

“Yeah, boss. I thought August was vacation month,” Jake said.

Both men watched him carefully. He knew that look too. They were worried about him but knew better than to ask. “I want to get it right with this new hire,” he said.

And because he knew he had to start somewhere, Xavier waved the resume at them. Jake snatched it first. He read the first few lines and then looked back at Xavier with wide eyes. “No fucking way.”

me see.” Nash grabbed the paper hard enough

“Kyra Gold,” Jake said.

at Xavier in disbelief. “You can’t hire

most qualified out of all the applicants. She’s first aid qualified, field medicine

girl,” Jake broke in. As

a girl into the crew. You know how women mess up the dynamic. Think about that crew in

you. We only know stories, but nothing firsthand. We’re

through it instead, and headed for the exit. He didn’t need to be ragged, not again.

boys didn’t say another word as he stormed out the back door and straight into the woods. The night was clear, the moon bright

into a pile at the base of a tree, and shifted fast. The moment his bear’s paws hit the ground, he ran. It felt good to move. To give in to

reactions were any indication, that new hire situation was going to get ugly. He needed some

about Laurel and that kiss. He told himself it was just because he hadn’t been with anyone else in so long. But deep down, he knew it was more.

he thought he’d only imagined it. He was thinking about her too hard. But then the wind shifted, and he knew it was really there. He came to

hell was she doing in the