Mated to the Wilde Bear novel Chapter 10

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.”

“Let me see.” Nash grabbed the paper hard enough to make Xavier wince.

“Kyra Gold,” Jake said.

Nash looked up at Xavier in disbelief. “You can’t hire a chick.”

“Why not?” Xavier asked, even though he’d already known this argument was coming. “She’s clearly the most qualified out of all the applicants. She’s first aid qualified, field medicine trained, she’s led survivalist and tracking workshops—”

“She’s a girl,” Jake broke in. As if that settled everything.

Nash nodded. “He’s right. We can’t bring a girl into the crew. You know how women mess up the dynamic. Think about that crew in Montana we heard about last year. They broke up over it. Broke up, man.”

Xavier rose, temper flaring as his bear reached its limit for the day. “No, I don’t know. Neither do you. We only know stories, but nothing firsthand. We’re a strong crew, and a well-qualified patroller would make us stronger. End of story.”