The Bear's Hired Mate: A Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance Read Free

eyes to focus on his face rather than his bulk, Jane felt her breath leave her body. His hair was enviable, black as night and thick, falling in a light wave down to his shoulders. For all that the man could have been a Pantene commercial, he wasn’t in the least bit feminine. He had a strong jawline and his eyes were the color of soft caramels. Jane thought that they probably warmed up beautifully when the man came in contact with someone he liked but for the moment they were crisp and cool, because Vincent stood in the doorway looking almost as shocked as she felt.
     
    It was at this moment that Jane’s heart dropped. She thought she’d been doing so well with Xavier, but the way that Vincent was staring at her made her think that she was about to get the “not the right body type” speech. Jane sighed, she’d found those pin-up paintings so hopeful.
     
    Vincent walked into the room and nodded to Xavier. “How’s it going?” he asked Xavier by way of greeting.
     
    “It’s going great. Vincent I’d like you to meet Jane Arnold.”
     
    Jane extended her hand, but Vincent didn’t take it. Slowly lowering it down to her side she calculated how much an express bus ticket would cost her to get out of town ASAP, she really didn’t want to stick around to add insult to injury.
     
    Xavier’s eyes noted the rebuff and narrowed in response. Giving Jane an encouraging smile he again turned to Vincent to fill him in on the interview so far. “Jane is quite the candidate, to be sure. She’s over qualified having managed thirty different schedules at once, and keeping the office fully stocked and clean. She has a good record of customer relations and had some nice answers to our theoretical situation questions. Plus,” Xavier turned to Jane, “if you don’t mind me saying so, she’s got the perfect look for the front. Rockabilly is just our style.”
     
    Xavier noted at that statement that Vincent’s eyes hardened slightly and a deep growl emanated from Vincent’s throat. Xavier was pretty sure that it was only due to his werebear senses that he could hear it, but he wasn’t sure what had set Vincent off. Before he could pull Vincent aside to ask, Vincent himself took control of the situation.
     
    “Really, Ms. Arnold, the only thing I need to know is that you can read my email and sync my schedules. I’m going to leave you with today and tomorrow’s issues for twenty minutes and I’ll be back to see how you’ve done.” Both Jane and Xavier stared back at Vincent slack-jawed.
     
    Jane’s eyes bounced between Xavier and Vincent and Xavier thought that it might be too much for her. This happened sometimes with human women, too many weres in a small room and down they went. If that happened...well, then Jane wasn’t going to make it for the long haul anyway. Xavier started in to relieve the woman, “Listen, Jane I know that’s a lot to ask. We can finish the full first interview before moving on to the interactive stuff. Vincent, perhaps you can let me take this one…”
     
    “No.” Jane interrupted, her green cat eyes shining with force. “Lay it on me. Vincent is right, if coordinating his schedule is the most important piece of this job then let me prove that I can do it.” Her eyes flicked to Vincent’s with a challenge. “That is, if you feel comfortable handing over personal property to a stranger.”
     
    Vincent couldn’t help but admire the steel in her gaze; it was a turn on in a mate. Not that he had time to mate right now...he had to focus! The whole point of this exercise was to watch her fail so he could send her packing. Now, if he could just figure out how to leave the room without throwing her over his shoulder, cave-man style...
     
    “No need to worry about the personal stuff. I’ve already set up a business account where all of the scheduling emails need to go. Nothing you read will be personal or confidential.” Vincent took a few steps closer to Jane and handed over