The whole area teemed with activity. Most people were just milling around, greeting new arrivals with squeals and hugs. Others cut through the crowd more purposefully, arms piled high with boxes or bags. If it was this busy with just the staff on site, Paige could only imagine the sheer chaos when the campers got here.
She hesitated on the edge of the square, feeling even more out-of-place than she had on the bus. Everyone seemed ridiculously tall and stacked, like she’d wandered into a convention for professional sportswear models. Even if she hadn’t already known she was the only human on site, she would have felt like an imposter.
As if to underscore the point, two winged wolves swept overhead, their shadows skimming across the ground. One was a deep, stormy gray, sparks of electricity crackling between its feathers. The other wolf was smaller, with wings that glowed with golden light.
Some of the staff waved up at the flying wolves as they soared past, calling out greetings. Most people just carried on abouttheir business, as though winged wolves were as common as pigeons.
Right. With an effort, Paige managed to shut her mouth.Just a couple of counselors arriving for work. Nothing to see here.
Which reminded her she should report for work too. According to the letter she’d received along with her employment contract, she was supposed to report to the head counselor on arrival. Paige scanned the buildings, trying to figure out which one was the office—and her gaze snagged on a man.
Even surrounded by people who looked like a living Instagram feed, he stood out. It wasn’t just his height or lean, muscled build. It wasn’t even his red-gold hair, bright as polished copper in the morning sunlight.
Any one of those things would have been eye-catching enough. But none of them were what made her stop dead, staring.
That was the suit.
The day was already scorching, with the humidity climbing fast. Paige felt enough of a sweaty mess in her camp t-shirt and cut-off denim shorts.
Yet the man was, without the slightest hint of discomfort, wearing a suit.
And not just any suit. From the way the sleek black fabric perfectly accentuated every inch of his body, it must have been made to his measurements. His pants alone were probably worth more than she was.
He was pacing back and forth in front of a small building, phone clamped to his ear. He could have been some high-powered executive, striding around a top-floor boardroom while negotiating a billion-dollar deal.
Except… this was asummer camp.
He seemed so unselfconscious about his bizarre appearance that Paige had to glance around to make sure she hadn’t taken a wrong turn and somehow stepped onto Wall Street. Rustic log cabins, trees, mountain—definitely a summer camp.
And yet still, inexplicably, a man in a suit.
He couldn’t have looked more out of place if he’d been dressed in a diving helmet and a tutu. Yet no one else seemed to find his presence remarkable. As she watched, one of the staff members hurried up to him, holding out a clipboard and pen. The man in the suit scanned the offered documents, scrawled something across them, and waved the young woman away, all while talking into his phone without pause.
From his general air of casual dominance, he clearly wasn’t a visitor. He definitely wasn’t the head counselor, but she couldn’t see anyone else who looked like they might be in charge. Maybe he could point her in the right direction. Swallowing a flutter of nerves, she headed across the square.
“…no, that isnotan acceptable substitution,” he was saying into his phone as she approached. He paused with his back to her, muscular shoulders bunching under his suit jacket. “We’ll have children on site with allergies. You might as well send us delicious treats laced with nourishing arsenic.”
Paige hesitated, not wanting to interrupt. The man didn’t turn, but he was clearly aware of her presence. He held up a finger in a ‘one minute’ gesture, still concentrating on his conversation.
“I expect fourteen cases ofnut freecookies on our doorstep within three working days, at an additional three percent discount for the inconvenience. Or would you like me to reconsider this supply contract? Then sort it out.” He lowered the phone, only to tap the screen and raise it to his ear again. In a very different tone, he said, “Ah, Lord Golden. Always a delight to hear from you. To what do I owe this unexpected honor?”
Paige couldn’t hear the reply, but the man didn’t seem to think much of it. He swiveled on his heel, which put him in profile to her. This close, he was even more handsome than he’d appeared from a distance, with model-sharp cheekbones and a strong jawline. Right now, his perfect lips were pressed together in clear irritation.
“But of course,” he said, his smooth voice totally at odds with his body language. He had a slight, lilting accent—Irish, she realized. “None of us want a repeat of the unfortunate circumstances last year. I’ll see to it personally. Now, I wouldn’t dream of taking up any more of your valuable time, so if that’s all…? Indeed. Thank you for your continued patronage. Arrogant arsehole.”
This last was muttered under his breath. The man turned toward her, though he didn’t take his eyes off his phone. Typing rapidly with both thumbs, he asked, “Yes? What do you need?”
She cleared her throat, mouth dry. He really was ridiculously good-looking. And tall. She was just about on eye level with the knot of his tie. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. I can find someone else if you’re busy.”
The man snorted, still engrossed in his work. He had beautiful hands, she couldn’t help noticing. “This isn’t busy, this is Tuesday. You must be new here. How can I help you?”
The supernaturally fast movements of those strong, agile hands were so hypnotic, it took her a moment to remember. “My name’s Paige Brown. I’m supposed to report to the head counselor. Could you tell me where to find her?”
“She’s in the dining hall. Look for the blonde woman with a clipboard, you can’t miss her.” The man abruptly snapped his fingers, as if he’d just remembered something. “Damn, I almost forgot. Wait a moment.”
He looked up from his phone at last; just a quick, casual glance.
Their eyes met.
