“No! Honestly, it’s fine.”
It was true, she told herself firmly. It wasn’t like she’d particularlywantedto be a camp counselor, after all. She really was only here for her brother.
But Archie had told so many stories about his adventures at camp. And after seeing Thunder Mountain, in all its wild, mysterious glory… she hadn’t realized how much she’d longed for a tiny taste of the same freedom.
Conleth was still looking at her, brow furrowed. She pushed down the ridiculous longing, giving him a bright, professional smile. She couldn’t risk jeopardizing Archie’s place at camp.
“I really don’t mind what job I do,” she lied. “And it makes sense that you’d want to prioritize counselors who are actually shifters, when it comes to pack assignments. But, uh, what exactly is a ‘staff liaison?’”
“Something of a made-up position, to be absolutely honest.” Conleth closed the laptop, pushing it aside. “You’ll still be reporting to Leonie as head counselor, and I’m sure she’ll call on you to help out with the campers on a routine basis. But since you won’t be leading a pack, part of your time will be spent on admin and support. Schedules and planning, daily reports, liaising with the rest of the business. That kind of thing.”
Paige stared around the small office. “So I’ll be working in here?”
“With me,” Conleth confirmed. His fingers started drumming again in that rapid, apparently unconscious rhythm. “You see the problem.”
Paige could. There was only one other desk in the small room; off to one side, completely devoid of any personal effects. It faced away from the windows, which meant anyone sitting there would enjoy an amazing view of Conleth.
How am I supposed to get any work done?
Then she realized that hadn’t been the problem he’d meant.
“Oh, crap,” she said. “Archie. He’s not going to like us spending a lot of time together.”
“Exactly.” Conleth looked like he was about to say more, but a spasm of pain went across his face. His breath hissed between his teeth.
“Conleth?” Her worries about her brother abruptly fled. “Are you okay?”
“Fine,” he said tightly. He closed his eyes, jaw clenching. “Just—tired.”
He wasn’t looking so good, Paige realized. Or rather, hedidlook good—even lightly mauled, the man possessed a distracting amount of sex appeal. Yet his skin had taken on a pale, clammy cast that she didn’t like at all.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” she asked, more worried about him now than her brother. “Archie did hit you pretty hard.”
“It’s only a headache.” Conleth breathed out, opening his eyes again. “I get them sometimes. But we were talking about you. I thought this assignment would suit both our needs, but now I’m having second thoughts.”
“Don’t worry. Archie won’t be a problem. I’ll make it clear to him that we’re just work colleagues, nothing more.”
“I’m not worried about Archie.” Conleth pinned her with his intense green eyes. “Paige, the last thing I want is for you to pretend to be happy when you’re not. If this assignment isn’t what you want, then tell me now. I’ll find an alternative solution.”
The door slammed open, saving Paige from having to come up with a response. A curvy blonde woman stormed into the room, her long braid lashing behind her like the tail of an outraged cat.
“Conleth!” The woman turned toward the empty desk, brandishing a clipboard. “What on earth do you mean by?—”
The woman stopped short, apparently only just noticing that she was berating thin air. She looked across the room at Paige, then at Conleth, calmly seated behind his own desk. Her eyebrows did something complicated.
“Ah, Leonie,” Conleth said, sounding as unsurprised as if she burst into his office to threaten him with death by paperwork every day. “There you are at last. Paige, allow me to introduce Leonie MacCormick, our head counselor. You’ll be reporting to her in your role as staff liaison.”
“Hi.” Paige scrambled up to offer Leonie her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you. My little brother’s mentioned you a few times.”
Leonie accepted the handshake, though she had the glazed look of someone operating on pure autopilot. “And your brother is…?”
“Archie,” Conleth supplied, succinctly.
“Oh,” Leonie said. Then her tawny eyes widened. “Ohhhh.”
Paige winced. “I see you remember him.”
To her credit, Leonie recovered fast. The head counselor beamed at her, squeezing her hand before letting go. “Of course I do. He’s a delightful boy. I can’t tell you how pleased I am that you’re his sister.”
