Page 2 of Craving the Mountain Man

I smile, feeling a bit more at ease. "Thanks, Jake. I appreciate the help and the pep talk."

Just then, the conference room door opens and Grayson strides out, followed by a well-dressed man in an expensive suit—clearly the important client.

Grayson's eyes widen slightly as he takes in the now-perfectly organized gear display. He gives me a barely perceptible nod before turning his attention to the client.

"Mr. Donovan, let me show you our top-of-the-line equipment..."

I breathe a sigh of relief, my shoulders relaxing for the first time all morning. As Grayson leads the client through the gear explanation, I catch his eye. To my surprise, the corner of his mouth twitches up in what might almost be a smile.

Maybe there's hope for me here after all. But I know that I have a long way to go. This job isn’t going to come easy for me, but I have grit and determination. I’m going to do whatever it takes to ensure I do a great job. I need to do a great job.

As the day winds down, I'm gathering my things to head home when Grayson emerges from his office. He pauses, eyeing me with an unreadable expression.

"Hayes," he says gruffly. "A word."

My stomach drops as I follow him into his office, bracing myself for another lecture. To my surprise, he gestures for me to take a seat.

"You handled yourself well today," he says, leaning against his desk. "Fixing that gear mix-up quickly was... impressive."

I blink, caught off guard by the unexpected praise. "Thank you, Mr. Wells. I'm sorry again for the mistake. It won't happen again."

He nods, his steel-gray eyes studying me intently. "See that it doesn't. This isn't just a job, Hayes. What we do here can mean life or death on that mountain. I need to know I can trust you."

"You can," I say firmly, meeting his gaze. "I may not know much about climbing gear yet, but I'm a fast learner. And I don't give up easily."

A ghost of a smile flickers across his face. "Good. Because neither does Fire Mountain."

As I leave the office, I can't help but feel a small thrill of victory. I may have stumbled out of the gate, but I managed to regain my footing. Tomorrow is a new day, a fresh chance to prove myself.

CHAPTER 2

GRAYSON

Irub my temples, trying to stave off the headache that's been threatening all morning. The new assistant—Skylar—is a whirlwind of cheerful energy that's throwing my entire routine off balance. I glance out my office window to see her chatting animatedly with Jake, both of them laughing as they sort through a pile of trail maps.

I growl under my breath. This isn't a social club; it's a serious business where people's lives are on the line. And yet... I can't deny the positive effect she's having on the team. Even gruff old Howard is smiling as she passes him a mug of coffee.

The gear mix-up from yesterday still rankles, but I have to admit I was impressed by how quickly she rallied to fix it. Most new hires would have crumbled under that kind of pressure, but she faced it head-on with a determination that was... admirable.

A knock at my door interrupts my thoughts. "Come in," I call out gruffly.

Skylar pokes her head in, that ever-present smile on her face. "Mr. Wells, I've finished organizing the client files and updated the expedition calendar. Is there anything else you need me to tackle?"

I blink, surprised by her efficiency. "Already? That's... good work, Hayes."

Her smile brightens even further, and I feel an unwelcome warmth in my chest. I clear my throat, pushing the feeling aside.

"There's a stack of equipment orders that need processing," I say, gesturing to a pile on my desk. "Think you can handle that without any mix-ups?"

A flicker of hurt crosses her face at the jab, but she quickly replaces it with determination. "Absolutely, Mr. Wells. I'll get right on it."

As she gathers up the paperwork, I find myself studying her. The sunlight streaming through the window catches her honey-blonde hair, giving her an almost ethereal glow. She's nothing like the typical people I hire—all outdoorsy types with years of wilderness experience. Skylar looks like she'd be more at home in a sunny cafe than on a treacherous mountain trail.

And yet, there's a strength to her I can't quite pin down. A resilience that shines through despite her lack of outdoor knowledge.

"Hayes," I say as she turns to leave. She pauses, looking back at me expectantly. "Good job on fixing that gear situation yesterday. You... handled it well."

Her face lights up with genuine pleasure at the compliment, and I'm struck by how easily she wears her emotions. It's been a long time since I've allowed myself to be that open, that vulnerable.

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