Free To Woo A Warrior (Southern Sanctuary) by Jane Cousins

That just left the desk, covered with a hotch potch of antique stone masks and statues depicting
phantasms and ghosts.
    Sitting on the edge of the desk was
Professor Xander Marr.  Hadleigh assumed he’d been posing there since the
moment he knew they were coming. The muted light from the floor to ceiling
windows hitting his hair perfectly so that auburn glints in his brown hair
effectively gave him a halo whilst his salon tanned skin glowed with health. He
was such a stark contrast to Vaughn’s effortless golden good looks and rugged
masculinity that she had to clamp her lips together to prevent the laughter
from spilling out.
     “Hello there.” He affected a
surprised look, as if to intimate that he’d had no idea he would be having
visitors. Gleaming white teeth almost blinded her as he focused a welcoming
smile her way.
    “Xander Marr I’d like to introduce
you to the newest member of our team, Hadleigh.” Vaughn deliberately left off
her surname; it was just one more of the many things that Xander didn’t need to
know. 
    Hadleigh was surprised to note the
moment Vaughn relinquished his hold on her hand she missed the feel of it.
Tamping down on her weakness she stepped past him to shake hands with Xander.
Who was only just realising now how tall she was, as he scrambled off the desk,
only to discover that even standing ram rod straight she still had several
inches on him.
    “Hadleigh, my aren’t you a… ”   Xander winced ever so slightly as Hadleigh
unconsciously tightened her grip.
    She swore to the Goddess that if he
said tall or sturdy she’d break his hand. 
    “… statuesque one.”  Xander finished quickly, discreetly rubbing his hand.
    “Thank you.” Hadleigh managed to
mutter, though she wasn’t sure if being described as statuesque was precisely a
compliment. But still when you were built like a brick outhouse as her brothers
so often stated a girl had to take what she could get.
    “I think the audience will get a
real thrill seeing you fill out Serena’s costume.”  Xander actually let
his eyes travel slowly down her legs, a smile lifting the corner of his perfect
mouth as if he could already imagine her wearing Serena’s tiny sparkling purple
shorts.
    “No shorts!” Vaughn barked, causing
Hadleigh to inwardly flinch. Goddess above why must this man constantly hammer
away at her already fragile self-esteem with his vehemence that she remain covered from head to toe?  “She’ll be outfitted
like the rest of the team.” Vaughn continued, lowering his voice. “More
professional.”
    “Well we know she already looks
stunning in black.” Xander smiled, ignoring Vaughn’s outburst. “I suppose it’s
just a question now of how much of a distraction she’ll be for me?”
    “Excuse me?” Hadleigh raised an
eyebrow briefly as she queried that statement. 
    Xander sent her a self-deprecating
smile that looked entirely too practised to be sincere.  “It can get
pretty hairy out there on assignment. If I have to protect you as well as do my
job of tracking and verifying the paranormal entity then we’re going to have a
problem.”
    Hadleigh relaxed. “No worries, I’m
very good at looking after myself.”
    “She tossed Flynn to the floor in
her interview X.  I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
    Xander chuffed a derisive laugh.
“Forgive me for being sceptical but we all know Flynn can be easily distracted.
Why don’t Hadleigh and I go a quick round or two right now just to give me peace of mind?  I mean we still have all those girls’
resumes on file, so it won’t be too much trouble to get some of them back in if
Hadleigh doesn’t work out.”  Xander shot her another smile as if to negate
the blow he’d just delivered.
    It was all Vaughn could do not to
slap the man up the back of the head for his stupidity. Could he not see what a
prize Hadleigh was? Did he not trust Vaughn’s opinion? And finally had the
sight of the hundreds of rejected