Spirit Bear

By RJ Scott

Forced proximity means falling in love is easy, but secrets can tear them apart.

Aiden hides who he is. Losing his dad five years ago in the most horrific way has left him scarred and wary. He’s supposed to inherit everything his dad worked so hard to build, but he feels nothing for his legacy. It's time for him to take over his Dad's wildlife park, but unless he has love for what he's doing, then what is the point?

Mitchell’s entire life changes when he hears a lecture on conservationism from Dominic Novak, and like the rest of the world, he’s stunned when he hears Dominic has died. Five years later, he has worked hard to prove that he deserves a permanent position at Novak Park, he needs to show the new owner what an asset he would be.

Aiden wants to be seen as his own person, Mitchell wants a career, neither of them expected to fall in love. Forced to share a cabin as they work at a grizzly bear sanctuary in British Columbia, love is possible even if secrets are revealed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: RJ Scott
• Release date: Feb 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301687114

RJ Scott

RJ Scott is the author of the best selling Male/Male romances The Christmas Throwaway, The Heart Of Texas and the Sanctuary Series of books.She writes romances between two strong men and always gives them the happy ever after they deserve.

Book preview

Chapter One

No. Just no, Edward Brandon was horrified.

Anthony Novak sat back in the chair, shocked by the vehemence in his guardian’s voice.

But I don’t see why not, he said . Edward was his dad’s oldest friend and, more often than not, indulged Anthony in most everything he had wanted after his dad had died ten years ago. Since Edward had been the closest thing he had to family for so long, it was hard for Anthony to hear the word ‘no’.

Edward sighed heavily and scrubbed a hand over his face. He looked tired and Anthony knew he’d been up all night with the lemurs. Because it’s the most stupid idea in the long list of all the really stupid ideas that you have ever had, he said.

Anthony exhaled noisily and wished he didn’t feel like a ten-year-old at the moment. He was twenty-four and he knew exactly what he wanted to do. His friend and mentor would come round to his way of thinking eventually.

No one actually knows my real name at the moment, Anthony began. It’s been five years since I last hit the papers. I just want to stay under the pseudonym for a few weeks more. I don’t understand why that is so difficult for you to understand.

Because now you’re coming here to the Park full time. You should be coming on as full partner as a Novak, not as Aiden Samuels. You have a responsibility to your father’s name.

Something twisted in Aiden’s chest at the mention of that huge weight pressing him down.

I promise you, he said. Whether I join the Park as partner or ranger, I’ll be Anthony Novak. But just for three more weeks, let me be anonymous. I’ve lived five years as Aiden Samuels, twenty-one more days isn’t going to hurt.

Edward contemplated him over steepled fingers. So let me get this straight. You want to be part of the annual bear census at the Khutzeymateen reserve but you want to go under your assumed name. All in the hope that the bear census organizers won’t realize who you are.

The Spirit Bear Park, an animal reserve in British Columbia, was named for the elusive pale-furred black bears that could sometimes be seen in the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia. Dominic Novak had spent a year studying them as a young man and he’d always said to Aiden that they were part of his soul.

Dad was such a big part of the bear studies. If they knew I was there, his son, then yes, I wouldn’t be just another ranger on his first educational placement, but someone they would expect more from.

More? Edward appeared puzzled and Anthony knew he hadn’t explained all this enough to make it clear to his dad’s closest friend. He opened his mouth to explain but Edward got there first. I know how difficult it is to live in the shadow of your dad. Edward was sincere in what he said. He was a larger-than-life character, but you are his son and one day everyone will know that.

But why does it need to be today? Can I not just have another three weeks of being anonymous?

Edward was quiet. I don’t know what to say.

I’m not my dad. I don’t have his instinct with animals. All the books I’ve read don’t mean I can share what I learned with others and show the level of passion he had.

Your dad was a showman. You don’t have to be just like him, Edward protested.

But if I could have half of the success that Dad had in furthering conservation—or even a quarter—I would be happy. I know it’s time for me to use my expensive education and work here at Spirit Bear. Anthony pushed away the edge of impatience in his voice. He wanted to work at the reserve, but he knew as soon as people knew who he was they would look at him with pity or stare with dollar signs in their eyes. Working on the annual bear census would be one way of getting into the thick of things without everyone’s expectations hanging around his neck.

Work here as the joint owner, with me. Edward said.

I can't just walk into that. I want to learn from the ground up. I want to see it all, and just for a while longer I want to be Aiden Samuels, not Anthony Novak.

Anthony crossed his arms over his chest and eyed Edward, looking for a chink in his impenetrable armor, but he could see nothing. Okay, so working and living under his assumed name for a little longer was probably a bad idea, but hell, he just wanted to enjoy his time with the bears. If just for that short time longer he could be Aiden Samuels, new guy, then maybe he could find what that passion inside him without all the extra crap he would have to deal with otherwise.

Edward nodded slowly. You were such a tiny baby when your mom died, and then losing your dad… I know it’s hard. But to hide who you are now, I don’t get that. Whatever the newspapers throw at you, we can handle it.

"I’m not sure I can. Just the three weeks where I can think about what I do and get a handle on it all. Please?"

What about the ranger you would be going to Canada with? What will you tell him?

Nothing at first. I’ll be Aiden for three weeks, then on the flight back I’ll tell him who I really am. That much was clear in his head.

That there is a recipe for disaster and could go all kinds of wrong. He’ll feel like you lied to him.

That’s a chance I’ll have to take. You’re looking for a new ranger—look at the application I filled in.

Edward rifled papers, his lips tight, his eyes dark with indecision and questions, before finally sighing and moving the pen down the application form. Aiden Samuels, twenty-four, degree in Zoology and college work placements, on paper the perfect candidate for a position here.

But no real-life field experience, apart from the month in the Sudan. That is what I feel is missing, what I need to be comfortable in my new role, Anthony insisted. How can I manage rangers who have more instinct with their animals than I do?

Anthony knew he was right. He may well have had field experience as a child because he’d been a constant companion to his dad for the years leading up to Dominic Novak’s death. But at the end of it all, he needed adult experience.

Okay, Edward said thoughtfully. Go to the placement with the bears, do the three weeks. He held up a hand to forestall what Anthony wanted to say. Let me finish. Complete the three more weeks as Aiden Samuels and think about what you want to do when you come back. What I really want, and what you deserve, is for you to take your place as equal partner. Not as another ranger.

Okay. That wasn’t such a hardship. Should I consider myself added to the bear count team? Anthony asked softly. He could see the battle in Edward’s eyes, knowing how hard it must be to see his friend’s son, half-owner of the Park, sitting so hopefully for a decision on a placement that he could just add himself to anyway. But he needed to do this to get the missing passion and instinct in himself that he so desperately wanted to find.

Edward sighed. Consider yourself hired.

The Spirit Bear Park Education Center wasn’t new and it certainly lacked the sparkle of a new paint job. But it was lived-in and it was home for Mitchell in ways his own had never been. This collection of buildings with rooms to teach was a legacy from Professor Novak, and Mitchell was the assistant manager and lead teacher. Every day a new slew of students from schools tagged alongside students from universities on placements, and the mismatch and jumble of resources and knowledge was passed on to spread the word.

Spirit Bear Park had been established some time ago and large open spaces made it an award-winning attraction, but it wasn’t just a place for people to visit on their downtime. The Park made a valuable contribution to conservation. It was a place where families could see animals roaming freely and learn more about the various endangered species that Dominic Novak had begun to re-home twenty years before.

It was Mitchell’s first job and he was convinced it would