by P. Jameson
Layna nodded, crossing her arms over her chest. “Shifter hearing. It’s the best.”
Oh. Of course Layna was also a cat.
Layna’s gaze went to Renner. “What about the code?”
“What code?” Beth asked.
He glared at his sister. “Do you think I give a shit about the code?”
“Yes. Yes, I do.”
“What code?”
“I’m going to talk to Magic. I have a plan.” They went on like she wasn’t there. “It doesn’t have to be like it was before, Layna. We can be different than our ancestors. Have a family. Be faithful. I know it can be done, and I’m going to convince Magic to give it a try.”
Layna’s expression had changed. Normally tough and hard to break, now she looked stricken. “Do you really think it’s possible, Ren?”
He nodded solemnly. “I do. The way I feel with Bethy… if you can find that, it will be different. You won’t end up like our mother.”
Layna was quiet for so long, staring thoughtfully. Glancing at Bethany, she nodded. “I hope you’re right.” She turned and opened the door to leave. “Oh, Christina covered for you with Magic, but you need to get to the spa ASAP. And, I told him about your brother. He’ll cover any expenses.” She cocked her head to one side, squinting. “And… he said thank you. I’m not sure when I last heard those words from his mouth. This is an interesting development for sure.”
With that, she left, the door banging shut behind her.
“What’s the code?” Beth asked one more time.
“It’s a cat thing. You don’t need to worry about it. Come here,” he said, pulling her down for a kiss.
“Are you sure?”
He nodded. “I just need to talk to Magic and everything will be fine.”
“Okay.”
She kissed him once more before dressing in his clothes and stealthily making her way back to her room.
***
The sun was setting when Ryan pulled into the parking lot of the lodge. Beth was practically bouncing in her Uggs to see him. She had so much to tell him, but when the passenger side door of his truck opened and she realized he hadn’t come alone, her excitement crashed.
Josie stepped out, looking like she’d been pasted from a ski resort catalogue. Beth wondered if she realized there was no snow in the Ouachitas yet.
Beth didn’t have long to wonder about it because Ryan rushed over, scooping her up in a hug. Her brother was such a tall and burley man, he made her feel tiny even though she was anything but.
“She’s here because she wants to help, Beth,” he whispered into her ear. “Hear her out, okay?”
Beth managed to nod.
“How is my little corndog?” he asked.
She gave him a horrified look. “God, don’t call me that. What are we, three?”
He sighed. “Growing up is hard to do.”
“Whatever.” Beth looked past his shoulder at the woman she used to call best friend. “Josie.”
She rushed forward as if she’d been given a green light. “Hi, Beth. Look, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for a while now.”
Probably wanting Beth to front her for another new car. Bad enough she was still paying on the last one. After college, Josie hadn’t wanted to grow up, and Beth spent several years enabling her over-the-top lifestyle while working enough hours to make the Keebler elves look lazy.
Until she’d put her foot down. A time she liked to refer to as Summer-geddon. The end of a friendship as they knew it.
Josie dug around in her designer shoulder bag. “It’s a knock-off,” she said, sheepishly. After a bit more rummaging, she came out with a stuffed envelope and held it out to Beth. “Here.”
“What’s this?” Beth took the package, thumbing it open. There was a thick wad of cash inside.
“It’s… an apology. It’s enough to pay off the loan on the car.”
Whoa. “Are you serious?”
Josie nodded.
“How did you do this?”
A short laugh escaped her. “I worked for it. I got a job at the Indigo Club.”
Beth’s eyes grew wide. “No, Jos. You can’t do that.”
Josie shook her head. “It’s not what you think. I’m doing their books. Accounting and stuff. I don’t even set foot in the club. There’s a legit office downtown.”
Bethany eyed her friend.
“Hey, you were right. It feels good to use my degree.” There was a hint of pride in her voice, but she was also unsure. “Ry told me you needed help up here and I had a few days off for the holidays so… here I am. I want to help.”
Beth nodded, ignoring the tears blistering her eyes. “Thank you, Jos. I appreciate it.”
“It’s… it’s what friends are for, right?” Her hopeful tone sent Beth barreling forward to hug her.
She would tread carefully, but this was the most proactive thing Josie had ever done, and Beth wouldn’t snub her nose at it.
A throat cleared behind them, and they broke apart, each brushing tears away.
Magic stood tall next to Ryan, the two men looking unbearably uncomfortable.
“This is Magic,” Beth sniffed. “He runs the lodge. Magic, this is my brother Ryan…” But Magic’s gaze was on Josie instead of her brother. “And that’s Josie. They’ve… uh, come to help take over for Renner until he’s better.”
Magic squinted, cocking his head. “Do I know you?”
Josie frowned. “I don’t think so.”
“Are you from Weston?”
“No. Memphis.”
The intensity of his stare never let up.
Ryan stuck his hand out. “Nice to meet you, Magic. We’ll talk to Renner and have this place ready to go by the weekend.”
Magic shook it, finally breaking his stare with Josie. “Appreciate it.” He turned to Beth. “Layna’s at the front desk. She can show them to their rooms. Two, right?”
Beth nodded.
“Good. We’ll talk later then.” He stalked off before anything else could be said.
“Alright.” Beth clapped her hands together. “Follow me and we’ll get you all set.”
Inside, the lobby was full of patrons chatting and taking advantage of the free hot cocoa. Layna waved them over.
“Where’s your brother?” she asked.
“Right here,” Beth laughed. “This is Ryan and this is my friend, Josie.”
Layna’s eyebrows popped. “This is Ryan? From the pictures? He, uh… sure grew up.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” he husked.
Beth frowned at her brother. That tone.
“Ditto,” Layna said, flipping through the room assignment book. “But I only have you down for one room, is that right?”
“No, actually they need two. I didn’t realize Josie was coming.”
“Okay. Yeah, great.” Layna’s voice was an octave too high, and pinched. “We can do separate rooms. No problem.”
“Right, well… Layna will get you your rooms and in the morning you can meet with Renner to find out what needs to be done. Sound good?”
“Sounds great,” Ryan said. He watched Layna scribble something out of the book.
“Tomorrow then.”
Beth waved her goodbyes and went to check on Renner.
Chapter Ten
Day three of Project Christmas Deco was in full swing, and with Ryan and Josie’s help, things were going right according to schedule. Renner was nearly fully recuperated but Doc Davis wouldn’t give him the all-clear. She wanted him to take advantage of having extra hands around.
A giant hand clapped Renner on the back and he held in a wince. Okay, so maybe his cat needed a couple extra days.
“Hey, brother,” Ryan boomed. “It sure has been good seeing you around again.”
Renner nodded.
Ryan had grown into his lanky pre-teen body, and now he was one huge-ass dude.
“Yeah. I’m glad Bethy called you, Ry.”
He frowned. “Bethy? She l
et you call her that?”
Renner nodded. “Why?”
“She threatened to cut my nuts off one time for calling her Bethy.” He shrugged. “Thought she’d grown out of it.”
Renner’s lips curled into a grin. “Pretty sure I’m the only one allowed to. I get special privileges.”
Ryan stiffened. “You and my sister?”
“Yeah.” His answer came out breathy, and he cleared his throat. “You know I always had a thing for her.”
Ryan sighed. “I guessed as much. But damn, you know I’m supposed to clock you now, right?”
Renner’s eyes were drawn to his friend’s ripped bicep. “We could always skip that part.”
Ryan was quiet, staring out at the sun setting over the mountain. “This thing with Beth, is it casual for you?”
“One hundred percent not casual for me.” Renner took a deep breath. “I love her, Ryan.”
“You’ve only known her a few weeks.”
“I’ve known her my whole life. We just got separated for a while.”
Ryan rubbed his gloved hands together. “Does… she love you?”
“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.”
“And if she doesn’t.”
Renner shrugged. “It changes nothing.”
“And if she does?”
“If she does…” His stomach turned somersaults at the thought. “It changes everything.”
Ryan nodded, staring at Renner past one arched eyebrow. “We can skip the clocking. For now.”
Renner watched until Ryan disappeared behind the nativity stable. He’d need to talk to Magic soon, explain the situation.
Inside, he stopped at the restaurant to look for Bethany. She sat at a table across from Eagan. They were deep in conversation, and she was using her half eaten breadstick to gesture as she spoke. Renner came up behind her, slipping his hands around her shoulders.
“Oh, hey.” She smiled up at him, and he never knew a simple expression could feel like the sunshine on his skin in the spring. Her magic was never ending.
“Hey, babe.”
He sank into the chair next to her, and she dropped her breadstick onto the plate.
“How’s the decorating? Everything working out with Ry?”
“Yeah. Perfectly. We’re right on schedule.”
“I saw the lights go up last night,” Eagan said. “Everything looks great.”
Renner picked up Bethany’s fork and twirled some spaghetti onto it. “Open.” He brought it to her mouth, but she looked uncomfortable. “You weren’t done, right? You didn’t eat much.”
One corner of her mouth turned up. “I’ll eat later.”
Renner frowned. She’d turned down every invitation to have dinner, yet she ate with Eagan. He pushed away the kernel of jealousy forming in his gut.
Beth took the fork from his hand and shoved the bite in her mouth, nodding as she chewed. “You’re right. I’m still hungry.”
He took the fork back, twirling more pasta and holding it up for her. She hesitated, but opened her mouth for the bite.
“So,” Eagan said, kicking back in his chair. “Tell me about your friend. She single?”
“As far as I know. We haven’t stayed in contact.”
“She like pasta?”
Bethany grinned. “Yeah. Who doesn’t?”
He arched an eyebrow. “True. Maybe I’ll take her some room service, yeah?”
“Go for it, E,” she said.
“Yeah, okay. I’ll catch y’all later.”
They watched Eagan head back into the kitchen. Renner brushed a finger down her cheek. “You okay?”
Her smile was genuine. “Yeah.”
“I need to talk to Magic, and then I’m heading home. Will you be there?”
Her eyes flit away shyly. “I’ve been there every night, haven’t I?”
“Yes, you have.” His mouth raised in a grin. “And I want it to stay that way.” He squeezed her thigh, high enough up to make her gasp.
“I’ll be there. Promise.” She giggled.
Renner leaned in, tugging her earlobe with his teeth. “You better,” he whispered. “Or I’ll come find you.”
“If you don’t stop, I have a feeling Mrs. Markel will be using you for story fodder. She’s watching us,” she whispered.
“She is?”
Bethany nodded.
“Better give her something story-worthy then.” Renner grabbed Bethany’s face, owning her mouth until a rough throat cleared. The sound was like rocks rubbing together, and something Renner recognized as trouble.
He looked up to find Magic glaring down at him.
“You’re feeling better, I see.”
“Magic. I was actually looking for you.”
His friend smirked. “Yes, in Bethany’s mouth. If I’m ever missing, that’s the first place people should look.”
“Ha. Ha.”
Magic’s gaze went to Bethany, and her blush caused him to smirk yet again. “Relax, Bethany. I’m sure your mouth is a wonderful place to hide out. I just usually choose my office instead.”
Yeah, that wasn’t helping. If it was possible, her blush went even deeper.
“Alright, let’s go talk this shit out.” Renner stood, and Magic strode out of the restaurant. “See you later, babe.”
In the office, Magic sat behind the desk, running his thumb along his bottom lip. It wasn’t a good sign, and what Renner had to say wasn’t good either. At least, not for the cats. Not for Magic.
“I’m going to mate her.” Better to just get it all out in the open. Fast and hard.
Magic didn’t seem surprised. “I know.”
“You know. That’s all you have to say?”
His friend’s eyes held a sadness that was hard to look at. “You’ll have to leave, Ren. You can’t stay here. Cut ties with Layna.”
A muscle in Renner’s jaw ticked. “Have you thought about what I said? About making our own way, making things different for our clan?”
Magic scrubbed a hand over his face. “Yes. I have, and it’ll never work.”
“Why wouldn’t it?”
“How could we be sure? What if we start out with good intentions and then end up hurting everyone we love? What if our ways, our nature, is just too much to keep a handle on?”
“We can’t be sure, M. It’s called a commitment. A dual mating. She chooses me, and I choose her. And then we stick to it. We never give up what we have. It’s the only way it works. Completely abolish the old ways. Sure, there’s no guarantee. When is there ever a guarantee attached to love? It’s a risk, but it’s got to be worth it. It’s got to be.”
“That’s what I don’t understand,” he whispered. “Why are you willing to risk her? We’ve watched our mothers suffer the loneliness of mating. And others. Why would you chance putting your woman through that?”
Renner sat forward in his chair. He had to make Magic understand. “Because I love her, Magic. She won’t be lonely because I never want to leave her side. Leaving as a kid almost killed me. I have her back now, and I’m never letting go. If I have to give up my family, my clan, you… I will. I will, because me and Bethy? We belong to each other. And that’s the most important thing in my life now.”
Magic shook his head, banged his fist on the table.
Renner waited. He’d been laid bare. If Magic wouldn’t see reason, then there was no place for Renner here.
“This will never work. The others will be angry.”
“Not when they see how it is. We can prove to them we’re different.”
“Does she know how you feel about her?”
“No. Not yet. But soon.”
“And if she doesn’t want this? Then what? Will you mark her?”
The thought of Bethy not wanting him was horrifying. “I won’t do anything to hurt her. I made a promise, and I intend to keep it. If she won’t have me, the mating is off.”
Magic stood and paced behind his desk.
“I’ll make you a
deal. If… if Bethany agrees to the mate, if you explain it all, and she agrees to forever…” He locked his hands behind his head and took a deep breath, as if he was about to go over Niagara Falls. “Then we try it your way.”
Renner had to believe this would work. For the sake of his heart, and hers, and for the sake of the clan. They needed more than this life they were living. His sister, Magic, even Eagan. They needed love, and a family to call their own.
“Deal.”
Chapter Eleven
The Christmas celebration was a hit. The lodge was overrun by locals, and even Magic seemed a bit more jolly than normal. The live band they’d hired blared carols through several different speaker systems around the grounds, and at ten o’clock sharp their music would correspond with the light show Renner and Ryan had set up.
Bethany stood near the nativity, sipping hot chocolate in between her shifts as one of Santa’s elves and passing out cookies to the kids riding the toy train. Warm arms wrapped around her from behind, and Renner’s breath on her neck gave her a sense of rightness.
They’d grown so close over the past week and a half. Sometimes she thought she was crazy, going all in with a person who’d hurt her before. But when he looked at her like she not only hung the moon, but tamed it and rode it like a thoroughbred, she couldn’t help but feel like the risk was worth it. Not just worth it, but necessary.
And he’d gone above and beyond to show her how much he cared. To explain about his life. His mother and father, and how he’d ended up in foster care. To answer her every question.
The one question she hadn’t asked about was mating. Marking, he’d called it. She hadn’t wanted to jinx things. But now it was Christmas Eve and their time was running out. In another week, her contract with Magic would be over and she’d have to leave. The idea that all that ‘forever’ talk was just something said in the heat of passion left her feeling ill.
But then again, was she ready for a commitment like that? Forever was a long time.
“What’s wrong?” His words traveled into her ear mixing with the lyrics of the Christmas carols.
She turned in his arms and went up on her tip toes to kiss him. His mouth opened to hers and he tasted like chocolate. Decadent.
“Nothing’s wrong,” she breathed.
“What do you think?” he asked, gesturing to the decorations.