A Mate's Wish (Ouachita Mountain Shifters 0.5) (2 page)

Chapter Two

Renner hung up with his sister. He’d promised to update her as soon as he and Bethany were officially “locked in”. But of course, he left out the part about making her cry.

What the hell was that about anyway? It wasn’t like they were stranded under an avalanche with no way out. He’d just wanted a couple hours with her, to get to know her. Maybe impress her with his electronic skills or something. Whatever the case, he didn’t need Layna taking a swipe at his balls.

He returned to the front to find Bethany staring at the door as if it had slapped her mama. Her arms were crossed under her chest. Besides her uniform shirt and khakis, she had a lightweight cardigan on and she was wrapping the thing around her body like it was twenty degrees in the place.

This was all wrong. This wasn’t what he’d had in mind at all.

“Hey… it’s going to be a while. You might as well get off your feet. Why don’t we wait in the back where it’s comfortable.”

“How long?” she asked, not looking at him.

Renner unbuckled his tool belt and threw it on the floor next to his tools. “A couple hours or so, I’d guess.”

“
Hours
?” Her voice rose as she rounded out the syllable. “I can’t stay here for
hours
.”

Renner rubbed a palm over his five o’clock shadow. “It won’t be so bad,” he tried, but she pegged him with a furious glare. Her eyes, normally a gorgeous shade of green that reminded him of a brand new evergreen tree before its needles darkened, still held remnants of tears, and her face was splotchy.

Even still, she was beautiful enough to make his heart speed up.

“Alright. Fine.” He sank to the floor, leaning back against the wall, resting his arms on his knees. “We’ll do this the uncomfortable way. Seems like a waste with the couches just in the other room, but whatever.”

She was quiet, staring at the floor for too long before she spoke. “Why don’t you go on in there and use the couch and I’ll just stay here and wait for them to fix things.”

Renner’s brows fell low on his face. They were stuck in this place, and instead of talking to him like any normal person would, instead of having a conversation… she suggested they each wait in separate rooms until the door was fixed? What. The. Hell.

Rising from the floor, he jammed his hands in his pockets. “Do you have a problem with me?”

Bethany glanced at him and then quickly back to the floor. “Not… not really. I’m just… not one for conversation.”

“Is that right?”

She nodded.

“You’re not shy. You talk to everyone else. Just not me.”

She shook her head. “I’m tired. I just want to get to my room and sleep. I don’t want to be here.”

He eyed her. Her body was rigid, where earlier, when he’d watched her, she’d been relaxed and fluid. His plan was a fail. She wasn’t going to open up to him like this. She looked miserable.

Whatever her reasons for avoiding him, this was a mistake. One he could fix with a simple text.

He flipped through his phone to Magic’s number and sent the words that gave the okay for him to override the locking system and set them free.

Open
Sesame
.

It would only be a matter of minutes now.

Silently, he studied Bethany.

“That isn’t very nice you know?” she said.

“What?”

“Staring.”

Renner shrugged. “Who said I was nice?”

Her gaze snapped to him, and at the same time, he had the strangest sense of déjà vu. He’d had this conversation before. Many times actually, throughout his younger years.

“That isn’t very nice, you know?” She threw her shoulders back.

“What?”

“Calling names. I’m not a fatty.” She raised her chin.

“Who said I was nice?”

“You are. Deep down. I can tell.”

“You don’t know what I am deep down. You don’t know anything. I could be an animal. Or something worse. I could be a monster. Then what? Would you run away crying like you do about everything else?”

Sad watery eyes stared back at him, bottom lip trembling precariously. He hated being so mean but it was for her own good. She was tender and sweet and needed to be tougher. And she needed to hate him. Because even at twelve years old, he thought he could love her. In the way the cats loved. The forever way. The way you couldn’t ever escape. He’d trap her for life.

But he wouldn’t let that happen to her. Not her.

His phone buzzing broke through the memory.

What the hell did you do to that thing, Ren? I can’t get it open
.

Shit.

Just unlock it from the computer.

I tried that
.

Shit.

Try
again
.

“What is it?” Bethany asked.

“Nothing. Magic’s trying to get us out of here.”

“Great.” She stalked past him, disappearing through the narrow hallway to the back of the spa.

Renner sighed. He’d give her a few minutes before following. He examined the mess of wires that used to be a functioning electronic lock. He’d messed it up on purpose of course, but he hadn’t done enough damage that the override wouldn’t work. These things were made with a fail-safe. He tried manually resetting the lock but nothing moved. If Magic couldn’t disarm it from the computer, a quick call to the lock company should do the trick.

Renner tapped out a new text.
Just call Tri-safe and have them reset things
.

It was only a few seconds but it seemed like forever before Magic answered.
Already tried that. Their system is down
.

Bullshit. I need you to get us out of here now
.

If this was Magic trying to get back at him for pulling this stunt…

My hands are tied, dipshit. That storm up north brought ice through Kansas City and Tri-safe’s power’s down. Fucked their system all up. They’re only responding to emergencies until they’re up and running again. You and your lady are stuck for a while
.

Shiiiiit. This was serious. That was the longest text he’d ever gotten from Magic. He wouldn’t have wasted his time if he was yanking Renner around.

How long
?

No clue.

Let me know.

Fuck you
.

Yep. Magic was pissed. Great.

Renner dialed up Layna again.

She answered, but her voice was hushed, as if she was trying not to let on that she was talking to him. “You’ve really done it this time, Ren. Magic’s an inch away from changing.”

Fuck. There was nothing Magic hated more than letting his animal take control. It had to be done every once in a while, but Magic always waited until it was too much. Until his cat was too touchy, and the littlest thing set it off.

And this obviously wasn’t just a little thing. The spa was the highlight of the lodge. If visitors couldn’t make use of it because of this little ordeal, Magic would be doling out a shit ton of refunds. Refunds that would come out of Renner’s paycheck, no doubt.

“Is the system working for the rest of the lodge?”

“Yes, but it won’t let us override anything. As long as no one decides to pull their lock apart and mess with the wires—
ahem
—everything should be fine. You and Bethany, however, are screwed.”

Renner sighed. “Damn.”

“Yeah, damn. And fuck. And shit. And you’re going to hear about this for a very long time. I hope your time in there is worth it.”

He glanced toward the back of the spa. Bethany was practically hiding from him. He doubted their time would be anywhere near worth this trouble.

“Listen, can you bring us food? Things aren’t… going so well. Maybe it could help take her mind off of things. And who knows how long we’ll be here.”

“Food? Are you kidding? How am I supposed to get food to you? Abra-fucking-cadabra or something, Ren?”

Geez.

“There’s the air purification vent above the door. You could push a dish through there. I’ll unhook it so it’s ready if you’ll just bring the food.”

The phone was silent.

“It’s for Bethany,” he murmured.

More silence.

“Fine,” Layna snapped. “For Bethany.”

“Thank you, sis.”

The line clicked dead as a ‘you’re welcome’.

***

Beth busied herself organizing the shelves along the wall of the main parlor. She’d tried the back door that led out to the open air area where Christina did yoga classes, but it was no good. The lock set both doors. There was no way out. The simple task of separating bottles of oil by scent helped take her mind off of the situation. Made her feel a tad less trapped. Sort of.

Maybe if she could stay busy “working” she could avoid Renner until the lock was sprung.

She made sure all the bottle labels were lined up facing front and all the utensils were hanging side by side. The towels were folded and stacked pristinely on the racks. She wiped down all the massage tables with disinfectant even though it had already been done.

When she’d straightened and organized everything she could find, she went back to the lotions and oils and messed them all up so she could fix them again.

Just how long was it going to take for Magic to unlock the door?

She sighed. Maybe this was pointless. Renner would figure out who she was eventually. She couldn’t avoid him all season. Especially with the Christmas celebration coming up. It was an all hands on deck event, and it took days to prepare in a way that wouldn’t disturb the guests. It meant lots of overtime to pad her pockets, but it also meant she’d see Renner a lot. Layna had mentioned Renner was in charge of the event.

Layna. She couldn’t believe the first friend she’d made here at the lodge had turned out to be Renner’s older sister. Luck had no love for Beth, and this just proved it. She didn’t even know he had a sister. As kids, she’d thought he was an only child.

She felt—not heard—him enter the room. His presence was like a warm blanket on her chilled body. And he wasn’t even near enough to breathe on her.

What was wrong with her?

Beth threw her shoulders back and turned to face him.

“You hungry?” he asked. In one hand, he held a small round foil pan, and two water bottles were tucked under his arm. Whatever was in that container smelled like heaven and garlic.

“No, thanks. You eat it.”

Her stomach growled in argument.

“It’s for you. Layna brought it.”

Beth’s brows furrowed. “How did she get in here?”

“She didn’t. I disconnected the air filter and she slid it through. Here, take it. You’re obviously hungry.”

He shoved it into her hands so she couldn’t refuse. She swallowed the knot in her throat. She couldn’t eat now. Not with him. Eating was worse than merely spending time in the same room. Eating was something he’d always thrown in her face as being the cause of her pudginess. And even though she’d come to terms with the fact that she was always going to be on the thicker side, and even loved her curves, there was no way she could eat while he watched her. She’d end up doing weird things like chewing without breathing or fumbling the fork like a bad football play.

Nope. Satisfying her rumbly stomach wasn’t worth it.

Beth shook her head, hoping to slap her brain into thinking normally again. Why the hell did she care what he thought now anyway? They weren’t kids anymore. She didn’t know anything about him and he didn’t know anything about her. They’d grown up, and apart, so how could his opinion even matter now?

“You eat it.” She shoved it back at him but he didn’t take it. He only frowned, like he was staring at a puzzle he couldn’t solve.

Beth set the container on the counter and went back to reorganizing the bottles of oil and vitamin supplements. Renner sank into one of the couches looking perturbed.

“So… what’s your story, Bethany?”

Her hand hovered over a bottle. The way his voice curled around her name, it sent a shiver branching through her body and limbs like a strike of lightning.

“How much longer do you think it will be?”

Renner sighed. “A while probably. Why don’t you just sit and relax? Isn’t that what this place is for?”

When she continued messing with the bottles instead of answering, he rose from the couch. He eased up behind her, his breath landing on her bare neck. She wanted to run away. Or maybe stay. If she was someone different. Or if he was.

He reached around, covering her hand with his for a moment before pulling the bottle from her grasp and setting it back on the shelf. Then he just stood there, invading her space, staring at her profile while she stared at anything that wasn’t him.

Come on, Beth. Get a grip. Deal with this mess like you have an ounce of badass in you.

Before she could over think it, she turned to stare into his eyes. Attempting an even tone, she asked, “What did Layna bring?”