“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?”