Merrily Mated(9)

Layna’s gaze jerked to her brother. She wanted to deny that Ryan had any influence on her mood, but she couldn’t lie to Ren.

“It’s weird with him not around,” she admitted, looking away.

Renner sighed. “Yeah, it is. But he wasn’t happy here anymore. He was right to go.”

Layna chewed her lip, picking up a pen to doodle on the ledger. Ryan wasn’t happy here according to Renner, but somehow, she’d failed to notice it.

She felt like a shit.

Of course there were problems in the clan. Lots of people weren’t at their full happy potential. She was one of them. But Ryan had a smile for her most days. He was the one who joked. The one who sang obnoxious karaoke and made everyone giggle. He waggled his eyebrows like a cartoon character and played games with Rhys. He was the happiest one of them all, except for maybe those who were mated.

But then the way he looked last night… torn and defeated. Grief-stricken like her. Maybe happy Ryan was a lie.

Her cougar snarled inside, unsatisfied with that thought. She needed her mate happy. Required it. And if leaving did that for him…

Layna shook her head.

She could’ve made him happy. She would have tried. If only she’d stopped him. Put herself out there like he had so many times. Maybe things would be different right now. Maybe he would have stayed.

Her cat chuffed, frustrated. Her animal would never let her mate with a weak male, and Ryan walking away made him weak.

Still, Layna would have tried if she hadn’t been stunned speechless by his kiss.

The cougar hissed.

Damn it, the back and forth with her mind and her cat was driving her insane. Remembering his goodbye made her see red, and not in a holly jolly way. She needed to run the woods again, let her animal work through shit.

But there was her job to do. Who’d see to their guests and make sure things ran smoothly if she took off to run with her cat.

The phone rang, and she almost fell to her knees in thanks. Renner gave her a salute and walked off as she held the receiver to her ear.

“Lake Haven Lodge, this is Layna speaking.” She gave whoever was on the other end her most pleasant voice. Time to buckle up her emotions and get stuff done.

“Hey there, Layna.” The man’s voice was deep and unrecognizable as he drawled. She imagined him propped against the grimy wall of a sleazy bar, one arm above his head as he hunched over the phone. “Sexy name by the way. Laaayna. Mm, mm, mmm.”

He paused, and she assumed she was supposed to giggle coyly at his compliment. Instead, she ground her molars to keep from snapping at him.

Potential customer. Don’t munch the potential customer’s head off.

“How can I help you, sir?” Somehow her voice came out relatively calm.

The man laughed, slow and smooth. His attempt at sounding sexy? It only made him sound like a snake.

“Aw, now. Let me count the ways. I bet a woman like you—”

“Would you like to make a reservation, sir? Or are you looking for the kitchen? I’d love to patch you through if you’re going to order.”

The phone was quiet for several seconds. “Actually, Layna…” He drew her name out on a low rumble. “I’m looking for someone. A… friend. He might be staying there at your lodge. Goes by the name of Gash.”

Layna let out the breath she was holding. She’d been about to launch into the we-don’t-share-our-guest’s-information bit, but this guy was a friend of Gash’s. And go figure.

Gash was new to the loyal way of life the Ouachita cats promoted. He’d made personal adjustments in order to join the clan and had adapted pretty well so far. But it didn’t surprise Layna that he had a smarmy friend or two.

“Gash? Yeah, you want me to send you to his office?” She’d love to pass this asshole off.

“Office? He works there?”

“Yep. Here, let me patch you through. It’ll only take a sec—”

“No. No, no don’t you worry about that, Layna. I can talk to Gash when he’s not so busy.”

“This is his slow time. It should be fine. But I can tell him you called if you’d like.”

“No. That won’t be necessary.” His tone was firm, the put-on sexiness gone. “I’ll reach out to him soon. Thanks for your help, Layna.”

The line clicked dead as he hung up without a goodbye.

She set the phone back in the cradle and then picked it up again, deciding to tell Gash about his friend. But the light blinked, telling her another call was coming through. It was the family in 412 needing towels. No sooner had she hung up on them, before the light blinked again. Mrs. Hebler wanting to schedule a massage with Mason.

Layna grinned as she jotted down her info. Allllll the ladies wanted Mason over Bethany. Lucky for Mrs. Hebler, he wasn’t booked up yet.