Ryland’s face fell. “Not yet.”
Connor stood. “See? She doesn’t want anything to do with me…I mean, with us. She’s happier on her own.” He sat back down again. “I failed her. I failed Lloyd.”
“You did no such thing.”
“I promised to take care of her.”
“You made that promise to yourself, Connor. Lloyd was already gone. He never would have asked you to put your life on hold for his family.”
“It doesn’t matter. I couldn’t help her, and she left. End of story. Elaine moved on without me. Now I have to move on too.”
Ryland sighed. “I had no idea this meeting would suck so much ass.”
Connor burst out laughing. “Neither did I. Life has sucked ass lately.”
“It’s improving.”
“How’s Lia feeling?”
“Good. Well, as good as she can feel at eight months, anyway. She’s exhausted, and she’s still putting in long days writing her next book and helping around the lodge. I keep telling her to slow down, but she won’t listen.” He smiled. “I offer her a lot of back rubs. It’s the only way I can get her to stop moving for five minutes. And then she falls asleep.”
“Poor bear man. Not getting any action, are you?”
His eyes narrowed. “I do just fine in the action department, thank you very much. Besides, my mate is carrying my child. It’s the most awesome feeling in the world. Action can wait. One day, you’ll have a family and you’ll feel the same way.”
“No, thanks. I’m a confirmed bachelor.” He stood and held out his hand. “Thanks for understanding, Ry.”
Ryland stood and shook his hand. “It’s what we do here at the Ursa, isn’t it? We understand each other.”
He couldn’t argue there. Ryland had taken him in fresh out of college after doing a diploma in law and security. They’d been about the same age, and Connor had gravitated to Ryland’s enthusiasm for his resort idea. They’d all been ready to take on the world back then.
Who knew they’d be forced to do just that?
Gemini Island had been his spiritual and professional home for years now. His best friends worked here with him. He’d miss Bart and Soren and Killian and the rest of the guys.
And Lloyd.
Ryland looked at the floor. “I miss him, too.”
Connor nodded. “It’s just…ah, hell. Remember your thirtieth birthday? Lloyd snuck into your office the night before and filled it with pink balloons. You couldn’t even get in the door. The balloons all said, ‘I’m the birthday princess’.”
The bear man cracked up. “Yeah, I remember. It was the same day the hotel inspector showed up. If I’d been able to find Lloyd, I would have tanned his ass, but he kept himself hidden all day. I thought someone had dropped me into an episode ofFawlty Towers.”
They stood together in companionable silence, both of them lost in their recollections.
When the office phone rang, they both jumped.
Ryland answered. “This is Ryland Snow.”
Connor was just about to make his exit when the conversation demanded his attention.
“Elaine?” Ry waved at him. “It’s so good to hear from you. How are you? How are the kids?”
Connor’s mountain lion perched on his kidney, watching Ryland through bright eyes.
All of a sudden, Connor had trouble swallowing. Why would she be calling?
Why hadn’t she calledhim?
