“True that,” Dakota agreed, flashing a broad smile that had her stumbling a step before recovering her stride.
“How can I tell you apart?” she demanded, charmed even though she didn’t want to soften toward the pair. Her instincts screeched at her to run each time she found herself in the same vicinity as these Taktuq men. Yet her other less sensible side suggested they’d warm her bed nicely.Ugh!
Kansas laughed. “Get to know us better.”
He and Dakota kept pace as she ran to the outskirts of town.
“Our friends and family can tell us apart without difficulty. They say there are subtle differences to clue them in,” Dakota explained.
“There are quite a few twins and triplets in Churchill. I often work for the Hallsten brothers. The two youngest are twins but they make things easy for me because Tate Hallsten has a scar on his chin.”
Kansas barked out another laugh. “We’re not that obvious.”
“Come to lunch with us. We can drink to our new acquaintance and to a greater understanding.” Dakota suggested.
His cocky grin turned her mind onto Sexy Drive. These two were as handsome as their youngest brother. With brown eyes, military-short black hair and solid builds, they were in their prime. They probably had to beat women off with a sharp, pointy sword. No, scratch that. The brothers likely urged women to step through the revolving doors of their bedrooms and gave them a number to keep the line organized.
“So, about lunch,” Kansas prompted.
“I’ll be at work. I start soon.”
“Dinner then,” Dakota persisted.
She smiled. “I have a date.”
“Dang it,” Kansas muttered. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
“No time for romance.” Renee slowed and jogged back toward town. It was time for the truth. “I have sex when I have an urge, instead of playing the mating game. Much less mess and emotional chaos.”
Her two escorts didn’t comment, merely kept pace as she ran. She’d shocked them. Too bad. She didn’t do romance. First, it had been because of her time in the army. In the male-dominated occupation, she’d known to keep things to friends only and save everything else for her leave.
“How about dinner tomorrow night?” Dakota asked. “The three of us.”
“You still want to spend time with me? When I admitted I don’t expect or want romance?”
“It’s just dinner, honey,” Dakota said. “We don’t have to braid each other’s hair.”
Renee spluttered—a surprised laugh. “I can’t see much braiding happening with your hair.”
“Dinner,” Kansas prompted as they reached Renee’s starting point and slowed.
“You really want to spend time with me?”
“We wouldn’t have asked you otherwise,” Dakota said.
“My date tonight is with Matto.”
“What?” Kansas scowled at her. “He worked fast.”
Dakota muttered under his breath, words too low for her to hear. “We’re asking you out for dinner the following evening. Please say yes.”
Renee wrinkled her brow. “You’re a pushy bunch.”
“We’ll pick you up at six-thirty tomorrow night,” Kansas said. “See ya later, sexy.”
Renee gaped after the twins. Difficult not to notice their hard physiques while they wore running gear. Matto hadn’t told his brothers she’d agreed to have dinner with him. Interesting.
She should stay away from the Taktuq brothers. Every instinct warned she should try, but they kept popping up like homing pigeons. And worse, they pushed every one of her buttons—each brother attractive and cocky. All attributes she liked in a man. Damn it all.
