A tap at his door had him scowling. His brothers. He knew it without checking. Unwilling to face them yet, he hesitated. A second knock told him if he didn’t answer, things might escalate.
He opened the door. “What do you want?”
Kansas scowled. “Aren’t you inviting us in?”
“No.”
“It smells like sex,” Dakota said.
“Yes.”
“He’s not talkative this morning,” Dakota said to Kansas without taking his gaze off Matto.
Calian joined his brothers. “Did you sleep with her?”
“Yes.”
“Damn fool,” Calian snapped. “What about Misty?”
The shower turned off.
“Not now. I’ll meet you at the Lanky Moose for breakfast. Order something for me and Renee. I have to run her back to her place to grab work clothes, so leave it for fifteen minutes. That should give us plenty of time.”
“We can’t risk talking about this with her present,” Dakota pointed out.
“Later,” Matto snapped and closed the door in his brothers’ faces.
“Who was that?” Renee asked, exiting the en suite wrapped in a towel. She peered around the room and spotted her bra and panties sitting on top of the T-shirt and sweatpants. “Ah.” She pounced on the clothing. “Thank you.”
“It was my brothers. We’re joining them for a quick breakfast. I asked them to order for us.”
“You don’t have to buy me breakfast.”
“No, but I want to.” Matto strode into the en suite and switched on the shower. A brisk wash later, he was out, and he dressed in jeans, a long-sleeve shirt and a sweater.
Renee clutched her clothes and purse, and stood by the door, chewing on her lip.
“Were you thinking of leaving without me?”
“Yes.”
Matto picked up the keys for the rental. “Come on. The clock is ticking.”
They made it back to the Lanky Moose in ten minutes. Renee had donned her uniform and given him back his borrowed clothes. Matto presumed the army had given her the ability to move fast and decisively. Once again, he compared her with the women from his past. He couldn’t recall one who wouldn’t have pouted and offered numerous objections about him rushing them.
Matto spotted his brothers at a table over the far side of the café.
“The waitress recommended the special,” Calian said. “We ordered the same for everyone.”
The waitress arrived bearing plates of scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausages almost as soon as they sat.
“See, I told you there was plenty of time for breakfast.” Matto glanced at his brothers and noticed they were gaping at Renee. Or more specifically, staring at her neck where his nip stood out, highlighted by a bruise.
“What have you done?” Calian demanded with big-brother sternness.
Renee frowned at his oldest sibling, not understanding the way the rest of them did.
“Renee, do you know Hunter Kincade?” Matto asked, deciding to shift the conversation. A gamble, but suddenly, he wanted full disclosure. Honesty.
