Renee nodded, her mind on the four new arrivals. Tall and muscular, all but one with short black hair, they gave off a military vibe. Watchful. Aware of their surroundings. Leaders and confident of their abilities. Even though the men hadn’t stared at her, something about them bothered her, and she’d learned to trust her instincts.
So far, they’d kept her alive.
* * * * *
“I’ll shift along the bar so you can have a seat,” a blond guy with an Australian accent offered.
“Thanks.” Calian held out his hand. He approved of the Australian man’s handshake. Firm and brisk without issuing a challenge. “I’m Calian. My brothers Matto, Kansas and Dakota.”
“Ah, I figured you must be brothers. You’re alike, but I guess you get that a lot. My name is Tim.”
“We do,” Matto said. “Most of them say I’m the handsome one.”
Tim guffawed as both Kansas and Dakota elbowed their youngest brother.
“How long are you up here for?” Tim asked.
“We’re not sure yet,” Calian said. “We’re not pressed for time and thought we’d do the tourist thing and have a good look around the town to learn what’s available for the visitor.”
“You’ll want to take a helicopter flight then. I work for the local company and we fly a lot of tourists around the area.”
Ah!The perfect opening to ask nosy questions.
“We’d hoped to do that while we’re in Churchill. How many helicopters does the company fly?”
“We have six,” Tim said. “The man and the woman who were drinking with me are pilots too.”
Calian and his brothers had recognized the woman earlier when she’d left the dining room after eating a meal. They’d decided to follow her later. Easy for a wolf once he or she caught the scent. Super easy in Churchill with the limited population.
“How far ahead do we need to book a sightseeing flight?” Dakota asked.
“Check with the office. We’re weather dependent, so prepare for a cancelation if we get a storm coming through.”
“How many passengers per helicopter?” Matto asked.
“We take five. That gives every passenger a window seat and a good view.” Tim scowled when another song started—something sweet and sappy with a country flavor. He downed the last of his beer. “Pop into the office and the receptionist will take care of you. We’re on Kelsey Boulevard.”
“We appreciate the info,” Calian said. “Can we buy you a drink?”
“Thanks for the offer, but I can’t take much more of this music. Billy broke up with his girlfriend. No doubt someone will take bets as to how many days pass before they get together again.” Tim jerked his head in the direction of the beanpole of a man making a beeline for the jukebox. He stood. “I’ll probably see you around. It’s a small town.”
The brothers issued their farewells and drank without speaking until Tim had left.
With an eye on the barman, Kansas murmured, “I didn’t expect to find her so fast.”
“We have time,” Dakota said. “We know where she works, and I bet she’s contracted for the season. She won’t disappear without warning like she did from the job in California. Besides, it won’t be easy for her to leave. Most of the flights are full, and the train is still out of commission.”
Calian lifted his beer bottle in salute. “All true. Anyone up for a run tonight? It’s the ideal time to check out the place.”
Dakota wrinkled his nose. “I suppose. Now that we’ve got the rental, we can drive farther out of town. What will we say if someone sees us nosing around and asks questions?”
“You don’t have to come.” Calian had to handle this with care. His younger brothers were too comfortable in their human bodies. If they wanted to preserve their heritage, they needed to shift on a more regular basis. Something that their chosen career as hotel tycoons made difficult. He shrugged and lowered his voice even further. “My wolf is restless, and it’s driving me crazy. I need this.”
“I’m in,” Matto said abruptly. “It’s the ideal way to check out the town and learn where the woman lives.”
“Is it my imagination or can you smell shifters?” Kansas murmured.
“Something,” Dakota agreed. “Not sure what. Bear or cat?”
