“There, that wasn’t so difficult,” he teased.
Silence fell between them, and Renee sought something to say to ease the tension tightening her chest. She came up blank and shoved more muffin into her mouth instead.
“We have a tour booked for tomorrow,” Matto said. “We’re heading out on the tundra to see polar bears.”
“They’re amazing. It’s a privilege to see them in the wild.” Renee’s conversation came easier now that he’d introduced a neutral topic.
“What time do you finish work?”
“Around five or six. It depends on flying conditions and what jobs we get in.”
Matto nodded. “All right. How about if I book dinner for seven-thirty? Is that time enough for you to change and do whatever you women need to do? My sister says we never give her enough time to put on her makeup.”
“Seven-thirty is fine.”
“Where do you live? I’ll pick you up. Will you wear heels? I love the way a woman looks in high heel shoes.” His brown eyes glowed with humor and a hint of heat.
“You are the strangest man,” she said. “I own a dressy pair of shoes.”
“And your address?”
“I live in the dormitory, owned by the company I work for. It’s on Melville Street, off Kelsey Boulevard.”
“Excellent.” He rubbed his hands together. “Ah, breakfast. I’m starving. Must be all the fresh air in Churchill.”
Renee finished her coffee and shoved away her cup and crumb-covered plate. “I’d better go for my run before it’s time to start work.”
“Okay, Renee. I’ll see you at seven-thirty.”
Renee nodded and stood. As she strode to the door, a gaze bored into her back. Matto. She forced herself not to look back. This date was a means to an end. A warm body in her bed to help her keep nightmares at bay. A short-term fling with fun and hot sex before they parted on affable terms. No muss. No fuss. Just how she liked her relationships.
Matto watched Renee until she vanished. His wolf wriggled beneath his skin. Sexual tension. Happiness and joy. Excitement had slid into his gut from the second he’d noticed Renee sitting in the corner of the café. He and his brothers had discussed her the previous evening, and they’d come up with what they hoped was a workable plan. It differed from their original one since their wolves had exerted a say in the debate. The one sticking point—their sister. Misty wouldnotunderstand. Forgiveness—forget about it. She’d act the bitch and to hell with their fledgling relationship.
Yeah, Misty was the big, bad wolf standing in the way of happy times with Renee.
Matto set down his knife and fork and speed-dialed Kansas. “Hey,” he said when his brother answered. “Want to go for a run?”
“Two-legged or four-legged?”
Matto barked out a laugh. “Two. I met up with Renee in the café and invited myself to share her table. We have a date tonight,” he added smugly.
In the background, Dakota let out a string of curses, and Matto bit back his humor. He’d figured Dakota would listen in on the phone call. “Renee is going for a run this morning before she goes to work. One or both of you could bump into her, ask her to show you a safe place to run. I mean, you wouldn’t want to get eaten by a polar bear.”
Kansas snorted. “They’d have to catch us first.”
Ah, so the twins intended to implement his suggestion.
“I didn’t expect to enjoy last night,” Dakota commented in the background. “Calian’s idea was an excellent one, but I won’t admit that to big bro.”
“I had fun too,” Matto admitted. “My muscles are looser after the run, and my wolf is peaceful instead of half asleep or tense. Where is Calian?”
“He went for a walk. Told me he wanted to check out the place in daylight,” Dakota replied.
“I have the urge to run right now,” Kansas said. “Gotta go.”
Matto laughed and ended the call.
A faint movement had him looking up with a frown. The three men from the neighboring table had stood and approached while he had spoken with his brothers. He hadn’t noticed until now. Heck, Calian was right. Neglecting their wolves blunted their natural senses.
