Free The Wolf's Mate Book 5: Bo & Reika by R.E. Butler

“I don’t know what she’s talking about, Bo.”
    He grunted under his breath and thanked Karly and Cades for hanging out with her for the day.  As Reika said goodbye to them as well, Bo shut the door and turned to her.  “Michael and Shyne are going to join us for dinner.  There’s a strip mall not too far from here.  It has a few clothing stores in it and some restaurants nearby.”
    He left her in the front room with Michael and Shyne so he could take a quick shower and change.  Michael plopped down on the couch with a yawn, and Shyne smiled fondly at him as she came to stand next to Reika.
    “I wanted to see if you’d like to come hang out at the community center with me tomorrow.  I teach some fitness classes for the older wolves who live in the development where the center is, and the staff could always use a hand in the office.”
    Reika didn’t know what to say.  Shyne seemed like a sweet woman, and she didn’t want to insult her, especially since she could guess that Bo had put her up to it.
    As if sensing her hesitancy, Shyne smiled softly.  “When I first met Michael, I had a few were-hyenas who were interested in me, and they really came on strong and freaked me out.  I stayed with Michael after that, but the first few days when I was alone in the house without anyone to talk to while he worked made me batty.  I know it’s not the same situation, and I don’t mean to belittle what you’re going through, but it’ll be fun to hang out and get to know each other.  The wolves in the retirement development are so fun, and someone always offers to make lunch for me.  I know you’ll be welcome.”
    When Shyne was being so kind, Reika couldn’t say no.  “Sounds good.  What time?”
    “I’ll pick you up about nine, and just dress in jeans or whatever.  I don’t expect you to workout or anything, unless you want to.”
    Reika made a face, and Shyne chuckled.  Shyne had Hispanic-skin, jet black hair and warm, brown eyes, and even though she wore jeans and a thick sweater, Reika could tell she was fit.
    Bo walked out of the bedroom wearing faded jeans and a long sleeved, button down shirt.  His dark hair was slightly damp, and he had a jaw full of stubble that she imagined would abrade her skin just right when they kissed … when they touched … when he slid down her body and rubbed against her thighs.
    Oh, shit .
    Her whole body heated at the wicked thoughts she couldn’t seem to get a handle on, and she met Bo’s eyes as he came to her and reached for his jacket.  She saw the lust that flared in his eyes as he drew in a slow breath.  He was so close that she could have kissed him, she could have touched that stubble with her fingertips, but instead she took a big step backwards and forced herself to think about unsexy things like …
    Drawing a blank on anything unsexy, she fisted her hands at her sides and clenched her teeth together.  Bo seemed frozen in place for several seconds, and then he grabbed his jacket off the hook and held it out to her.  “We’ll get you a coat when we go out, sweetheart.  You can use mine for now.”
    Before she could ask what he was going to wear, he moved a hooded sweatshirt from another hook and pulled another jacket from underneath.  She slipped the too-big leather coat on and was surrounded immediately by the delicious scent of him.  It was going to be a long night.
    Shyne offered the passenger seat to Bo so she could join Reika in the second row, and Bo accepted.  Michael and Bo talked about a car Bo was restoring, and Shyne discussed a movie she and Michael had seen the previous weekend.  Reika liked Shyne and found her witty humor and easy smile infectious.  By the time Michael parked in front of a store called Mona’s, she’d let go of all her worries concerning the lynxes and decided to just enjoy herself.
    “Alright, we’ll be here when you’re done,” Michael said as he turned and winked at them.
    “No way, baby, you’re