Wolf Untamed (SWAT - Special Wolf Alpha Team #11) - Paige Tyler Page 0,36

very near future.

The idea was almost enough to make him want to crawl into bed and sleep for a week straight.

He felt a vibration in his cargo pocket and reached in to pull out his cell phone, hoping it wasn’t Gage saying there was another hostage situation. But if there was, his commander would have called, not texted. And this was definitely a text—from Bree.

Just thinking about you and wanted to make sure you’re okay. Text me when you get a chance.

A slow smile spread across Diego’s face. Suddenly, he didn’t feel nearly as tired.

Chapter 5

“If you don’t calm down, you’re going to hyperventilate,” Beth said as she zipped up Bree’s sleeveless dress. “You don’t want Diego to show up for your first date and find you passed out on the floor.”

Bree was tempted to tell her sister it wasn’t a date but gave up. Who was she kidding? Of course, it was a date. The first real date she’d had in a very long time. That was why she was breathing like she’d run a half marathon. At least she wasn’t sweating like she’d finished one.

She hoped.

Just in case, she threw a surreptitious glance in the full-length mirror attached to the back of her closet door, making sure her makeup was still perfect and that there wasn’t any telltale glimmer to give away her near panic.

“Don’t worry,” Beth said softly. “You look amazing. Diego will melt into a puddle of goo the second he sees you.”

Bree laughed at that image. She very much doubted Diego would melt at the sight of her, but it was nice to think he might, and that thought helped get her breathing back under control.

Beth glanced at her watch. “Get your shoes on. He’s going to be here soon.”

Bree took a quick peek at her own watch to see that her sister was right. Crap. She still had to check on dinner. Hurrying over to the closet, she slid her feet into the wedge sandals Beth suggested she wear, then turned to survey her reflection in the mirror. Her sister was right about that, too. The shoes did go perfectly with the little black dress she had on.

“You sure there’s nothing else I can help you get ready before I leave for my date?” Beth asked as they walked into the kitchen. “Maybe toss the salad or butter the garlic bread?”

“I’m good, thanks.” Bree bent down to pop open the oven and check the chicken parmesan she’d put in there to keep warm. It smelled delicious and looked even better. “You know, you and your boyfriend are more than welcome to join us for dinner. I’m sure Diego would love to meet you guys.”

Beth laughed as she straightened the place settings on the table. “Oh, don’t worry. I’m not leaving until he gets here. No way would I bail before getting a look at him. I have to make sure he’s good enough for my sister, after all. But then I’m leaving so you can have your privacy. How do you expect anything good to happen unless you spend a little alone time with this guy?”

Bree would have pointed out that Brandon was probably going to be having dinner with them, but the doorbell rang before she could say anything. Her heart began thudding like someone was jumping around inside her chest with a pogo stick.

“That’s Diego,” she announced rather unnecessarily as she pointed a warning finger at her sister. “You behave!”

Beth gave her a look that made it seem like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. As if.

Bree slowed her steps as she walked to the door, carefully smoothing her hands down the front of her dress, absently noting that her palms were a little moist. Why was she so nervous? It wasn’t like she was some silly teenager who’d never been on a date. But as she reached for the knob, she realized that for all her talk, dinner with Diego was important to her. She might not know why, but she wanted it to go well.

Taking a deep breath, she pulled open the door with a smile and opened her mouth to give him a cheerful greeting.

The words got stuck in her throat.

Diego was dressed in casual slacks and an untucked button-down in a perfect blend of relaxed and dressy. The material of the shirt was tight enough in the shoulders to show off his muscles, and the couple buttons he’d left undone at the top revealed the start of some