Page 57 of Talk About… Rivalry

Did she hear me? If she wasn’t interested, why did she care? My heart slammed harder in my chest. Hope filled me and my teeth sank into my lip as I tried to pretend I wasn’t shifting moods faster than I could blink.

“Ah, I see, you’re the protective sort, ” Kelly said, giving me a little giggle that grated on my nerves. It felt like she thoughtwe had an inside secret and my body tensed. This was not going well. “I like a guy that protects his family.”

I cleared my throat, feeling my face heat. “So, have you been here before, Kelly?” It was a weak attempt at diverting the conversation from flirty to normal.

She let out a little laugh and shook her head, blonde hair shifting around her face. Kelly really was pretty, she just wasn’t for me.

“No, I’m used to bigger cities than this one. Small town life was never really for me.” Her nose wrinkled as she said it.

That was another glaring neon sign that said we were not made for each other.

“Then why did you ask me on a date?” I questioned, resting my elbows on the table and putting my chin on my hands as I studied her. Did this mean I was just a conquest like I worried? “I have a business and close family in this town, I won’t be leaving.”

She batted her dark eyelashes right at me, a sexy smirk on her face again. It felt like flirting was her default setting.

“Sometimes, all it takes is a little convincing.” She bit her lip and blinked at me some more.

I felt a pang of guilt. She was doing all of this for me.

“Plus, forming a pack is all about sacrifice, right?”

The way she said it, made it very clear that if I was ever a part ofherpack, thatI’dbe the one sacrificing.

Some packs were all about their omegas, and I was obviously hung up on Sidney, but this was a non-negotiable for me.

I wasn’t leaving Rockwood Valley. My mom, my sister, my brothers, my future nieces and nephews, were all here.

Any response fizzled away as a peal of laughter echoed in the night. My jaw clenched tight enough my teeth were grinding together.

Thoughts cut off as I heard Sidney laugh.

And she was here.

We were interrupted a second later by a curly haired omega.

He smiled down at us. “Thank you for coming to The Landing. I’m Taylor, I’m going to be your server tonight,” he said. “Can I get you started with our wine list perhaps?”

“I do love a red wine,” Kelly said, turning her smile on him. “Pour me a glass of your finest one.

Taylor turned to me next, smile never faltering.

“Water,” I all but bit out.

“Coming right up,” he said before disappearing. Kelly started talking and I barely was able to tune in, my focus fully on the conversation between Leo and Sidney.

He was asking her something about the ranch but it was too fucking loud out here for me to hear more.

That was the moment everything went downhill.

There was a small gasp and a clang as somebody ran into Taylor, who was balancing a wine glass that was a little too full on his tray along with my water. Whoever bumped him caused him to pitch forward.

I watched in horror as the red wine spilled all over my date.

She didn’t see it coming and sputtered under the rich, red liquid.

“What the fuck?”

Her screech was loud enough to bring all the noise on the patio to a halt. She was looking at Taylor with pure venom on her face, even though it wasn’t his fault.

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