Page 38 of Talk About… Rivalry

That didn’t mean I had an answer for him. What else was there for me, here in Rockwood Valley?

“I could, and probably should, have left Vance Stables years ago. For some reason I can’t bring myself to leave my family behind. They rely on me and are all I really have left,” I admitted, not meaning to spill all that but Bennett had apparently fucked my filter right out of me.

The alpha’s hum of understanding had me studying him again. That was enough to pique my curiosity and I couldn’t help but wonder exactly why he felt that way, too.

“What’s your last name, Bennett?”

He chuckled lightly to himself before giving me a small shrug “Sinclair, Bennett Sinclair.”

“That makes sense,” I said. Maybe we weren’t so different after all.

“Tell me, omega,” he said as he leaned in. “Why can’t I scent you?”

There it was. The dreaded question.

Maybe it was the fact that Bennett would be here to make a business deal and leave again that somehow made me want to reveal the truth, but I found myself ready to answer honestly.

I’d never told anyone outside of Avery, her mom, and Grace. They were all sworn to secrecy. Even Maverick didn’t know about my issues. Everyone just assumed I wore blockers. It wasn’t like they were that uncommon.

“I don’t have one,” I admitted. “It never came in. I don’t have normal heats and I can’t scent anyone else, either.”

Bennett didn’t even look surprised at the news. His eyes were brimming with understanding as he nodded gently. There were no invasive questions or pity, he just accepted it as fact.

“That also explains why you didn’t say anything last night when that alpha was asked on a date.”

“Maverick is my best friend’s brother. I’ve had feelings for him for a long time but it’s not like we’re scent matches.”

I tried my best to keep my self-deprecating smile off my face and just look down at the sheets, picking at non-existent lint until we moved on from this conversation.

It felt really nice to admit it out loud. Cathartic in its own way. This scenario was one of the very few times that I could just simply be myself without judgment.

I could say what I wanted without repercussions because he was going to be gone soon.

“I’m sorry,” was all he offered before there was a knock at the door.

It was perfect timing by the inn staff. Even if I was relieved to get it off my chest, I didn’t want to dwell on this and ruin the morning.

Bennett stood and pulled on his boxers, giving me a view of his toned ass. I licked my lips as I watched his muscles flex as he walked to the door and took the tray. The sheer confidence this man had was sexy as hell.

He carried the tray to the bed and settled it between us.

If this was me and Avery, we’d have the TV on, watching some awful reality TV or cooking show, talking through enough of it that we wouldn’t know what was going on anymore.

Bennett, however, made no move for the remote. He settled back in his spot and snagged a grape from the fruit bowl, chewing away as he doctored up my coffee.

He slid it to my side of the tray before starting on his own.

We both took a drink, humming in approval. It was good coffee. Who knew the inn could hold their own? Honestly, the coffee shop in town could take a few pointers. It was the perfect mix of sweet cream and bitter coffee. I already felt more clear headed after just a few sips.

He lifted the silver dome from the top of the plate, revealing a stack of thick french toast and several slices of crispy bacon. We both reached for the bacon at the same time, taking a slice and munching on it with small smiles on our faces.

This should be awkward or weird, yet here we were sitting in comfortable quiet and enjoying it.

Bennett made things feel easy and normal. His confidence didn’t let me get into my own head.

We worked our way through the breakfast. Bennett feeding me slices of french toast and I fed myself bacon, sipping on our coffees and just enjoying the warm morning light that spilled into the room.

How long had it been since I had a morning like this? Relaxing and not filled with me stumbling out of bed before the sun to do chores.

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