Page 17 of Rejected Beta

He shifts on his feet, his discomfort clear. "You have a wonderful daughter, and I'm really impressed with what you've done with the place."

I sigh. "She really likes you. She doesn't usually warm up to people so fast."

I still find it odd that he's a kindergarten teacher. He looks more like a serious professor.

Hendrix wanders over and joins us, winking at Bouchard before grinning at me. "I see the two of you have met."

Some of the stiffness bleeds out of Bouchard at Hendrix's presence. "I'm her daughter's new teacher."

"And my landlord," I add.

"That's right. I forgot you own this building." Hendrix sips his wine. "You must be thrilled to have such an interesting tenant. We need more art here in town."

I can't help the snort I quickly turn into a cough. Not successfully, if the look Bouchard throws me is any clue.

"I think it will end up being an excellent addition." Bouchard somehow looks utterly genuine.

"Have you signed up for a class yet?" Hendrix asks. "I'm going to come for unicorn day and glaze one of those mugs. You should come with me. Your students would love seeing you with a unicorn mug in class."

Bouchard shrugs. "Sure, that sounds fun."

My jaw gapes. "Really?"

Hendrix bounces on the balls of his feet, a wide grin on his face. "Excellent."

He nods. "Of course. I want to support your place, and the children will enjoy seeing that."

They aren't the only ones.

I'm reluctantly impressed with his easy acceptance of Hendrix's suggestion, something that keeps happening with this dominant beta. How is it that I've found a beta with alpha energy and an alpha with beta energy and both of them smell absolutely amazing?

"I'll add you to the list."

The unicorn event isn't as popular as I'd hoped, so I'm concerned it'll end up just being the three of us, glazing mugs. Not exactly a comfortable situation. I'll need to start pushing it hard online to fill the spots so it doesn't end up completely awkward.

"So the two of you are friends?" I gesture between the two of them.

Bouchard nods. "We are. We've known each other our whole lives. How did you two meet?"

Hendrix snickers. "I'm going to be Lexie’s new basketball coach. And Moira and I are starting a book club."

Bouchard raises a brow. "Oh really? What are you going to be reading?"

"Heist novels." I say the words almost as a dare, part of me hoping he'll go back to being an asshole so my dumb hormones stop noticing how tempting he smells and how handsome he looks in his tweed suit.

Interest flares in Bouchard's eyes. "Heist novels? I love those. Have you readThe Midnight Sting? I just finished that last week."

Hendrix laughs and points at me. "She got it from the library the other day. Do you want to join our book club? She was a little snooty at the idea of it only being two people."

I haven't even officially agreed to do this book club and now he's inviting my landlord, of all people?

Bouchard nods. "Sure, yeah, that sounds fun. When do you meet?"

Hendrix snickers. "We have no idea."

Bouchard shakes his head, his lips quirked with humor. "I see."

Hendrix shrugs, utterly unashamed. "We haven't gotten around to nailing down the specifics."

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