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I was high-strung and filled with anxiety about everything. Ben was easygoing until he was working and then he was laser focused and all type A alpha. We complemented each other, and I didn’t think someone as opinionated as Ember would balance us.

The sex would be hotter than a volcano erupting, but after that it would fizzle, or we would bicker and then it would be awkward.

Better to focus on the nice, quiet beta woman we were going to date instead.

“We don’t have to date anyone.” Ben squeezed my hand gently. “It was just an idea.”

“One I liked as much as you did,” I reminded my alpha. He would feel like he pressured me into dating if I wasn’t careful.

When Ben suggested using a matchmaking service, it felt like lightning went off in my head. It was the perfect plan. We were both workaholics, practically living in the music studio. We didn’t go out much, and when we did it was with fellow musicians.

Anyone we dated connected to the studio always acted like Ben was their next step to fame and glory, so we learned early on to politely decline any date requests.

A matchmaking service would provide us with new people to meet and a safe way to do that.

None of our matches would recognize Ben as one of the foremost sound producers in San Francisco. Unless someone was deep in the music scene, people didn’t realize a sound producer could make or break their career.

And almost no one knew who I was. Who I had been, once a long time ago. An angry omega who put together an album,expecting two people to buy it, one of them being me, and the other being Ben.

But the album, using the stage name Burns for my mother’s maiden name, was a hit and took off.

I stole a glance at Ben. I wondered if I could ever be that person again. Ten years was a long time.

Too much time.

People still wondered where Burns had gone.

The only photo of my face was done at twilight, in profile, so I wasn’t recognizable. I was safe in my anonymity, but I still could recite entire comment threads talking about how deeply Burns had spoken to them, and how much they wished I’d produce another album.

The hell of it was that I hadn’t stopped for lack of desire.

“I love you.” Ben squeezed my hand. “We can take this slow, or not at all.”

“I know.” I focused on the ribbon of highway in front of me. Tried not to think about the pretty omega we were driving away from. Ember smelled good, and her face was expressive. “Ember is pretty, as I’m sure you gathered. Hot.”

Ben just smirked.

He’d told me a long time ago he knew who was attractive based on how people spoke around them. “She has red hair, big blue eyes, and nice curves. Shapely waist, long legs, great breasts.”

Ben’s fingers flexed, like he wanted to touch her. I couldn’t blame him for the urge.

“But she told us three times she wasn’t available,” I said.

“And yet her perfume…” Ben trailed off.

“Was fucking amazing.” I sighed. “But Cindy seems nice. We should give her a chance.”

Ben nodded. “Okay, Rian. You’re my omega. Whatever you want to do.”

It was the same tone of voice he used when he knew I had my head up my ass but was waiting for me to be ready to remove it.

I hated that he was probably right, but it didn’t stop me from digging in. “We need someone calmer. The three of us would get into one argument and then have to figure out how to hide the body of the loser. Let’s head over to the studio, see what’s going on.”

“No.” Ben shook his head. “We’re going to your nest. Unless youwantme to rail you at the studio?”

Heat flushed in my veins, and I couldn’t get back home soon enough. My alpha knew me better than I knew myself at times.

Maybe dating would be enough to drown out the panic to do something, anything with my own music.