Page 38 of The Alpha's Fake Mate

It was just me and him in the back. Saben had driven himself to meet me at Zilly’s and was long gone now to file all the paperwork.

I turned and opened the fridge. I had made sure the limo was well-stocked. I took out two beers, opened them, and handed him one.

He took it with a raised eyebrow.

“I think we both need a drink. Have you ever had a beer?”

He shook his head.

Of course not. Zilly’s did not allow alcohol on the premises. I’d read that regulation several times over the past months.

I took a sip of mine.

Holland followed suit. Grimaced. Said nothing.

I smiled at his reaction. “Are you hungry?”

He lowered his lashes and his eyes actually seemed to flash. “Why?”

“Because I am.”

He squinted, almost glaring. “I’m not dating you,” he stated.

He was stone, but he mesmerized me.

“I understand.”

Holland tilted his head. “Why did you come for me?”

“Because what happens to you matters to me.”

“You rushed to the farm. Like someone was dying.”

“In a sense, that’s how it came across. To turn you over to that—that Alpha was a death sentence. I wouldn’t allow it.”

“Yet entirely legal for him to make the claim.”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

Holland set his beer in a cup holder by the window and rubbed at the surface of the glass bottle with one finger. “I suppose I should be all thankful and gracious.”

“No. You can be however you wish. No strings. I’m used to your—uh—bluntly honest remarks. I expected nothing else.”

“You mean you’re used to me being rude.” He continued to stare at the edge of the window.

I downed half my beer and let it sizzle through my system. I wanted him. He could sense it. He hated it. I couldn’t change who I was, but I could control my behavior.

“I am used to it,” I finally replied. “But the honesty is refreshing. As I’ve said before in countless emails, you challenge me. I’m certainly never bored when I see the light blinking a message from you.”

In a soft monotone, he said, “You play the hero.”

“If that’s how you want to see it.”

“I don’t want to see it that way. You come to the rescue, and oh that’s supposed to be so great. Makes you so special. But what does that make me?”

“What do you mean?” I certainly did not like where his thoughts were headed.

“It makes me nothing.” He blinked, looking sideways at me. “Nothing in your eyes.”