Chapter 17
After Dash peeked in for a requisite greeting to his father—promising he’d come for supper soon—he picked up dinner and his car.
A little over an hour later, Dash sat alone on the deck of Emerson’s boat, stargazing.
As the minutes ticked by, the food in the bag at his feet grew colder.
The night grew darker, and chillier, especially there on the water.
He pulled his arms around himself, trying to stay warm.
Worry grew that Emerson was out for the night.
Out with who, though?
Had he been a fool to think he’d been special last night?
What if Emerson brought another man home with him—and Dash was sitting there like an idiot when they walked up?
Doubt ricocheted inside his head, and the urge to escape deepened.
He should’ve called first, but he’d opted for a sneak attack.
Emerson wasn’t going to be a fan of using his boat, so Dash expected he’d need to use persuasion.
A surprise, even a mild one, sometimes made a man more susceptible to saying yes.
If that hadn’t worked, there was always seduction.
What am I doing here? I was the one who said last night was the end.
Dash had suspected his ability to uphold that decision was going to be challenged, but the fuck if he’d expected to come running like an obsessed man.
He shouldn’t have come. He should’ve called Mason and had his actual fucking partner help him find a safe space and back him up. Where the hell was his head at? He barely knew Emerson. One night together didn’t amount to anything.
He needed to stop thinking with his dick.
Dash rose and crossed the deck seconds before he heard footsteps coming down the pier.
He backed up a bit, hiding in the shadows, waiting to see who was approaching.
Dash tensed when someone strolled closer.
Whoever it was hopped onboard before finally stepping into the spread of the security light fixed above the door leading below deck.
He released the breath he’d been holding, seeing it was Emerson.
Emerson spun and lifted his fists, squaring off in Dash’s direction. “Who’s there?”
Dash stepped into the light, and they both sized one another up. He couldn’t help noticing the sadness spark in Emerson’s eyes.
“What’re you doing here?” Emerson asked, his tone dull.
That hadn’t been the reaction he’d been expecting. Coming to Emerson had clearly been a mistake. “I had a question for you, but I’ve gotten the answer. I’m going to go.”
“Probably for the best,” Emerson said as Dash passed him.
Dash spun to face Emerson. “Excuse me?”
“You were right,” Emerson said, not bothering to turn around. “This is too dangerous. For both of us.”
Coldness enveloped Dash at the loss of Emerson’s warmth. What had changed since that morning?
Turn around, damn you.
Look at me!
“What’s caused this sudden about face?” Dash asked, trying to keep his tone neutral.
“Someone made me see just how much you stand to lose. I won’t be the one to cause that.” Emerson finally turned, his face a mask of pain. “I won’t hurt you like that, Dash. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I did.”
Dash struggled to draw in his next breath.
Emerson took a step closer, yet all Dash sensed was a widening gap.
“You can’t come here anymore,” Emerson whispered. “We need to avoid one another from now on.”
Anger blossomed in Dash’s chest. How dare he?
“You’re right. We should,” Dash snarled.
Emerson’s gaze lowered to the deck, shoulders slumping.
Why was Dash suddenly so upset? Last night, he’d told Emerson that it was too dangerous for them to be together—and he’d been right.
That didn’t mean he’d wanted to be right, though.
Emerson’s refusal had felt like a glimmer of hope amid his anxiety. The loss of that was too much to bear. He needed that sunshine. Without it, he felt nothing but cold.
“I’m sorry, but that doesn’t work for me.”
Emerson’s gaze whipped up. “Dash…”
Dash shook his head. “There’s something here. Something bigger than both of us. You know it as well as I do.”
“I do. I don’t understand it, and I doubt I ever will, but what I do know is—all I want to do is protect you.”
He didn’t need Emerson protecting him. He was a strong alpha who could protect himself.
Nevertheless, he wanted a hero of his very own to come save the day.
His hero.
There was no way they’d find a way. Logically he knew that, yet without even the slightest hope, what was he left with?
“I’m the one putting you in danger. I’m the one who pushed you last night.” Emerson drew in a shaky breath. “I’m the one you need protection from.” A shine came to Emerson’s eyes. “I can’t be trusted when you’re this close. I’ll be your downfall, Dash.”
“I know the risks as well as you do. Let me worry about protecting myself, alpha.”
“Please,” Emerson whispered. “I’m trying to do the right thing here. For both of us.”
Dash closed the gap between them, stopping too close for either of their sanity. “Someone who might have information about my case asked to meet somewhere private and out of the way. Someone I don’t completely trust. I knew I needed backup. I came here tonight to ask for your help.”
Emerson met his stare.
“Instead of going to my partner or one of my agents, I came to you.”
Emerson winced.
With a nudge to Emerson’s chin, Dash forced his head up.
“I sensed you’d protect me no matter what.
I don’t how I know that, but I do.” Dash scoffed.
“I’ve worked with some of those men for years.
They’ve earned my trust time and time again.
Yet you were my first thought. You were the one I wanted at my back.
A man I’ve spent all of one night with.” Dash trembled, scared to say the next bit, but needing to say it before he lost the nerve.
“A man I want to spend all of my nights with.”
Emerson’s gaze whipped to his, heat in the depths of the man’s eyes.
“Please don’t make this any harder than it already is.” Emerson flinched. “Davis is your partner. He’s the one who’s always had your back.”
Dash stilled, the comment unsettling. He lowered his hand. “Did you talk to Mason?”
Emerson didn’t reply. From the look on his face, it was clear he had.
“This is coming from him, isn’t it?” Dash asked.
Emerson’s jaw clenched.
“Did he put this idea of staying away from me in your head?”
Emerson avoided his gaze.
“He did, didn’t he?”
“I stopped by your house this afternoon to see if you needed a ride to your car. Davis was there.” Emerson’s gaze captured Dash’s. “He appears to have known what happened last night.”
Heat blossomed in Dash’s cheeks.
“You told him?” Emerson asked, a hint of accusation in his tone.
“I didn’t. He figured it out.”
Emerson shook his head. “He knew about our first meeting, too—and the reaction we had to one another.”
Warmth spread from Dash’s cheeks down onto his neck. “I had to tell him.”
“Had to?”
Dash glared at Emerson. “I removed myself from Harrison’s case and made Mason the lead because…
I didn’t want to risk another reaction. Mason was confused why I’d hand over a case when I never did before.
He pushed. I told him that I couldn’t be near you.
I didn’t go into full detail, but he knows enough.
” Dash grimaced, realizing there was more.
“I may have also asked him to help ensure you and I never came into contact again.”
“Which accounts for how angry he was that I was on your doorstep,” Emerson said.
“I’m sorry. He had no reason to be angry with you. That’s on me.”
“Maybe that anger is warranted,” Emerson countered. “He and your employees don’t deserve to lose their jobs.”
“I’ve already suggested a plan to save the business. It’s one Mason doesn’t like, but it could protect them if we were caught. He needs to put his big boy pants on and deal.”
“What’s the plan?”
“Change the name of our company. Add his name as one of the owners. Then Mason could publicly fire and denounce me if anything came to light. He could remove Keller from the company name and move forward. They might limp for a while, but I think they could salvage things.”
“You’d still lose what you’d built.”
Dash nodded. “To a degree.”
“And that doesn’t take away the prospect of prison.”
“I realize that,” Dash said. He moved closer to Emerson, pressing his body against the alpha’s. “But you were right. I’ve been denying myself. I don’t want to do that anymore.”
He lifted a hand to cup Emerson’s cheek before he rose on his toes. He pressed his lips to Emerson’s, desperate to close the gulf between them.
Emerson didn’t move at first. His lips remained still.
But after a few seconds he returned the kiss.
His hand slid to the back of Dash’s head, holding them closer.
Dash opened his mouth, urging Emerson’s tongue to swipe across his.
Dash tangled his fists in the front of Emerson’s t-shirt, starving for more.
A loud cough made them both jump apart.
Dash’s shame-filled gaze flew to the pier as he straightened his hair with one hand. They’d been kissing out in the fucking open, for fuck’s sake. They knew better.
He knew better.
A man lurked on the pier, only a halo of light at his back from a security light on the next pier over. Panic clutched at Dash’s chest.
They’d already fucked up.
The man leapt on board. Harrison stood watching them, mouth agape, with a six-pack in one hand. After a few seconds, he pinned his gaze on Emerson. “I guess you forgot I was coming over tonight, hmm?”
Emerson scoffed. “Sorry. My head was elsewhere.”
“Clearly,” Harrison said. He handed Emerson the six-pack. His gaze moved between them. “Are you two trying to get caught?”
“Our brains don’t seem to work well when we’re alone together,” Emerson said, eyeing Dash.
“While I’d love to stay and play chaperone, three’s a crowd.” Harrison paused, laughing. “Well, in this case, three’s a crowd.”
Dash wanted to laugh at Harrison’s little joke, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins hadn’t had enough time to calm.
“Enjoy the beer,” Harrison said. “I’d suggest enjoying it inside where no one can see how much fun you’re having.”
“You don’t have to leave,” Dash said. “You two had plans. I showed up unannounced. I’ll go.”
“No,” Harrison said, holding up his palms. “I wouldn’t have intruded had the circumstances been different, but I didn’t want someone else to catch you. Otherwise, I’d have been gone and neither one of you would’ve known I was even here.”
“Thank you for that,” Dash murmured, cheeks growing warmer. “I don’t know what we were thinking.”
Harrison watched him closely.
Dash squirmed under the man’s knowing gaze. “I don’t want to get in the way of a brothers’ night in. I’ll go.”
“Dash… I see Emerson at work nearly every day.” Harrison smiled. “I sense he’d prefer your company to mine anyway.” Harrison gazed past him to Emerson. “See you Monday?”
“Yeah, Monday,” Emerson murmured.
Dash saw shame in Emerson’s expression. He could barely look at his brother. Dash’s impetuous kiss had caused that. He was the dangerous one—not Emerson.
Why the fuck had he kissed the man out in the open?
After a few seconds, when the sound of Harrison’s footfalls faded, Dash sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Wait here,” Emerson said, his tone devoid of emotion.
Emerson leapt onto the dock and strode away, chasing after Harrison.
Dash held his breath, curious what was about to happen. There hadn’t seemed to be any judgment from Harrison. Emerson deserved that, especially after Randall’s reaction. He sat back down beside the bag of food and silently berated himself while he waited for Emerson to return.