Or the glimmer of jealousy.
“Who’d you meet with this evening that made you late?”
Dash looked over at him. “An ex-teammate from the Guard landed on my doorstep unexpectantly. He also came bearing a massive file of information. It’s going to take me weeks to wade through both files.” Dash laid down the sheet in his hand. “I’m going to be really busy for a while. You realize that, right? We might see little of one another moving forward.” He scrubbed his face. “Even if I call an all hands on deck with my team, this is going to be a massive undertaking.”
“Icouldhelp, you know?” Emerson said. “I’m sure Harrison might be willing to let me take some time off to do a little investigating for you.”
“You’d want to do that?”
“Beats sitting around in that office with nothing to do,” Emerson said. “I might have to race out if there’s a suspiciousfire—or a major one—but otherwise, I’ve got nothing but time on my hands lately. Like I said, it’s been very quiet as of late since our serial arsonist went away.”
Dash appeared hesitant. “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t think we should mix personal and professional. It’s not smart.”
“You just said it was a massive undertaking. I can help. Use me.”
“I can’t,” Dash said.
“You don’t want to.”
Dash’s jaw clenched.
“Does this have anything to do with the alpha you met with earlier? The ex-teammate I scent all over you?”
“For fuck’s sake,” Dash griped. He shoved all the loose papers back into one of the files. “I need to go.”
“Does it?”Emerson asked, refusing to move until Dash answered him.
Dash glared, his eyes narrowing.
Emerson fought a stronger wave of jealousy. Like nothing he’d ever felt before. “Are you in a relationship with another alpha?”
“Are youserious?”
“Are you?”Emerson demanded.
“Fuck you,”Dash snapped. He waved a hand. “Let me out.”
“I think I deserve an answer first.”
“I told you I’d never been with an alpha—until you. Then you sit here and tell your brother that you think I’m your mate, then turn around and question if I’m screwing another alpha? How fucking dare you!”
Emerson closed his eyes, realizing then that he’d seriously fucked up. “I’m sorry. I got this… wave of possessiveness when I scented another man on you. I didn’t mean to…”
“Didn’t mean to do what?” Dash asked, cocking his head to the side. “Be an asshole? Whether you meant it or not, youwere.” He pulled Randall’s files into one arm. “Get the fuck out of my way!”
“Dash…”
Dash ignored him. He rose, spinning to plant his ass on the table, before spinning again to the other side of the booth. After giving Emerson the finger, he marched out the door. Emerson sat there for a few seconds, wondering if he should chase Dash down—or let him cool off before begging for forgiveness.
While the first idea screamed in his veins, he opted for the second. There was no way Dash was going to listen to him tonight. He drummed his fingers on the tabletop, trying to remain calm. And still.
Of course, he lost that battle.
Dash wasin full nuclear meltdown as he stormed to his car—only to find another infuriating alpha standing beside his car. He ignored the man, opening the passenger doors to secure Randall’s files before rounding and shoving a finger towards Jackson’s face.
“You’re a fucking asshole, too.”
Jackson grinned. He leaned lazily against Dash’s sedan, his arms and ankles crossed.
