Eliott’s expression shifted into one of concern. He’d overstepped and he knew it. “I’m sorry, Dash… I just meant…”
“You have things wrong,” Dash said, trying to keep the venom from his voice. He sensed Eliott was trying to show acceptance, but in his current state of mind and the guy’s two-left-feet way of explaining himself, all it had done was cause his hackles to rise more.
“I appreciate you,” Eliott blurted.
Dash sighed, lowering his gaze.
“I appreciate that you’re not like other alphas… and that’s why I feel safe with you. That’s all I was trying to say.”
Dash met Eliott’s stare.“Heard.”
Eliott scoffed. “You’re the toughest nut I’ve ever tried to crack. Each time I think I see a splinter, it just seals itself right back up.”
“It has to,” Dash whispered.
Eliott examined his face a moment before nodding. “Okay… now that that’s over, don’t expect me to be all nice and kissy-ass again anytime soon. We don’t have that kind of relationship, got it?”
Dash smirked. “Got it.”
“Good.” Eliott pointed to the mail. “I need you to look these over before I can enter them into the system.”
“I’ll get to them as soon as possible.”
“You’ll get to them now so I can take care of them,” Eliott said, lifting a brow.
Dash reached for the pile, sighing. “Now’s good.”
“Damned right it is,” Eliott said, crossing his arms over his chest and fighting a victorious smile.
28
After a long workday filled with mind-numbing insurance reports and zero replies to his texts to Dash, Emerson rolled up in the elevator towards Keller Security. If his mate couldn’t bother to give him the bare minimum of a thumbs up that he was alive and well, he’d check in up close and personal. The workaholic was likely pushing things too hard his first day back in the office—and Emerson wasn’t going to allow Dash to completely ignore his needs. He’d seen exhaustion still lingering in Dash’s eyes that morning.
To help persuade his mate to take a break, he carried dinner for the both of them in a large paper bag which he’d picked up from Lucas’s restaurant minutes before. There was no way he’d be able to convince Dash to leave work at a decent hour, he was quite sure. If nothing else, he’d make sure the man was fed.
The fact he’d calm his own nerves was all the better.
As he exited the elevator, he noticed a tiny, well-dressed omega standing at a desk outside Dash’s office, appearing to be shutting down for the day. Thanks to a wall of filing cabinets obscuring his view, he couldn’t see straight though to Dash’s semi-glass-walled office, but the lights were on inside.
“Sorry. We’re closed for the day.” The omega lifted his gaze from gathering his personal belongings. As soon as his stare met Emerson’s, a lust-filled smile blossomed over his face. After giving him an interested once over, the omega grinned mischievously. “We open up at nine tomorrow morning, handsome.”
Emerson’s cheeks warmed for some reason. “Dash is expecting me.”
The smile faded as the omega’s gaze went to the bag in his hand and then back to his face.“Oh?He didn’t tell me he had any late appointments.”
Emerson wasn’t backing down from the little white lie. “Must’ve slipped his mind.”
“Boss?”the omega called out over his shoulder. “Someone’s here to see you. Says they have an appointment.”
“I’m not expecting anyone!” Dash’s voice called out, a thread of frustration in it.
“Smells like he brought dinner!” the omega yelled.
Emerson fought a smile when he heard a loud thump and a curse. A few seconds later, Dash appeared in his cracked doorway, eyeing Emerson.
“What’re you doing here?” Dash asked, cheeks growing red.
“You avoided my texts, so I came to see if you were still alive.”
