Dash had done some quick homework on Harrison Walker after he’d been hired the night before. He’d learned enough to know Harrison had a ridiculous number of siblings, including a twin brother, Emerson. But which one was which?
The one who’d stopped him had a patch that read‘Arson Investigator’under his name. He scanned the second man. His gaze landed on‘Lt. Captain’, sohe knew that wasn’t his guy.
So why did Dash’s gaze linger way too long on the wrong Walker? He had to force it back while reaching for a card from the inner pocket of his suit jacket.
“I’m your security detail.”
“Security?”Emerson Walker asked, barking with laughter.
Dash’s gaze whipped to Emerson before he handed the business card to Harrison.
“Under whose authority?” Harrison snatched the card.
“Quinn McCreary hired us to protect you, Mr. Kellum, and Mr. Springdale.”
Harrison read Dash’s business card.
Dash’s gaze strayed to Emerson again. Dark sunglasses hid his eyes from Emerson’s notice, thankfully, but Dash couldn’t seem to stop looking in the alpha’s direction. From the way Emerson stared back, hunger in his eyes, it seemed they might have the same problem.
That wasn’t good.
Emerson’s gaze traveled down to Dash’s feet. Any humor left in his eyes was replaced with what seemed like interest by the time they lifted back up to Dash’s.
Fuuuuuuck. Not happening, alpha. Look somewhere else.
Harrison handed the card back, his face twisted in disgust. “I don’t need a security detail. Focus on Cassidy and Raimy.”
All alphas were the same. They thought they could protect themselves and didn’t need any help from anyone. Harrison wasn’t the first one to refuse his service.
Quinn was his client, though, and until he was told to stand down, he wasn’t standing down.
“The job was to protectall three of you,”Dash said.
As he spoke to Harrison, his gaze was once again drawn where it shouldn’t go. Emerson stared at him with an intensity that made it hard to think straight. Dash struggled for his next breath. His body tensed, the flight or fight instinct raging within.
Yet, at the very same time, the need to drop to his knees at Emerson Walker’s feet demanded his full attention. He felt lightheaded, his mouth somehow both dryandwet at the same time.
Harrison crossed his arms over his chest, cocking his head to the side. “Idon’tneed a security detail.”
Dash’s skill of persuasion was off-kilter, considering he was struggling with a strange reaction to another alpha. It wasn’t a fair fight. He couldn’t handle both.
Just breathe.
He regretted breathing the second an oaky, spicy scent filled his lungs. It mixed with the aroma of what the fire left behind, fueling a fire of his own within. One of the alphas was putting off some thick pheromones, and he knew which Walker it was.
“I’ll hang back, out of your way,” Dash said, his voice sounding odd to his own ears.
The scent deepened, enough to nearly mask the aroma of burned wood and plastic. As it deepened, Dash’s cock thickened. Sweat beaded on his brow and the back of his neck, his chest rising too quickly.
What the actual fuck?
“You can go back and watch the apartment,” Harrison snapped.
Under normal circumstances, Dash would’ve convinced Harrison to let him stay. Given his odd reaction, Dash nodded instead. He spun; thankful he had a reason to walk away and hide the growing erection tenting his pants. Shame warmed his face as he returned to his car and slid behind the wheel.
Get me the fuck out of here…
Dash turned the engine on, demanding his gaze not return to Emerson. Somehow, he managed to hold it together enough to pull out onto the road. As soon as he was far enough away that he was out of sight of the twin Walkers, he pulled onto the shoulder and tossed his car into park. He lifted his shaking hands off the steering wheel and eyed them. Hopefully neither man had seen his reaction. He drew in a couple of deep breaths to calm his racing heart.
