“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’thowI know that, but I do.” Dash scoffed. “I’ve worked with some of those menfor years.They’ve earned my trust time and time again. Yetyouwere my first thought.Youwere 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 spendallof 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.
“Didheput 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 themifwe 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.”
