“I love you, Em.”
He tried to control himself, but a tear escaped one eye. He wiped it away and stepped back. “I love you, too.”
They stared at one another in the pale light. Emerson couldn’t help but feel their relationship had been immediately transformed. The distance he’d always forced between them no longer had a place there. A weight was lifted.
“I should get going. Dash is waiting for you,” Harrison said before he turned to go.
“See you Monday.”
Harrison waved but immediately spun and stalked closer. “Okay… I have another question.”
Oh fuck…
“You weren’t cheating on Dash with that guy I caught you with on the boat, were you? Because I might have to kick your ass if you were.”
“No. I wasn’t. Dash refused me initially and demanded I leave him alone, which I begrudgingly did. That guy was me trying to forget what I felt for Dash—and failing miserably at it.”
“Do you mind me asking… whatisbetween you and Dash?”
Emerson shrugged. “No idea.”
“Had you not both been alpha, I would’ve been sure two mates had met that day.”
Emerson’s gaze flew to Harrison’s. It had felt like that to him, too. “We all know that’s not possible.”
“A beta turning into an omega wasn’t something we thought possible a few years ago and look at Cassidy now. Because of him, I get called a greedy alphahole for having two omegas.”
Emerson glanced around to ensure they were still alone. “Too bad you can’t tell them you’re covering for your twin brother who has an alpha instead.”
Harrison chuckled, but the laughter faded. “Why can’t I tell people that?”
“We’d go to prison, Harry.”
“No, I mean in general. Why is it so bad? Why can’t alphas be together? There aren’t enough omegas being born. Two alphas together?—”
Thins the herd.Emerson smiled, hearing Dash’s voice in his head.
“Leaves more omegas for the alphas who want them.” Harrison frowned. “What’s so funny?”
“You just reminded me of something Dash said last night.”
Harrison lightly punched Emerson on the shoulder. “Speaking of Dash, go. That kiss looked pretty hot and heavy. I’ve cockblocked you long enough.”
“Thanks, Harry,” Emerson said.
Harrison saluted him and walked towards one of the two Fire Department pick-ups parked in the marina’s lot. Emerson waited until his brother had started his and pulled out before he returned to the boat. Dash jumped up from one of the built-in benches on the deck, searching his face.
“Sorry I took so long,” Emerson murmured, staring at the handsome man he had no right to want to hold on to.
“From your expression, I assume that went well?”
Emerson nodded. “It did.”
“He won’t tell?”
“Of course not. He’s happy for me.” Emerson swallowed a sudden lump in his throat. “For us.”
Dash’s eyes widened for a second after the word ‘us’ was uttered. Emerson took a step closer, a war raging inside. His conversation with Davis fought on one side, his brother’s acceptance on the other. Being togetherwasdangerous, but they both knew the hazards and the consequences they might face. Dash had already worked up a plan to negate the risk to his employees and his partner.
