19. Slade

I shakemy head as I listen to Lukas and Alex recount their steamy encounter with Emma in the conference room and everything that's happened in the weeks since—the relationship forms, the secret hookups around the building, the texting. The three of us are nursing cups of strong coffee in our sleek, modern kitchen after a grueling early morning practice.

I'm not sure how to take what they're telling me. A small, insistent part of me is deeply jealous. Emma and I haven't talked much since that first night at The Gilded Lily, but from the moment I laid eyes on her, I felt we were two magnets that had been waiting our whole lives to snap together. Even though we've barely spoken since that electric first meeting, she's been on my mind constantly.

And hearing about the things she's done with my boys…well, it just makes me want her even more. My cock twitches in my shorts as I imagine her full lips wrapped around it, putting myself in Alex's place.

But I squash that feeling down and concentrate on the bigger part of me that knows these guys are engaging in a dangerous situation.

"Guys, I think Emma is bad news," I say, my voice low and serious. "Getting involved with a colleague is never a good idea, especially not one who's playing the field."

Lukas laughs. "Since when are you the voice of reason, Slade?" His eyes gleam with mischief.

"Yeah, this is so not like you, man." Alex raises a dark eyebrow at me over the rim of his mug. "Usually you're the first one to say go for it when there's a hot chick involved."

I roll my eyes and take a swig of the strong brew, letting the heat burn down my throat. They're not wrong. Normally I'd be all over a mantrap like Emma, no hesitation. But this feels different somehow.

"I'm just saying, this has the potential to get real messy, real fast. Inter-office romance never ends well." I lean back against the granite countertop and cross my arms. "Plus, it sounds like she's juggling more than just you two."

Alex and Lukas exchange a loaded glance. An unspoken understanding passes between them.

"Maybe," Alex allows. "But I'm telling you, Slade, there's just something about this girl. I can't shake the feeling that she could be…more, you know?"

I do know. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm intrigued by Emma Collins. The brief encounters we've had have left me wanting to unravel the enticing contradictions of her—the bold confidence warring with an underlying vulnerability. The razor-sharp mind and that lush, tempting body…

Lukas drains the last of his coffee and sets the mug in the sink with a resolute clink. "Look, Slade, we've made up our minds. We're going to see where this thing with Emma leads." His gaze bore into mine, unwavering. "But we could really use your help."

I raise an eyebrow. "What do you need me to do?"

Alex leans forward, his expression grave. "We need you to talk to Ryan."

A sinking feeling starts to churn in my gut. "Ryan? What's he got to do with this?"

"At the hospital, we found out that Ryan's been seeing Emma too," Alex reveals, looking decidedly uncomfortable.

"And you know how Ryan is," Lukas adds. "The guy's not exactly the sharing type."

I let out a heavy sigh and rub a hand over my face. They're right about that. I've known Ryan since we were snot-nosed kids learning to skate in Detroit. I've seen first-hand the intensity with which he loves.

When Ryan falls, he falls hard and fast, with a single-minded focus that can be both endearing and overwhelming.

"I'll talk to him," I agree reluctantly. "But I can't make any promises, guys. If Ryan has real feelings for Emma, he's not gonna just step aside."

The words taste bitter on my tongue. Because even as I say them, I know they're true for me too. If I let myself fall for Emma Collins, I'll be just as hooked as the rest of them. And then where will we be?

Royally fucked, that's where.

Later that day, I meet Ryan at our favorite spot on the Riverwalk. The sun is setting over the city, casting a warm glow on the towering skyscrapers. The breeze is crisp and cool, the first hints of autumn making themselves known.

Ryan is already there when I arrive, his broad shoulders hunched as he leans against the railing, staring out at the rippling water. He looks up as I approach, smiling.

"Hey, man. What's up?" His deep voice is calm, unsuspecting.

I take a fortifying breath and brace myself for the conversation to come. "We need to talk. About Emma."

Ryan's smile fades, his brown eyes narrowing. "What about her?"

Here goes nothing. "Lukas and Alex told me that you've been seeing her. That you have feelings for her."

Ryan's jaw clenches. A muscle ticks in his cheek. "And? What business is it of theirs? Or yours?"

I hold up my hands in a placating gesture. "Look, I'm not trying to get in the middle of anything. But the guys, they have feelings for her too."

A flicker of surprise, then anger, flashes across Ryan's chiseled features. "What are you saying, Slade? That they want to share her? Like some kind of fucked up timeshare?"

His tone is scathing, but beneath the anger, I hear the betrayal. The hurt. I know he's thinking about Lukas…and what happened with Madison.

I quickly hold up my hands in a pacifying gesture. "I don't know exactly what they want and I'm not telling you what to do, Ryan. I'm just saying that this situation is complicated as hell." My voice is calm and even, trying to diffuse his fury. "And I don't want to see any of you get hurt, including Emma."

He scoffs. "Seems like you're thinking about her feelings more than Lukas and Alex are right now. They don't get to decide if Emma keeps seeing me, she does."

"Right, of course," I quickly say, realizing how idiotic this entire meeting is. Why did I ever agree to get involved? Why am I always trying to fix everything?

He gives me an assessing, hard look. "And what about you, Slade? What do you want?"

The question catches me off guard. What do I want? A flash of blue eyes and a wicked smile fills my mind. The phantom brush of soft skin against my fingertips.

I swallow hard. "I want to make sure my team is good. That we're all on the same page."

It's not the whole truth, but it's as much as I can give him. As much as I can admit to myself.

Ryan turns away, gripping the metal railing tightly as he stares out over the river. I can practically see the gears turning in his head as he wrestles with his emotions. The dude is intense on a good day, but throw romance into the mix, and he's a powder keg ready to explode.

I step up beside him, our shoulders almost brushing. The scent of his musky cologne mixes with the briny smell of the river. What a clusterfuck this is turning into. If I'd known one hot brunette could cause this much drama, I would've recommended Emma for a job with our rivals just to keep the peace.

But I get it. There's something special about her that draws you in, makes you want to unravel all her secrets. Those blue eyes could bring a grown man to his knees—even a playboy like Lukas or a stoic warrior like Ryan.

Ryan is silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. When he finally speaks, his voice is low and rough with emotion. "I can't just walk away, Slade. Not from her."

I frown, surprised by the intensity of his words. "What do you mean?"

He takes a deep breath, his broad shoulders rising and falling beneath his leather jacket. "After Madison, I didn't think I'd ever feel this way again. I thought I was broken, that I'd never be able to trust someone with my heart."

I nod, remembering the devastation that had followed Ryan's brutal breakup with his high school girlfriend. She'd ripped his heart out and stomped on it, leaving him a shell of his former self. Even though I had nothing to do with it, I've always felt a little guilty about the whole thing. Lukas may have been the one to screw her, but it happened on my watch.

"But with Emma…it's different," Ryan continues, his voice softening. "She makes me feel alive again, like maybe there's still hope for me. I can't just give that up, Slade. Not without a fight."

I'm silent for a long moment, weighing my words carefully. I know how much Ryan has been through, how hard he's worked to rebuild his life after Madison. And as much as I want to protect him from further heartbreak, I also know that I can't stand in the way of something that could be truly special.

"Alright," I say finally, clapping him on the shoulder. "If you feel that strongly about her, then do what you need to do. But be careful, man. I don't want to see you get hurt again."

Ryan nods, his jaw set. "I won't let that happen. Not this time."

We stand there for a moment longer, watching the river flow by in silence. The sun is starting to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. It's a beautiful sight, but my mind is elsewhere, tangled up in thoughts of Emma and the chaos she's brought into our lives.

Part of me wishes I could just wash my hands of the whole thing, let them sort it out on their own. But I know I can't do that. These guys are my brothers, my family.

And if Emma is what they want, then I'll do whatever I can to support them. Even if it means watching from the sidelines as they navigate this minefield of emotions.

Even if it means burying my own growing attraction to the captivating brunette who's turned our world upside down.