Oh, you sweet boy.“Babycakes suits you.”
“Why?” he asked with so much innocence Kari struggled not to scoop him off the chair and cuddle him.
“You’re as sweet as your baking and even more adorable than Boo-Boo.”
“I am?”
His voice held a childish delight, and Kari tweaked the end of his nose. “You are. Can I ask you something?” At his nod, Kari weighed his words carefully. “I noticed you have a spare room in your apartment. You wished to never see Rex again and to stay in your apartmentwithout being scared.How would you feel if I used that room for a little while so you aren’t alone? Just for as long as you need me, and when you’re happy, you can ask me to leave,” he added so Bowie didn’t feel any pressure.
“You’d do that for me?”
The hopefulness would have Kari slaying demons if that’s what it took to keep Bowie happy. Unable to find his voice, he nodded.
The sound of his phone ringing saved him from making a fool of himself when Bowie gave him a shy smile. “I’d like that.”
“Good.” Kari gently squeezed the hand he still held before letting go to return to his desk.
Work.
They needed to work.
The rest could wait until they got back to Bowie’s—together.
Gods, what the hell am I doing?
Chapter Fourteen
Bowie
It was Friday night, and usually Bowie would order pizza and pick a movie to watch, staying up a little later because he didn’t have to get up for work. But first he’d bake something to have over the weekend, singing along to some music while he worked. It was something fun and relaxing for him.
Tonight, however, he wasn’t sure what to do. He was standing in the kitchen, listening to the sound of falling water in the bathroom while Kari took a shower. Bowie tried very hard not to think about that when his cheeks got hot and his body got all tingly in places that weren’t appropriate.
Kari is my boss, not my boyfriend,he told himself, and not for the first time, which was very distressing.
He could be your boyfriend if you asked him.
Please, I can’t do that. He would never be interested in me like that. Also, don’t you remember we peed our pants, and he had to scrub the carpet?It still made Bowie go hot and cold if hethought about it too hard.And having a boyfriend isn’t always a good thing. Rex was awful.
Bowie still had the bruises to prove it.
That was because you didn’t listen to me. Kari is different.
Yes, he is. He’s my boss.
His animal side was getting very persistent since Kari hadtemporarilymoved in. The man was only there to help Bowie out because he’d got himself in a pickle with Rex. Mortifying, but true. Because when Bowie had a meeting with Hollis the other day—which had gone better than Bowie could have hoped for—Hollis had focused on his being safe. He was a great boss, almost as good as Lane, except Bowie kept that to himself, not wanting to insult his friend. But that conversation had brought with it the reality that Bowie didn’t know if he was safe in his apartment anymore. All he could think about was the worry of having to move again because he really couldn’t call Kari every day and ask him to escort him out of his home.
So he had thought before talking to Kari, and then something marvellous had happened. Kari had brought up wishes and, like magic, granted ones that meant Bowie wasn’t worried about Rex anymore.
Now, Bowie hadn’t thought about Rex for days because all he could think about was Kari.
What did it all mean? Was he fickle? It felt like it when last week he was with Rex and now he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about Kari in the shower—naked.
Not thinking about that, remember,he chastised himself, reaching for a large jar of flour as a distraction.
Brownies. He’d make brownies, as they were Kari’s favorite, and wait to see if he was going to stay in or go out. Yes, that was the best plan. Kari had gone out in the evenings the past few days. It was Friday, it made sense he’d have plans.
Bowie stopped mid-measure, his brow furrowing. Did Kari have a boyfriend? He’d never thought to ask. Did that make him selfish? Most certainly. Should he ask now? Tell Kari he could bring him over if he wanted?
