Silas came striding deeper into the room, pushing at his rolled-up sleeves. “Are you heading straight home?”
He continued to do the occasional evening at home, usually when Bowie went to Lennon’s or Isley’s. With them being aware of the situation, they were easier to be around. The pretense was piss poor but still, he got to see Dad and Popi. The house was usually quiet with the exception of Emmy, who liked to make her presence known.
Bowie, who had gone back to tapping at his iPad, was very obviously not working with how a second later his hands hovered over the iPad.
“Wasn’t planning on it, why?” Kari rubbed at his jaw. “Do you need me to drop something home?”
Silas shook his head before he’d finished speaking. “Nope. Ziggy has plans with all the PAs for this evening and I’ve already dropped by Booker and Taylin to see if they wanna grab a beer and burger, you in? I’m gonna see if anyone else is around.”
Kari didn’t look at Bowie, but he sensed the increasing tension in the room. His wolf was pacing in his mind. Was this the reason for the behavior? Bowie had plans and wasn’t sure how to tell him? Although that made little sense when Bowie had specifically asked if they were staying in tonight.
He kept his expression neutral, hiding his confusion over what was actually going on. “I’ll need to check something first. Can I message you to let you know?”
His brother shrugged. “Yep, whatever works. Plan is to meet around six at Ren’s. If you’re coming, and aren’t going home, grab a cab. It’s been a while since we all cut loose.”
“Will do,” he replied, grinning at Silas as he turned and left.
The smile disappeared when his gaze went to Bowie, waiting for the door to click shut. Bowie’s head slowly rose, and eyes that resembled a deer caught in headlights stared at him. “You have something you want to tell Daddy?”
The tip of a pink tongue ran over Bowie’s lower lip, and Kari couldn’t figure what was going through Bowie’s mind when he shook his head. “It’s a surprise.”
“So you don’t have plans with the PAs tonight?” questioned Kari, not at all sure what the heat in Bowie’s cheeks revealed when he shook his head. “You do?”
“Daddy, I said it’s a surprise.”
The put out tone was new, and Kari’s eyes widened, even as his lips twitched with amusement.
“Am I going to be staying in or going out?” he asked instead, intrigued.
“You’re staying in with me,” Bowie stated firmly, which suggested Kari not argue.
The flare of arousal at his boy’s confident demand left him reiterating to himself that they were at work, and anyone could come in and find them. He was not Silas. “I am?”
“Yes, so message Silas and tell him no.” Bowie returned to what he was doing, only Kari noted the excitement.
What was he up to?
Do you know what he’s up to?It felt stupid to ask his animal side, only Kari didn’t always stay cognizant when in his shifted form. His animal side preferred it that way.
He’s excited. What does it matter what he’s up to? He wants us there, so we’ll find out later, won’t we?
Seeing no way of finding an answer, Kari returned his attention back to work. He hadn’t lied to Silas; he really wanted to leave on time. It seldom happened, and the last few weekends he’d had to bring work home with him. Bowie didn’t complain, and Kari had thoughts originally of naked rewards. Now he wasn’t sure that would fit with whatever Bowie was up to. Seeing he was going to keep circling back to what Bowie was planning, Kari forced his mind back to the computer.
“Did you ask Jupiter for the predicted sales forecast from Milan?”
Under Bowie’s watchful eye, Kari sent a message to Silas after they’d finished working, then Bowie had bustled off to get his things from his office. One sweep of his desk to see he’d left nothing lying around, Kari slipped on his suit jacket, grabbed his laptop bag and headed out of his office.
The corridor was empty, and he could hear the cleaning crew in one of the other offices. It was a little later than he’d planned to leave, closer to six, but the weekend stretched out in front of him with no work tucked into it.
He rode the elevator down, thinking about suggesting a trip to the toy store, maybe dinner out. The doors opened, and he strode out, grinning at Bowie who was wrapped up in a padded coat that made him look like an Inuit. He was standing by the exit, foot tapping impatiently.
“Come on, Daddy, we’re gonna be late.”
“Late for what, Babycakes?” Kari questioned, coming to a halt in front of Bowie, searching for any clues as to what he was up to.
“Didn’t I say it was a surprise?” he huffed, reaching to tug on Kari’s suit jacket.
“What if I don’t like surprises,” he teased back, letting Bowie rush him to the car. The wind was strong and caught his jacket, parting it and allowing in the wintery chill.
