“After meeting you and talking, I feel better. I wasn’t trying to cause you any trouble. Bas is a sweetie. I’d hate to see him get hurt.”
“I know that you weren’t trying to cause me problems,” Bastian replied quickly. His mate didn’t have it in him to be a bad person. “I think it’s admirable.”
This time it was he who received the beaming smile.
Damn, Hudson was gorgeous. And he wanted to leave? Bastian’s mind whirled on how to keep Hudson with him. “Would you like a tour of the property?”
“I would,” Hudson told him. “I need to get home though. Maybe another time?”
“Sure,” Bastian agreed quickly. “Tomorrow night? I have a cabin here. We could have dinner and I could show you around.”
“And I can see Bas again.” Hudson’s excitement grew.
Well fuck! How was Bastian going to manage that? “Yeah.”
“What time?” Hudson asked. “And is there anything I should bring?”
“No, no.” Bas rubbed the back of his neck as what he proposed hit him. His cabin didn’t even look like he had a cat. Hudson was smart. Surely he would notice. “I’ll take care of everything. Is there anything you don’t like to eat. Shit! Do you have any allergies.”
Hudson laughed as he grabbed Bastian’s hand. “I don’t have any allergies. Thank you for asking. And I love food. I’m sure I’ll enjoy whatever you make.”
Bastian squeezed Hudson’s fingers. “How about dinner at six? We can take the tour after?” That should give him enough time to figure things out. Bas was going to need help. Help from the family. He just knew the boys were going to go crazy.
“That sounds great!” Hudson bounced a little.
Bastian could picture Hudson playing with the other boys. It would be so cute. Bastian knew as a mate he could offer Hudson a safe place to unwind, since being a firefighter came with its own dangers and stress. “Should I pick you up?” he offered.
“Don’t be silly,” Hudson told him. “I’ll drive here. There’s no point to drive all the way in town and back to return me home.”
It made sense to him. Bastian didn’t push the issue. “Six?”
“Yes.” Hudson let go of his hand.
Bastian had to curl his fingers into his palm to keep from reaching for his mate again. “I’ll walk you out.” Then follow Hudson home to make sure his mate got there safely.
They strolled down the hall and Hudson’s head turned to the left and the right, checking everything out.
“I love how bright and cheerful it is in here,” Hudson told him. “You’d expect a house this big to be full of antiques and kind of stuffy.”
“I’m pretty sure that you’re going to get along well with the guys here,” Bastian said.
“Really? You think so?”
Bastian nodded.
“I haven’t been here long and I’m still trying to make friends,” Hudson said.
“It won’t be an issue.” Bastian knew that for a fact.
They reached the front door and Bastian opened it for him.
Hudson stepped over the threshold then stopped. “Oh! I almost forgot. Bas followed me home. I wanted to make sure that you knew that too.”
Bastian chuckled. “Of course he did. You’re such a cutie, how could he resist?”
Hudson’s eyes widened. “You think I’m cute?”
He’d asked the other man on a date. Had smiled and not growled. Hadn’t Bastian made his intent clear? “I think you’re gorgeous, kind, and full of sunshine.” There. That had been clear.
