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When in doubt, tell the truth.
“I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been thinking about you, too.”
“Is that right? It’s the superhero thing, isn’t it?”
“Well, it doesn’t hurt.” When he smiled, it transformed his entire face, giving Bas a glimpse behind the cool exterior. “I wanted to apologize for the way I acted the other night, about Melissa and everything else. I shouldn’t have dragged you into my drama.”
Hair tousled, eyes puffy and red-rimmed, and dressed in an oversized sweater with a pair of faded joggers, he was every bit as stunning as he had been in a suit. Maybe more so. Bas had always appreciated natural beauty, and Kai had it in spades.
“I like a good scandal as much as the next guy, but I’d also really like to get to know you without all the distractions.” He’d been working up to this part for days, but his preparation didn’t make it any easier. “Would you like to have lunch with me? Or maybe coffee? Nothing too serious and no pressure.”
Kai stared at him for a long time before his lips finally curved at the corners. Running his fingers through his messy hair, he bit down on his bottom lip and nodded. The innocence of the action, the vulnerability in it, shattered all of Bas’ preconceptions.
In that moment, Kai wasn’t the strong, independent, stubborn person he’d met on the sidewalk. He was shy, insecure, and just as nervous as he was, transformed into a teenager once again because a boy had asked him out on a date.
“I’d like that. Just let me get dressed.” He tugged at the hem of his tattered, navy blue sweatshirt as he scuffed his toes across the carpeted floor. “I guess I really should get some new lounge clothes.”
The wide-neck collar hung off his right shoulder, and the cotton joggers were literally coming apart at the seams. “I don’t think you should change anything.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. You look adorable, and more importantly, you look comfortable.” Bas plopped down on the sofa and dug around in the cushions for the remote. “I can entertain myself. Go get dressed.”
“There’s water and soda in the fridge. Make yourself at home. I’ll just be a minute.”
“Take your time.” He’d wait as long as it took.
“You work from home, right? What exactly is it you do?”
The afternoon sun glinted off the windows of the River Walk Café, warming the small patio despite the chill in the air. Kai had changed into a pair of jeans and a cream cable-knit sweater that molded across his shoulders. He had tamed his unruly locks into a side part and hidden the dark circles under his eyes with a thin layer of concealer.
Bas couldn’t take his eyes off him.
“I’m a graphic artist and illustrator.” Kai stopped there as though that explained everything and stuffed half a beignet in his mouth with a cute moan of appreciation. “These are fabulous.”
“Graphic art, like video games?”
“No, no, nothing like that.” He waved his hand around as he took a sip from his coffee mug. “I do freelance work with privately owned shops in the area. I create all sorts of things for them, like fliers, banners, brochures, and different promotional stuff. Mostly, I do cover designs for self-published authors.”
“And you draw these designs?”
“Not usually, but if they want something specific, I can do that.”
Bas couldn’t draw a straight line, let alone create an entire book cover. “Color me fascinated. I’d love to see your work sometime.”
“Really?”
Resting his elbows on the tabletop, he curled his fingers around his own mug of steaming coffee and tilted his head to the side. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Okay, well…” Kai shifted in his chair and pointed to a bar and grill across the street. “Benjamin’s? See that logo on the awning? I designed that.”
Hearing about his work had been impressive, but seeing it, even in an ordinary logo, awed him. “No shit?”
“No shit,” he answered easily. “Okay, your turn. How long have you been a bouncer?”
“I mostly tend bar, have for about eight years now.” It wasn’t a long story, or even a particularly interesting one. “A couple of months ago, the summer guys left to go back to college. The owner needed someone to work the door a few nights a week, and I needed the extra shifts. Everyone wins.”
Kai watched him thoughtfully, a shallow valley forming over the bridge of his nose. “See, now I find that impressive. I can barely mix a Jack and Coke.” He brought the mug to his lips again. “So, do you have a specialty drink?”
