pajamas, pants, and two sweaters. I can’t think there’s anything else left.”
He mentally ran through his online purchases. There had been nothing else. He’d looked at a fleece throw, but he’d decided against it.
Dash carefully opened the end of the package in the same way he had done the others. Jensen would have loved to have seen him rip them with abandon.
Dash froze as he looked in the bag, and Jensen frowned. “What is it?”
Dash laughed nervously. “I think they sent something by mistake.”
“What is it?”
And as soon as he started pulling it out of the bag, Jensen realized. It was the damn throw. The one with the teddy bears on that looked just like Dash’s. But he’d deleted it, surely? Crap. “I’m sorry,” he said. “We can send it—”
“It’s so soft,” Dash interrupted and rubbed it against his face in the same way he had done the sweater.
“It reminded me of your bear,” Jensen admitted.
Dash smiled and lifted his head. “It’s very kind, and I have no idea how I’m going to be able to pay you back.”
“Well, we don’t need to worry about that now. How about we go down and watch a show on TV? Think about what you want for supper?” It was a lot to take in.
“I wondered if you’d let me look at a computer. I would be very careful.”
“Of course,” Jensen said and swung his legs out. “I have a laptop. You can either use it up here or at the kitchen table while I make us something to eat.”
“Thank you.” Dash smiled. “I need to see if I can get a job.”
Jensen froze. The outright denial was on his lips, but he tried for casual. “Not before Tuesday, surely?”
Dash hesitated. “Tuesday?”
“Clinic. Surely it would be better to make sure you’re fully recovered before you think about work?”
“It’s not fair to you. I have to find somewhere to live—” He stopped speaking because Jensen had put his finger over Dash’s lips. Jensen snatched it back.
“When the doctor says you’re okay, we’ll talk about work.”
Dash searched his eyes as if looking to see if he was serious.
“There is absolutely no rush to find somewhere to live.” He scrabbled when Dash didn’t look convinced. “Let’s get Tuesday out of the way, then we can come up with a plan.” Hell, he could give Dash a job in one of twenty businesses he could think of off the top of his head.
“And while I’m doing that, you finish the train picture.” Jensen held his breath.
A beat of silence went by. “Okay then,” Dash said and followed Jensen downstairs.
Five
Dash didn’t know what to think. When he’d woken early like he always did and remembered how kind Jensen had been, he couldn’t rest until he did something to show his gratitude. He’d hurried downstairs in his pajamas, but the kitchen had been spotless, so the only other thing he could do was make him a cup of tea like the day before. He’d dithered while trying to decide if it was too early, but in the end risked it. And Jensen had seemed pleased again.
He made himself one when Jensen said he could. Gran loved her coffee on a morning, but Dash could take or leave it and often had juice. He didn’t mind the tea though and for a second wished that this was going to be his biggest decision for the day.
Not where he would have to live after Tuesday or more importantly how he was going to live.
Gran had been happy for him to be at home and look after the house. He’d enjoyed making it as comfortable and as welcoming as he could, and had even pottered about in her garden. It hadn’t been much, but Miss O’Hare had said the cleanliness and how everything had looked had been the reason the house had sold so quickly. He had been hoping the store sale would keep the house, but as the months had gone on and the debts had crept higher, he knew he had no choice.
A double-edged sword as Gran would have said. Because once it was sold, he had nowhere to go. He didn’t even have anyone to ask which was pathetic.
He quickly made Jensen’s tea and was almost disappointed when Jensen came downstairs before he got a chance to bring it up. Dash barely remembered yesterday evening. He’d fallen asleep on the sofa, and at some point Jensen had woken him up to take him to bed, but the details were