and started twisting his hands again. Jensen walked the few steps back to the table and crouched down again so he was at eye level. “Dash, I’m sorry if I’m overstepping.” He nearly laughed at that. He was being his usual “my way or the highway” A-type bossy SOB, but Dash was bringing out all his pushy instincts.
And protective ones.
“I’m afraid being my own boss makes me overbearing. Please don’t be worried of offending me or calling me out on it.”
Dash licked his pretty pink lips, and Jensen tried really hard not to groan. Having other fantasies along with the nurturing ones wasn’t going to help the situation either.
“I guess I’m just struggling with why you would be so nice to me.”
Jensen sighed and straightened up. He didn’t blame him, but the suspicion was clear in Dash’s voice, and he absently rubbed his chest as disappointment stabbed at him. “You are completely one hundred percent safe with me.”
His eyes widened again. “No, I didn’t mean that.” He flushed deeper. “I-I meant.” His hands twisted again, and Jensen walked toward the bag by the door, rummaging and finding the bear and solemnly handed it to him. Dash stared at the bear, then Jensen, then nearly snatched the bear out of his hands and hid his face in it. He mumbled something Jensen couldn’t quite make out.
“Try not to worry,” Jensen said completely inadequately. Dash looked nearly as deathly white as he had done earlier, so Jensen simply ladled him some soup, grabbed a spoon and a couple of paper napkins, and put it all in front of him. He added a small plate with a couple of warm bread buns on and the grilled cheese sandwich when it was ready. He also got Dash a glass of water from the fridge. Jensen settled at the table with his own food, swallowed some soup and took a bite of sandwich, and groaned in satisfaction.
“I eat in a lot of hotels and restaurants. I’d forgotten just how good tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich can be.”
Dash seemed to relax a little and picked his spoon up, blowing on the soup a little before swallowing. The second spoonful followed a little quicker, and Jensen watched, satisfied, as half the bowl disappeared quickly. Dash glanced at the bread but didn’t try and reach for any.
“Would you like some butter on that?” Jensen asked, trying to be casual but knowing full well if he said yes he’d be buttering it himself.
Dash looked over at him. “No, thank you,” he said and reached for a roll. Jensen relaxed a little. The kitchen was large for the size of the property. Mimi had it remodeled years ago and taken the space from the separate dining room which was now just one living room. The only other room was a small guest bathroom down here. Upstairs were two bedrooms, one the master with a full bathroom, and the other had a shower and a small toilet squeezed in. As a child he’d loved the small room; as an adult at six foot three inches, Jensen had to duck to get in the shower.
The other reason Mimi had adored the cottage was the huge garden. She’d grown all her own vegetables, herbs, and spices, but Jensen just had rosebushes planted in there three years ago after she died.
“I loved my aunt’s soup when I was a kid,” Jensen said conversationally. “My sister was always horrified when I dipped the bread in and made it soggy.”
Dash glanced down at his bread, then much to Jensen’s delight tore a small piece off, dipped it in the remainder of his soup, and popped it in his mouth. He was momentarily distracted by the sight of his pink tongue slipping in and out and returned to his own food determinedly.
“Did-did you live with your aunt?”
Jensen nearly beamed at the first sign of curiosity Dash had exhibited since they’d met.
“Not as much as I’d have liked to be honest,” he admitted ruefully. “My mom and dad”—Jensen shrugged—“I guess you’d call them hippies. I spent more nights in a tent in some commune or other when I was growing up than I did under a roof.”
He sighed silently. “I loved the life at first. Mom homeschooled us, and there was no…discipline, I guess you’d call it. If we wanted to go swimming at midnight, it was okay. If we wanted to blow off the books and go on a treasure hunt, it was okay. Then