Chapter 7 #2
He opened his mouth, but then shut it as a man in shorts and a tank top strolled over to us, carrying a little dog in his arms. Stefan rose and they hugged.
When they broke apart, Stefan gestured to him.
The stranger appeared to be a similar age, a large man with well- developed arms and a broad chest. The dog was tiny by comparison, a fluffy little thing who seemed to be shivering.
“This is my friend, Dieter.” Then Stefan introduced me.
“Delighted to meet you.” Dieter’s voice was deep and gravelly—and somehow familiar. He handed the dog’s leash to Stefan. “Take care of Gertrude while I go get coffee. She knows you. And you know the rules.”
Stefan nodded. He made no sign of reaching for the little dog, but let her sit at his feet.
Once Dieter was inside the cafe, I glanced at Stefan. “What are the rules?” I murmured.
“He hates it when people start stroking Gertrude without asking. She’s a nervous girl. The only one who touches her is Dieter.”
I stared at the door to the café.
“What’s wrong?” Stefan asked in a low voice.
“I… I can’t get it out of my head that I know him from somewhere. Not his face—well, maybe a little—but definitely his voice.”
Dieter returned, pulled an empty chair over to us, then picked Gertrude up and sat her in his lap. He pulled a packet of cigarettes from the pocket of his shorts. “Are you okay if I smoke?” he asked me.
I waved my hand. “I don’t mind.” We were outdoors, after all.
Dieter lit up, then leaned back in his chair. “I haven’t seen you here before.” One hand rested on Gertrude’s neck, a gentle connection.
I smiled. “This is my first visit.” I sat and listened as Dieter and Stefan chatted in German, and the more Dieter spoke, the more convinced I became.
Finally, I had to say something.
I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry, but… I know your voice from somewhere.” And now that I thought about it, his face was familiar too.
Dieter studied me in silence for a moment. “Supposing I said… The bidding is closed. Does that ring a bell?”
My jaw hit the pavement. “Oh. My. God.”
Stefan frowned. “Am I missing something?”
Dieter smiled. “It’s what I say on one of the sites I shoot for. Boy For Sale, to be exact.”
Heat crawled over my skin as Stefan regarded me with that same expression of interest.
“So… You have a wife… no wedding ring…and you watch gay porn.” His lips twitched. “You intrigue me, Kieran.”
I wanted the earth to open up and swallow me whole.
“I have an idea,” Dieter announced. He glanced at Stefan. “Can you afford to take time away from your work and show this handsome man around our city?” His eyes gleamed. “I’m sure Kieran would love a guide.”
Stefan narrowed his gaze. “You’re very good at organising my time. Maybe Kieran has plans.”
Before I could tell him I absolutely did not have plans, Dieter smiled. “I’m sure Stefan could teach you a lot. Couldn’t you, Stefan?”
Now I had the feeling I was the one missing something.
Stefan gave Dieter a mock glare before turning to face me. “I would love to show you around Berlin. I was born here. And if I’m honest, I was about to make such an offer when my friend here strolled over to us. Berlin has a lot to offer.”
Dieter coughed. “Especially this week.”
That earned him another glare. Stefan straightened in his chair. “Do you have plans for the rest of the day? Or are you spending time with your friend?”
“I don’t have anything planned,” I admitted.
“Any idea where you’d like to go first?”
I chuckled. “The only part of Berlin I would recognise would be the Brandenburg Gate.”
“We could spend a whole day in Mitte, so maybe we should save that for tomorrow. If you want to.”
I frowned. “Mitte?”
“It’s the centre of the city,” Dieter explained before Stefan could. “The cathedral, Museum Island…” He shrugged. “That’s if you don’t mind going to museums.”
I met Stefan’s gaze. “I’ll go wherever you take me.”
He smiled. “You might regret saying that.” Then he glanced at the sky. “It’s a beautiful day. Would you like to go to the zoo?”
I did another blink. “Berlin has a zoo?”
“It’s an amazing place,” Dieter told me. “You could spend a day just in the Aquarium.”
I had to smile. “I haven’t been to a zoo since my parents took me to Chester Zoo when I was very small.”
Stefan beamed. “That settles it. We’re going to the zoo.” Dieter opened his mouth, but Stefan got in first. “Don’t you have somewhere you need to be? The gym or something?”
Dieter grinned. “You mean I can’t accompany you two? Pity.”
Stefan gave him a pointed stare. “And risk taking Gertrude near the lions’ enclosure? They might think you’ve brought them a snack.”
Dieter covered the dog’s ears, then narrowed his gaze. “Are you trying to scare her?”
Stefan stared at him again. “So now I’m not allowed to joke? You know I adore her.”
Dieter huffed. “Yeah, I know.” Then he sighed. “You know what? I’ve just remembered there’s somewhere I do have to be after all. I have a doctor’s appointment. So I’ll leave you both to your vastly more interesting day.” He stood. “I hope to see you again while you’re in Berlin, Kieran.”
I smiled. “I hope so too.” I couldn’t help liking him.
Dieter flashed Stefan a look. “Who knows? I may see you both at the street fair on Saturday.” Then he walked off, carrying Gertrude.
I frowned. “There’s a street fair?”
Stefan didn’t answer right away, but gazed at me until I felt my cheeks burn.
“I meant what I said. Let me show you Berlin,” he said at last, his voice low.
There were, presumably, several sensible reasons to say no. None of them presented themselves.
“Show me?”
Stefan nodded. “Not just the parts in guidebooks.” He paused. “You’ve never been here before. It helps to have someone who knows where they’re going.”
I felt a flicker of something just beneath the surface. The same feeling I’d experienced on the train.
“You don’t have to—” I began.
“I know,” Stefan said.
I glanced at my coffee, buying myself a second or two.
It would be easy to say no.
Sensibly, that was probably what I should do. I didn’t know this man.
I didn’t know what this was.
But God, I wanted to.
“I’d like that,” I said, the words tumbling out in a hurry before I could reconsider them.
Apparently, we were past the point of sensible decisions.
Stefan’s smile didn’t widen, but something in his expression settled. “Good.”
And just like that?
It was decided.
I had a guide. I just wasn’t sure what, exactly, he intended to show me.
I also had the unsettling feeling that this had very little to do with sightseeing.