And no one seemed to care.
He’d also made a place for Ian in his life. Ian had been more than happy to take care of a few administrative matters for Owen to ease his own mind, like beefing up the man’s pitiful online security system. The Knoxes and Tim could worry about the physical security of the place, but Owen’s real vulnerabilities, in Ian’s opinion, lay in his weak firewalls.
He managed to beat Owen at cards but lost at Scrabble both times they’d played, and he’d never been happier to lose. So satisfying to have a worthy opponent once more. Tim seemed just as glad not to have to play with Ian again.
They’d had a family movie night just last night, and the confused expression on Tim’s face at being included had moved Ian. When he’d lain with Owen in bed, they’d talked about how well everyone fit in at the Bend home. The Bend home. It no longer weirded him out that Owen had more than one place to live.
He knew it was only a matter of time before Kerr attacked or Owen had to leave to address concerns in the financial world he’d been holding off. It felt surreal, being here with people who liked him. Even the Knoxes had thawed toward him, especially once Ian had given Reuben a few hints about how to woo Dolly from things he’d overheard her say. From the big smile on the guy’s face this morning and Dolly’s blush anytime she looked his way, Ian thought Reuben might have gotten lucky last night.
Too bad Joe moved like a snail around Tim. To Ian and Owen’s surprise, Tim was shy when it came to dating. If Joe didn’t make a move, nothing would happen. But instead of letting Ian give Joe a few pointers, Owen had advised him to let them be. Reuben didn’t see Ian as a threat with Dolly. Joe might not take the advice so well. A smart suggestion, considering Ian would belt Joe in the mouth if he thought about telling Owen how to handle him.
“Ian, could you come here for a minute?”
He waved at Bev and grabbed half a sandwich. “Hold on, oh lord and master.” He’d been having a grand time at Owen’s expense, and Owen allowed him the jeers. Only because Ian performed so well in bed as his slave, according to Owen. The big tease. “Where are you?”
“East wing,” sounded through the intercom on the wall.
The place had enough space that sometimes Ian turned in the wrong direction. He moved down the hallway toward the glass-enclosed sunroom and stopped. The door before the sunroom was open, and Owen stood inside.
“What do you think?” Owen asked.
Ian stepped cautiously into the room. “About what?” He saw a table and an easel, brushes, paints, and a few pieces of Owen’s more expensive art on the walls that hadn’t been there yesterday.
“This. Your office.”
“My office?” Ian gaped as he moved around. The sun was just setting outside, and the picturesque view he had of the mountains was to-die-for amazing.
“Well, not office exactly. There’s a computer desk I ordered, and the computer hasn’t come in yet. But I was thinking it could be a studio, you know. You like to paint, right?”
Owen had his hands in his pockets and seemed a bit tense. Ian didn’t know what to say. This seemed like a lot of trouble to go through for a few weeks’ stay. But the light in here couldn’t have been better. He had the sudden urge to create.
“You like it?” Owen asked again, frowning. “Because I could arrange something else. I just thought the light looked pretty good in here, and—”
“I love it!” Ian let himself be dramatic and spun around with his arms wide, laughing. He noticed the tension leave Owen’s broad shoulders, and a gorgeous smile lit his face. “Just think of all the great paintings I can reproduce! I’ll be a millionaire, like you, in no time.”
Owen shook his head. “Ian…”
“Oh relax. Don’t get your panties in a twist, sunshine. I’m teasing. I think I might try my hand at landscapes, since I have such a terrific view.”
“Maybe you could do one.” The pregnant pause sounded overly loud to Ian. “For our bedroom.”
“Really?” Our bedroom? “You’d want to hang something of mine in there?”
“An original, yes. Nothing copied.” Owen scowled. “And you need to tell Mannie Frankton that you’re withdrawing the Whistler he commissioned. That sucker’s mine.”
“Wait. What?” How had Owen found out about that? Ian had mentioned the etching he might copy a week ago to Mannie, his black-market contact. But now, the way he and Owen had been getting along, he wanted to keep their interaction private. He wouldn’t feel right selling anything to Mannie, not behind Owen’s back, at least.
“You have your sources. I have mine.” Owen winked at him, kissed him on the cheek, and sauntered out.
Had to be Tim. Ian shook his head, moved by Owen’s generosity. Our bedroom. Jesus.
It was getting harder to remind himself that Owen had been nice because of Kerr. Once that situation was remedied, he’d need to get back home to his things. His house. A place that meant a lot less to him, the more time he spent with his boyfriend.
Ian warmed. He had a boyfriend. Maybe he and Owen could continue once this ended. They wouldn’t be as tight, of course, but hell, Owen had trusted him with personal secrets he didn’t share with anyone else. He liked Ian as a person. They could at least remain friends.
Thoughts of the future without Owen depressed him, so Ian focused on his new studio. He didn’t like the paint color in here, so he decided he’d go with a creamy blue. No, green, a subtle jade over one wall to match Owen’s eyes… Better yet, a mural.
He might not be staying forever, but he’d sure as hell give Owen something to remember when he was gone.
Chapter Eleven
Owen knew the time would come when he and Ian would have to rejoin the real world again. Their week together had been ideal, and he’d been allowed to see the charming soul buried beneath the joking con man. Bev and Dolly had already given their subtle seals of approval.
Reuben had hinted at expanding the outdoor space to include a private spa, since Ian had mentioned how much he liked to soak in the indoor one. Even Joe seemed to have thawed toward Owen’s little thief. Tim thought Ian walked on water. Instead of wanting a transfer after keeping an eye on him for a few days, Tim insisted on making sure of Ian’s continued safety.
If not for the man’s less than subtle interest in Joe, Owen might have been jealous. It was as if Ian had brought life and love into his house. Reuben and Dolly were openly dating. Joe kept inching closer to Tim. And Bev cooked like a dream while testing recipes for her upcoming cookbook, eagerly awaiting the changes to the place she could see coming. Though she’d never met any of his past dates, she’d told Owen Ian was her favorite by far. Charming, handsome, and he had the good taste to fall in love with Owen.
If only. Owen knew Ian felt more for him than lust. But how much more? He wanted badly to press Ian to stay, but he still worried about scaring the man away.
And then there was Kerr to take care of.
“Boss, you need to hear this,” Tim said quietly from just behind him.
Owen turned and followed Tim to his office, where Joe stood with an angry expression. Caleb stood with him, having apparently returned a day early.