Page 22 of Kane
‘Yeah, of course,’ Kane said. ‘It’s not like I really need a guestroom anyway. I don’t normally let anyone stay over. I’m too much my own man. Like my space. But with you, it could work. Having a passion like you do with your comic… it’s impressive. Seriously. Just because your place is out of commission, I’d hate to think your creativity got stalled. Not on my watch.’
Cassie looked moved by what Kane was saying.
It felt good to see that his words meant something.
But Kane wasn’t one to wallow in emotion.
Far from it.
‘Okay, kid. Enough. Time for you to move that butt and get your head down,’ Kane said, an authoritative tone to his voice. ‘Remember. Ace the course and there will be a treat for you.’
‘I’ll do my best!’ Cassie said, a spring in her step as she bounded away towards the room where the course was taking place. ‘And thank you again. You’ve made my day!’
Kane grinned.
He felt good.
Like, seriously good.
But what was he going to do while Cassie took the course? It was two hours long. Kane wasn’t on call but was in doing admin tasks.
Kane really didn’t feel like getting ahead on his paperwork.
It was time to phone a friend…
‘I guess that’s why we call ourselves the Savior Daddies, right?’ Kane said, joking around with Leon and Cage.
The three of them had decided that it was far too nice a day to be stuck indoors. Even though he was officially at work, Kane had arranged with McCall that McCall would cover him for a couple of hours.
Or in other words, until the end of the shift.
Which was coincidentally when Cassie would have finished her safety course.
‘Seriously though, well done for stepping up,’ Cage said. ‘You’re a good man.’
‘One of the best,’ Leon added, raising his iced latte to toast Kane.
‘You guys would have done the same,’ Kane said, demurring. He didn’t like to take too much credit. After all, his whole life was built around being there for others.
Whether it was fighting fires or helping to protect vulnerable charities with their online security, Kane liked to be of service.
‘Come on, you know you’re the most selfless man in the city,’ Leon said, playfully nudging Kane.
Leon’s gray-black hair looked super-sharp.
He’d just been to visit his barber for his weekly trim.
Being an ER doctor, time was in short supply. He liked to make the most of his time outside of work.
‘Enough!’ Kane said. ‘Seriously guys. It’s not like having Cassie living with me won’t come with some benefits. In case you didn’t know, she’s God damned easy on the eye.’
‘There it is… there’s somerealtruth coming out,’ Cage said, his police instincts coming to the fore. ‘I figured you’d connect with Cassie on that level. I mean, I can’t believe you’ve never seen her at the Littleverse Club before.’
‘It can happen. The community is getting bigger and more diverse all the time,’ Leon said. ‘And by the way, yes, I agree. Cassie iscutewith a capital C.’
‘Hands off! Eyes too,’ Kane said, momentarily forgetting that Leon loved nothing more than getting under people’s skin with his sense of humor.
‘Got you!’ Leon laughed, his large frame shaking as he delighted in how obvious Kane’s developing feelings for Cassie were. ‘Youknow the code. Us Savior Daddies never mess with another man’s Little. Not ever.’