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 organisingmytime. Maybe Kieran has plans.”
Before I could tell him I absolutely didnothave plans, Dieter smiled. “I’m sure Stefan could teach you a lot. Couldn’t you, Stefan?”
Now I had the feelingIwas 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 myfriendhere 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 youtryingto scare her?”