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Story: Hitting the Jackpot

“That’s okay.” Brandon patted his back. “We’ll think of something.”

Lake nodded in appreciation.

“Do you know what he likes to do? Does he have any hobbies?” Brandon questioned.

The panic started to fill him when Lake realized that he didn’t know that much about Jesse. Not really. He knew the boss man. The one in charge of several businesses and had more money than God. As a boss, Jesse was kind and fair. The programs that Jesse put into place were to better the lives of his employees.

He knew Jesse as a friend to the group. While Jesse wasn’t always able to hang out with them, he always made it for the big events. Like holidays and family dinner, that Brandon insisted on. And he never came empty-handed. Jesse always brought a gift for the boys.

At the club, Jesse was a caring Dom that didn’t pay too close attention to any of the boys but was always there if there was trouble. Jesse ran the club with an iron fist. They were safe there because Jesse put their safety above everything else. That was why Lake enjoyed working at the club after all. He knew that if he brought up a concern, he would be listened to. That every member of the staff had the right and was encouraged to speak up if they saw or heard anything.

When Jesse had suspected that his own employees had been up to no good and putting others at risk, he’d gone to the cops himself. He hadn’t waited around for the police to ask him questions. Jesse had sought them out.

He had a strict moral code. Hadn’t that been what had first attracted Lake after all?

What else? What else?

Jesse had a twin brother that lived in California. His brother was a professor, but Lake hadn’t even asked what he taught. The two visited each other often so they must be close. Lake knew nothing else about Jesse’s family. Lake had no idea if Jesse’s parents were still alive or if they were estranged. Other siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, or cousins? Lake had no clue about his family.

He felt horrible!

Lake was a bad boyfriend! And he didn’t even know if Jesse considered them boyfriends after dinner and one date!

“Bran!” Lake whined.

“It’s okay.” Brandon went back to hugging him. “We can do this.”

“I don’t know anything he likes,” Lake argued.

Brandon started to laugh.

Lake wasn’t finding any of this funny.

“Wait,” Brandon said. He wiggled away and pulled his phone out of his pocket. “We do know one thing that he likes.”

“What’s that?” Lake asked, needing to know…well anything.

“You!” Brandon exclaimed. “He likes you.”

“He does,” Lake agreed.

“That’s at least a starting point, right?”

But was it enough.

“You know what we need?” Brandon asked.

“No, what?”

Brandon wiggled his phone. “Reinforcements!”

Chapter Six

Jesse

His eyes were beginning to ache, and a low-grade headache was threatening to get worse. Jesse knew it was just the numbers in the spreadsheet weren’t to blame for his foul mood or agitation. After sending the text early that morning, Jesse wasn’t surprised when Eric showed up in his office. He had been shocked that Ezra had been with his Daddy.

Jesse had wanted to protect Ezra now that his parents were back in town.