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Apparently, Eric had promised the boy that he wouldn’t hide anything that had to do with the couple from Ezra again, so they both had shown up in Jesse’s office.

Jesse had to sit across the desk and watch the fear fill Ezra’s eyes as he explained that Ezra’s parents had started to ask about him inside the casino. Jesse's employees knew better than to talk to the couple—they took safety precautions regarding their employees.

He hated to be the one to share the news with Ezra, but it had to be done.

They needed to know that the older couple hadn’t given up.

His hands started to shake, and Jesse pushed away from his desk.

This was such bullshit! Jesse had the money and means to get rid of this couple once and for all. He could make all of Ezra’s troubles go away with just a few phone calls. Jesse wasn’tallowed to do that though. No, there were rules and laws, and a moral code.

He snorted. Jesse was a firm believer in doing what was right. His need to fix things was pushing Jesse to want to cross a line he would never have considered before. Did that make him a bad person?

His watch beeped and Lake’s name flashed on the screen as he heard the chime of the elevator arriving at his floor.

Was Lake there? Why was Lake there? Was something wrong?

Jesse started to walk around his desk when Lake appeared in his doorway.

“Lake?” Jesse said.

“Hi.” Lake shifted nervously from foot to foot. In his hands he held an old wicker basket and blanket.

“What are you doing here? Is something wrong?” Fear filled him. Had something happened with Ezra’s parents? Jesse had security watching them!

“Nothing’s wrong,” Lake said quietly. “I…I wanted to ask you something.”

Jesse had paused halfway across his office. “You can ask me anything.” He hoped that Lake knew that.

Lake took a big deep breath then blew it out. “I’m a brave boy,” he whispered.

Jesse wasn’t sure if he was supposed to have heard that or not. He decided to answer anyway. “You are a brave, kind, beautiful boy,” Jesse told him.

Lake glanced at him quickly. “Would you like to have dinner with me? Now?”

Jesse blinked at him. Lake had come all the way across town to invite him to dinner? “I would love that.”

Lake shuffled inside the room a couple steps.

Jesse looked down at what Lake was carrying. “Is that for us?”

“Yes.” Lake nodded. “I took care of everything. All I need is you.”

Jesse strode forward to cup Lake’s cheek. “You have me,” he vowed. “Always.”

“So, picnic?” Lake said. “Here?”

A picnic? That was so cute! But his office wasn’t the ideal place. Too many distractions. And Jesse didn’t ever want Lake to feel like he came second to Jesse’s work. Jesse had somewhere better in mind. He held up one finger. “One minute.”

Lake nodded.

“I have somewhere special to show you. You took care of everything we needed but let me do this?” Jesse requested.

“Okay!” Lake agreed quickly.

Jesse returned to his desk and exited out of the program that he’d been working in. He powered down his laptop then held out his hand. “Can I help carry something?” Lake was wearing a backpack that looked stuffed full plus holding the big basket and blanket.

“Thank you,” Lake said sweetly as he passed over the basket and blanket.