Page 73

Story: Hitting the Jackpot

With his hands full, Lake had to resist trying to smooth down any wrinkles.

“And this must be Zeb and…?”

“Al,” Lake said. “This is Zeb and Al.”

“Well hello, Al. Nice to finally meet you, Zeb,” Mason said. “Want to walk in together?”

“Sure.” Lake followed along beside Mason. “You know about Zeb?”

“I was the one who suggested Jesse go to the store,” Mason said. “He showed me Zeb went he got back. He was worried whether you would like him or not.”

“I love him,” Lake said sincerely.

“I knew you would,” Mason said. “I keep catching Jesse buying clothes or accessories for him. I offered to order some stuff for him, but he wanted to do it himself.”

It was just like Jesse, taking the responsibility of giving Zeb’s gifts personally. The nightly surprises meant even more now that Lake knew that, even though he’d suspected as much. “He’s the best.” Even to his own ears his voice was dreamy.

Mason held his wrist up to the sensor beside the employee entrance.

Lake eyed the watch. Jesse had promised him one that would give him access to the entire place. Everything that Jesse had built.

That was how much faith that Jesse had in them.

Lake would work every day to ensure that he lived up to that faith.

Mason held open the door for him and Lake slipped inside. The parking garage opened to the hall behind the stores and offices on this level. And Lake knew where the back door to the coffee shop was.

“That wouldn’t be lunch for my boyfriend, would it?”

“It is.”

“I’m stopping at the coffee shop. Want to come?” Lake asked.

“That was my next stop,” Mason replied.

“Cool. I know the shortcut.”

“There’s a shortcut?” Mason asked.

“And that nifty little bracelet will get us in.”

“Oh, you know about that? So, the one that Jesse ordered for you isn’t a secret,” Mason said.

“He told me. I have a card right now that gives me access to all the floors.”

“I have everything but the boss’s penthouse,” Mason said.

“That makes sense,” Lake agreed. He stopped by the back door of the coffee shop and nodded to the sensor. “Jesse promised Dom one as well, but he said there was no way that Dom could have access to the penthouse.”

Mason laughed. “Probably a good idea. He might wake up with googly eyes on all his stuff.” He held the door open once the light flashed green.

“Please don’t give Dom that idea,” Lake begged.

“Hopefully he won’t be staying in the penthouse that much longer,” Mason said.

Lake turned. “What do you mean?”

Mason grinned. “Didn’t you just move into a new house?”