Page 51 of Mike's Assistant

“Thanks. Give my best to Owen.”

I disconnected the line and focused on Jake. “Katie finally let you free?”

“Yes,” Jake laughed before setting a brown bag on my desk. “I got us a late lunch.”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Impressive initiative, Mr. Bradford.”

Jake winked. "It's not every day you get to have lunch with Satchel Industries’ star executive, is it? Thought I'd make it special." He began unpacking the bag, revealing an array of sushi rolls, miso soup, and a couple of neatly packed bento boxes.

A pleasant aroma filled the office. "Japanese? My favorite. How did you know?"

Jake shrugged with a sly grin. "A little birdy named Katie might've mentioned it."

I laughed. "Of course she did. That woman knows too much."

Jake had a twinkle in his eye before saying, “Let’s eat, and by the time we’re done, it will be five o’clock.”

I smirked, but my smile dropped, remembering the talk I had to have. “Hey, Jake. Can we talk?

His hand stilled, and he focused on me. “Words like ‘can we talk’ are never good. What’s up? Are you having doubts?”

“No, nothing like that,” I reassured. Reaching over, I grabbed his hand and pulled him to the couch. Once we settled, I continued. “I wanted to ask about yesterday.”

Jake tilted his head. “Yesterday?”

“You received a call. You didn’t answer it, but I could tell it upset you. Will you tell me what it was about?”

Jake didn’t reply right away and released a loud breath. “It was a call from CPS.”

“CPS?” I was confused. Why would they call Jake? Was something wrong with the boys?

“After my parents died, I thought I’d get custody since we didn’t really have family, except a mean step-aunt who hated me. At my parents’ funeral, I overheard that aunt and the CPS lady, Ms. Grace, talking about how they were going to take the boys from me, and I’d never be able to see them.” Jake locked his pleading eyes with me. “I ended up running. She’s been trying to call me since. Saying that she didn’t want to escalate the matter but would if I didn’t respond. It’s been going on for three weeks. I’m scared it will happen, and someone will take them from me.

“Like hell! They’re ours! No one’s taking our boys!” My lion wanted to hunt any that would even try to take them. “We’ll get this sorted. I’ll be damned if anyone tries to take them from us. I promise. We’ll fix this.”

Jake launched at me and wrapped his arms around me before crying in my chest. I held him close. “It will be all right. Everything will be fine,” I whispered.

He leaned back. “Thank you… For everything.”

“You’re welcome for everything.” I gave him another hug.

He gave me a shaky smile. “It’s not five yet.”

I chuckled at his attempt to lighten the mood and played along. Wiggling my eyebrows, I said, “We can skip lunch and clock out early.”

“Not a chance; this food smells delicious,” Jake said, getting up and setting a plate.

“Okay, dinner first, then hanky panky.”

He giggled, and I enjoyed the sound. I always wanted to hear it. God, I loved him. I just hoped he felt the same.

Disney Magic

Jake

I couldn’t stop smiling. Telling Mike about the issue with CPS lifted a gigantic weight off my shoulders. When he said everything would be all right and that we’d work it out, I believed him. In the depths of my being, I believed him.

“Jake, that place was so much fun. We get to come back to it, right?” Sam asked.

---