Vulnerable [Suncoast Society] (Suncoast Society #29)(11)

He’d waited this long. He could wait a little longer.





Early Monday morning, Jesse was handing out work assignments to the grounds crew when his boss, Tom, walked in and stood at the back of the gathering. Jesse finished up, asked if there were any questions or clarifications, and then dismissed the crews to get started.

Tom tipped his head toward his small, air-conditioned office in the back of the large equipment barn. Jesse followed, curious. It was only six in the morning, and Tom usually didn’t come in until seven, with Jesse handling the morning procedures.

Tom flipped on the lights and took his seat behind the desk. “Close the door, would you?”

Jesse felt his stomach tighten as he did. When he turned, Tom was smiling. “Sorry, this isn’t a bad conversation.”

The breath whooshed out of Jesse as he laid the clipboard on Tom’s desk and scrubbed his face with his hands. “You spooked me, boss.”

“Sorry. I wanted to ask you something.”

“Yeah?”

“What are your long-term plans?”

“Huh?”

“You planning on sticking around here a while?”

“That was my thought, yeah. Why?”

Tom leaned forward and templed his fingers. “This is to be kept strictly confidential for now.”

“Oookay.”

“The owners of the golf course are investing in two more. One here in Sarasota and one up in Bradenton. Their goal is to get them up to snuff to draw in some big tournaments.” He rubbed the thumb and fingers of his right hand together. “Big money, big sponsors. You’re looking at the new supervisor for all three facilities.”

The implications started Jesse’s pulse racing. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. That means a promotion for me, and a promotion for you. But there’s a catch.”

His heart sank. Wasn’t there always a catch? “What?”

“They prefer someone with a degree take over my job.”

“You don’t have one.”

“They didn’t have degrees for this when I started. But there’s good news.”

“Okay?”

“They’re willing to pay for you to get your degree. FGCU has a course. But you need to sign a contract with the company to work for them for a minimum of five years after completing your degree. Once you get your degree, you’d be helping me with all three facilities until I retire. Then you’d be taking over my job. As supervisor for all three facilities.”

“I’ll do it.”

Tom smiled. “Don’t want to take time to think about it?”

“What’s there to think about? I’m guaranteed a job for the next several years and I’ll be paid to go to school? That’s a no-brainer.”

“Good. Then I’ll let them know. I’ll work with them on figuring out the school situation. We might have to juggle your schedule around some depending on classes. Might mean I need you to work some weekends.”

“I don’t care.” Excitement filled him. “This is my career we’re talking about. It’s worth it.”

Not like he had much of a personal life anyway at the moment. With Tilly’s crazy schedule, he was sure he could meet up with her at her house to play on a weeknight or something when she was in town. They’d done that before, too.

Tom extended a hand to him. “Excellent. Glad to know when I finally do retire that I’ll be leaving the operation in capable hands.”

Jesse shook with him. “I won’t let you down.” Even better, he wasn’t involved with anyone who would complain about his new, hectic schedule.

“I don’t expect you will.”





Leo knew he wouldn’t be able to get out of the Thursday night dinner when he had to stop by the marina Wednesday to do a job. Keith soon showed up to talk to him.

“Still on for tomorrow night, right?”

Leo tipped back the visor of his welding helmet. “You realize I’m only looking for dinner, don’t you? I’m not exactly in a position to get hooked up right now.”

“Just dinner,” Keith said with a knowing smile. “You need some new friends, and Jesse needs some new friends.”

Leo’s gaze narrowed. “It can’t be that easy.”

“I’m not going to deny it’ll give me a giggle if the two of you hit it off. But he’s not expecting anything except dinner, so don’t worry.”

Leo dropped his visor and continued his weld. “Good,” he said. “Because my free time right now is spent with Laurel.”

“You need adult interaction, too.”

“I didn’t say that I didn’t.” He knew Keith still stood there. “What should I bring, anyway?”

“Just yourself. We’ve got it under control.” Keith finally walked away.

Yes, he could use some new friends.

The unspoken subtext being gay male friends.

Of which, counting Keith, he currently had one, to the best of his knowledge.

Although he still wasn’t sure how that worked, since one of Keith’s partners was actually Noel, who was married to Scott, who was Keith’s other partner.

Not that it was any of his business.