Vulnerable [Suncoast Society] (Suncoast Society #29)(69)

“Uh-oh,” Tilly muttered. “That’s a ‘busted subbie’ look if I ever saw one.”

When Leo licked his lips again, Tilly reached in, swabbing them for him. It took him a moment to speak. He seemed to be focusing on Eva. “…call me?”

Tilly probably had more sleep than the two of them put together, meaning she was faster on the uptake. “Yes, she called you ‘sir.’ She knows the family secret, Leo. It’s okay.”

He finally swiveled his eyes her way. Tilly leaned in so he could see her more easily. “No, I didn’t let the cat out of the bag.” She pointed at Jesse. “She’s a snoop, and he’s so switchy he makes me look subbie. But they’re okay, honest. You damn well know I won’t lie to you.”

His gaze homed in on them again. Jesse smiled. “It’s a long story, Sir.”

“It’s really okay,” Eva assured him. “We’re all okay.”

Jesse spotted his fingers moving. He closed his around Leo’s hand and Leo weakly squeezed. Then Leo let go, wiggling his fingers again. Eva reached down and he squeezed her fingers.

Tilly walked around the bed to stand behind them. “FYI, she’s next on the matchmaking list, dude.”

Jesse suspected Leo’s soft chuff was the strongest laugh the man could manage.





Eva had to go to work that evening. She’d asked to be temporarily moved to a night shift. Between Jesse, June, Loren, and Leah, they would handle taking care of Laurel after school.

That evening, Leo was slightly more awake but still heavily medicated for pain. His hospital bed was raised a little, though, and he was awake enough to actually have a very one-sided discussion with Laurel, who didn’t mind carrying the conversational burden.

Jesse sat in a chair next to Leo’s bed, Laurel sitting on his lap so she could more easily see Leo, and told him about what she’d been doing at school.

The entire time, Jesse sat there staring at Leo’s eyes, imprinting them into his memory, every dark fleck, every blue spark.

When it was time to leave to get Laurel home and in bed, Jesse leaned in and whispered in his ear. “Love you, Sir. Everything’s really okay.”

Some of the worried creases in Leo’s brow smoothed. “Love you, too.”

Jesse was driving them home when Laurel chirped up from the back seat. “Are you and Daddy gonna wear those fancy suits?”

He would have to work part of a day tomorrow, after taking Laurel to school and stopping by to see Leo. He was running mostly on caffeine and adrenaline at that point, because he was spending every spare moment trying to catch up on schoolwork. “What?”

“When you and Daddy get married. A suckseedo.”

His brain finally got past the marriage comment to translate it from Typhoon Laurel-speak into English. “Tuxedoes.”

“Yeah. Are you?”

“Who said Daddy and I are getting married?”

“Duh. When people are in love they get married. Does that mean I can call you Daddy, too, when you get married?”

He stopped for a red light and actually turned to look at her. “What?”

She shook her head at him like he was an idiot. “You two tell each other you love each other. I heard you.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. “Light’s green, Uncle Jesse.”

Yes, it was. He faced forward and took off again. “That’s still something Daddy and I need to discuss, honey. And not until he’s better.”

“You better not pick another flower girl.” He glanced in the rearview mirror and spotted her pout. “I get to be the flower girl.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He wondered if they had a little Domme in the making.

Well, she was her father’s daughter. That much was for sure. It surely wouldn’t shock Jesse if she grew up to be a Dominant.

Thank god for Aunt Tilly to help corral her.





Chapter Twenty-Five


“ Uncle. Jesse.”

Jesse opened his eyes in the hospital recliner to find Laurel, who’d been sitting on his lap, leaning in with her eyes about an inch from his, and her little fingers clamped around his chin.

“What?” It was sometime late Saturday morning, and Jesse had maybe four hours sleep in the last forty-eight, between helping figure out Leo’s bookkeeping software so the guys could get paid on time, working, studying, and trying to keep track of Typhoon Laurel.

“Daddy spoke to you,” Laurel scolded. “You. Fell. Asleep. Rude.”

“Sorry. What?” He looked to find Leo smiling at him from his hospital bed. Landry had picked up Jesse and Laurel from the house and brought them to the hospital that morning when Tilly, who’d had to fly out to LA the night before, spoke to Jesse on the phone earlier and determined he wasn’t in any condition to drive.

“Did you eat breakfast?” Leo asked Jesse.

Yes, cold cereal, but come to think of it, he was getting hungry. “What time is it?” Jesse groggily asked.

“Lunchtime,” Laurel said.

The evening before, Leo had been moved from the ICU to a private room. His condition had been upgraded now that he was awake and talking. He still wasn’t allowed to eat solid food yet, but had been given permission for a liquid diet. The hope was that by early next week they could clear him for a soft diet and start him on a physical therapy program.