Lake was everything that Jesse had ever wanted.
Spending Christmas with Jesse, Lake, and their friend group had sent Jacob home with an ache in his chest.
The group of littles were adorable.
Jacob had enjoyed watching the young men embracing their little sides. Spotting what he had with James a few minutes ago made Jacob’s mind whirl. Was James a little?
It was no secret that James’s older brother, Michael, engaged in age regression and had both a Daddy and Bubbie. Was it even possible for James to have the same kink?
A part of Jacob wanted to demand answers from the young man. Jacob knew that conversation would be as much of a disaster as every other one that they’d had. Jacob hadn’t had a boy of his own and as much as he craved to have James by his side, Jacob also knew he’d screwed up too many times for the boy to trust him.
He needed to concentrate on what he could control. Like his pet project. Jacob opened the file to peer over the notes that Jesse had left for him. The small acreage on the north side of town would be perfect for Jacob’s plan. Affordable housing. It was ridiculous how much the houses on the market went for. Most of the time the owners of the houses didn’t live in Surf City full-time. Jacob planned on changing that.
Chapter Two
James
Stepping into the Coffee Cove was like coming home. The simple but pretty décor, the scent of coffee, and friendly faces greeted him.
“J!” Luca, the manager and James’s friend, greeted him.
James grinned back. Luca had been gone for the last week visiting family for the holidays and had not been looking forward to it. James was relieved to see that Luca seemed to be in good spirits. James had worried about his friend.
Next to Luca, the other barista Dawson Ford was at the espresso station, brewing a couple of shots. Dawson was the newest member of the staff, joining them at the beginning of the school year. Even though Dawson was a decade older than all of them, he fit. Everyone at the Coffee Cove fit, in James’s opinion. They’d become a family of sorts.
“How was your trip?” James asked Luca, approaching the counter with his motorcycle helmet in one hand and his backpack in the other.
Luca rolled his eyes. “Let’s just say that I’m glad to be back and leave it at that.”
James nodded. He continued around the counter to the back with Luca on his heels.
“Did Scott get off with Michael okay then?” Luca questioned.
“He did, yeah.” James shoved his belongings into his cubby. Turning, he grinned at his friend. “I’m all alone.”
Luca rolled his eyes. “Like you’ll do anything other than work the entire time Scott’s gone.”
Okay, that was fair. “It’s not like I can even have a few friends over,” James shared. “Professor asshole already read me the riot act on the rules.”
“He might be an asshole but he’s hot,” Luca said.
James was not going to think about how handsome Jacob was. That was…no, that was not going to happen. In James’s experience, the first impression he got from most people was pretty damn accurate. And the first time that James had met Jacob, James had wanted to punch the dick. Jacob was just so condescending and obviously looked down on him.
Luca grabbed his own backpack from the cubby beside James. “I’m headed out. Dawson will be closing with you.”
Lifting the brown apron from his hook, James slipped it on over his long-sleeve shirt. “It’ll probably be quiet with it still being the holiday season.”
“Yeah,” Luca agreed as he swung the backpack over his shoulder. “That’s what I was thinking but call if you need me. It’s too cold to hit the beach so I’ll be vegging out on the couch with a pizza.”
“Sounds fun. Just don’t fall asleep on the couch again. Your back hurt for days after that.” James smacked him on the shoulder before returning to the front.
Luca snorted. “Getting old sucks. I’ll have Dawson wake me when he gets home.”
“Josh!” James hollered as he spotted his friend and fellow firefighter. “Glad you’re back, man.” And he was. Not only werethey friends, but Josh helped fill in holes in the fire department when he wasn’t on shift with the water rescue team.
Josh’s gaze left Dawson, who had been standing in front of the register with his arms over his chest.
“Everything good, guys?” James asked, looking from Josh to Dawson.
