Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

TIMOTHY

Ever since I started working for Jake Bellport, my life has become different.

He is a whirlwind of a man. There's never a moment where I don't question "Is this normal or am I just overreacting to something that's fairly simple?"

To Jake, everything makes sense if he justifies it.

But to me, sometimes the information doesn't add up. Not that it's my business to know if it adds up. I'm simply his assistant.

My job is to make sure that he has what he needs to function and to help him with pretty much everything in his life. Sometimes that means taking time to schedule all his doctor's appointments. Other times, it's buying enough streamers to fill up his brother's office space in his home because he wants to pull a prank.

Today it means putting aside every inclination I have to smile and be cordial with the most gorgeous man I've ever seen in my life.

Lucas Swift, aka Luke Swift, the new coach of the hockey team, is, for lack of a better word, mesmerizing. He has a sense of confidence about him I’ve never seen in anyone else. It’s in the way he holds himself and the grin that doesn't want to leave his face.

The minute Jake told me that last season's coach was retiring, I began looking for a replacement for him. In fact, I made it my mission to learn everything I could about hockey so that I could help Jake as he went about making the Bears the best team in the NHL.

I wouldn't be good at my job if I couldn’t help him.

So when Jake said he needed a coach, we examined all the current coaches to see who might be available or who would be willing to come out of their current contract. Jake had no monetary limit, which opened up quite a few options.

But the more I dug, the more I decided none of them were good enough. Not because they couldn't do the job, but because it just didn't feel right.

And then the damnedest thing happened.

News coverage broke that famous hockey player Luke Swift had lost a parent. The reporters showed up at his house filming his sorrowful face, and somehow, I just knew he was the man we needed.

What I needed.

I wasn’t sure if he wanted to coach or not. But I wanted to try.

Jake was all for it. He took my suggestion and ran with it.

Next thing I knew, he was telling me to reach out to the lawyers to get the contract drawn up for Luke. He was coming to Bellport.

While I understood what was happening, it felt unreal. Time has flown in the short period since I first saw him on the news and him being here at the arena.

Now, as I stare at this man with dark hair and a clean-shaven jaw, I want to wrap my arms around him and console him for his loss. And then I want to sit in his lap and ask what he has planned for the season.

I just know his mind is racing with ideas already.

Plus, a part of me, a part that I keep buried really deep while at work, craves for more. It wants him to care for me, to love me, to do all the things a Daddy would.

I push away the thoughts to tune back into the conversation while discreetly shifting my hips to adjust the diaper I’m wearing. This particular brand is great for wearing under my work outfits. They provide the comfort without the bulky padding that would give me away.

Jake is going over details with Luke when I tune into their conversation, the two of them already buddy-buddy. That's how Jake is though. He never meets a stranger.

As they discuss hockey, I assess the damage to the office. The sheets are still piled high from the impromptu morning party Jake wanted to have. I told him it wasn't a good idea to build a sheet fort with Luke coming in, but you try telling him anything negative when he's got his mind set on something.

I conceded fairly early into the debate, then wound up accidentally slipping into a bit of Little space right before Luke got here. The shift means I’m not having to shake myself loose from it. Work is not the place for that part of me to come out.

Though I know Jake wouldn’t mind. He’s more than supported me since we met, picking up on my tendencies and exploring with me. Neither of us acknowledges we’re actually participating in age play though. I think we’re both waiting for some reason.

No clue what that reason is yet.

“You can do that, right, Timothy?” Jake questions.

I startle, blinking rapidly. Unsure what my response should actually be, though I know the answer is yes, I hesitate on how to reply. I need him to repeat whatever he said so I know what the actual task is.

Luke takes pity on me. “I’m sure Timothy wouldn't mind showing me to my place. He seems like a good guy after all.”

I nod quickly. “Of course I can. That's not a problem. Is it the same one we discussed?” I direct the last question to Jake, who grins and pats my shoulder.

“Yes, that's the one. I've got the keys around here somewhere.” He begins to pat his pockets, though it's kind of funny since he doesn't really have any.

The man is in a pair of sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt. It's not office attire, although one cannot expect much office attire when it comes to Jake's sense of style. He's all about comfort. He can get dressed up, and he does from time to time, especially when there's a big fundraiser of some sort. His mother would not let him show up in anything less, of course.

But in the day-to-day way, he prefers the relaxed look.

I crawl back under the tent to where Jake and I were just seated. Grabbing the keys he'd left there for me, I wrap them safely in my palm. When I come back out, he snaps his fingers and says, "There they are. Timothy, you're the best. Like my second brain.”

He waggles his brows at the word "best," and I know he's only just refraining from saying "bestie" again. I just barely stop myself from rolling my eyes at him. That would only make things worse.

Once you get Jake started, he doesn't stop. We'd be going back and forth, lobbing teasing jabs at one another.

There's no time for that.

I can sense Luke's impatience, though he's not angry or anything. It's like he's trying to be still enough to let whatever happens play out.

He's observing us, watching every movement we make. That trait's going to come in handy when he starts to meet the rest of the support staff and players.

It would also be great in a Daddy.

The unhelpful, hope-filled voice in my head is a greedy beast. I tell it to calm down so I can focus on my job. Daydreaming of Luke isn’t a good idea.

I jingle the keys in my hands nervously, then say, "Let's get going. I'm sure you're ready to get unpacked."

Luke dips his head. “I sure am. The moving truck isn’t that far behind me. I wasn't quite sure where to send them.”

Jake puts a palm to his forehead. “My bad. Here's the address.”

He rattles off the location of the modest size home he's loaning Luke until he finds a better place. It's one of the few properties that Jake owns and doesn't really do anything with.

Sometimes I wonder why he doesn't rent them out. I suppose it's so he can do things like this, put up people on his team and be there for them with whatever they need instead of charging rent and dealing with all that comes with it.

Then again, I could be completely wrong, and he could be just biding his time until he has the perfect renter available. It's really not in my business. Not until Jake makes it so.

Luke shoots off a text message to his moving company with the address, then turns to me. “Do you want to ride with me? That might make it easier than me having to follow you.”

Jake snorts. “Yeah, it would be much easier since Timothy here prefers the bus to actually driving.”

My fingers curl into fists at my side. Jake doesn't know how sensitive I am about the topic. He doesn't understand how difficult it's been for me to get behind the wheel since everything happened.

Hell, he doesn't even know the full extent of what happened, so how could he?

Back then, I'd been new to working with him. I didn't want to burden my boss with my issues, not when things were going so well.

I'd explained my being late on having car trouble. Sometimes I think not telling him that I'd been in a massive wreck and totaled my car was a mistake. Granted, the wreck wasn't my fault, but still.

Luke watches my reaction. I see his eyes flick down to my fists, and I force myself to uncurl them.

Suck it up, Timothy. Don’t let him see your weaknesses.

“Yes sir, Coach. Please lead the way.”

He pivots on his heel, not waiting a second longer. Over his shoulder he yells, "Nice to meet you Mr. Bellport — I mean Jake.”

Jake snorts, then crawls back into the tent. “Later days, Coach,” he shouts, right as Luke pushes the door open. He holds it while I step through, then he's marching out of the building towards a big, dark green truck.

When I get to the side, I notice there's no railing on the bottom for me to climb up. Luke is in the driver's seat, and I'm standing with the door open, wondering how the heck I'm going to get up in this huge jacked-up thing.

It's not really jacked up, but I'm kind of small.

As soon as he realizes why I’m just standing there, Luke jumps out of the truck and comes around to my side.

“May I?” he asks, his hands extended like he wants to help.

Biting my lip, I give a single nod. Next thing I know, I'm in the air.

I squeal, then grab hold of the bar right by the door. I'm turned and plopped onto the seat. It all happens in a matter of seconds, yet it feels much longer because time slows during the entire thing.

Luke's gaze meets mine. There's something there. Something hot and urgent. I can't figure out what, though.

So I ignore it. It's the best thing I can do. No reason for this to become awkward.

The throbbing erection pressing against the soft inner fabric of my diaper is enough of a reminder I need to keep my cool. At least it’s enough that Luke shouldn’t notice a bulge of any kind.

I make sure that I turn to face forward, buckling my seat belt as I do. Once I'm strapped in, Luke moves back around to the driver's seat and climbs up. He drives us to the house, neither of us speaking along the way.

The radio station plays some classic rock songs, which I recognize from Jake's rotation of music. He's always listening to something. He says it helps build his creativity.

I think it's mostly just because the quiet bothers him.

At the house, we pull in and Luke freezes. I know what he sees when he looks at it. The little bungalow is old. From the outside, it almost looks as if it's falling apart, though it’s not.

The longer you look at it, the more you can see the character surrounding it. It reminds me a lot of my grandpa's house.

That thought sends a pang of longing through my chest. I miss the old coot.

Luke meets me around the front of his truck after we both climb out. “This is the place?”

I laugh. “It is. Don't judge it by the outside. It's much better once we go in. And if you appreciate a good old house, then just know this one's got good bones.”

He stuffs his hands in his pockets, following me up to the front door. I unlock it and wait for him to go in first. As he shuffles over the threshold, I watch his face. I can see the minute that the charm of the house takes him in.

Jake has kept this place pretty much the exact same as it was from the elderly man he bought it from years ago. At least that's what he tells me. I wasn't around back then, but it definitely gives old man living alone vibes.

There are throw blankets tossed on the back of the couch and soft pillows in the reading chair. The fireplace is worn, looking like someone regularly used it. And there's a kitchen that's got tile in it that I don't think they even sell or manufacture anymore.

You definitely step back in time once you're inside. Like I said, it's charming.

“Wow,” Luke says as he starts to walk around the space. “You were right.”

I give a soft smile; thankful he can see the beauty of it all. “Jake knows what he's doing. He only collects properties he thinks are worth something.”

Luke motions for me to come further inside.

“This place is definitely a hidden gem.”

“Jake likes to have places on hand for anytime someone needs a place to stay. Whether that be players or extended family or coaches.”

Luke tilts his head. “You call him Jake now, but Mr. Bellport when he's around.”

“Well… yes, that's because you know him as Jake. It'd be really confusing if I started calling him Mr. Bellport when there are several Mr. Bellports in town.”

He grins, though he doesn't call me out on the confusing lie. To be honest, I didn't even realize I was calling Jake by his first name. I have been so comfortable with Luke that it slipped my mind.

Heck, even mentally, I haven't been calling him coach or sir like I should. Professionalism has been a high priority for me from the get-go. I never want to come across as someone who doesn't respect people's boundaries. It's not who I am.

“So this place, huh?” Luke says after he realizes how distracted I am.

I don't know what to say. It feels like this is the end of things.

“I should call a car to come get me,” is what I come up with.

Luke frowns. “I can take you.”

“No, there's no need. Your moving truck could show up while you’re away. Plus, you should get acquainted with the place to know where everything needs to go. It's nothing for me to just get a rideshare.”

He whips out his phone, clicking through it a few times. I worry he's texting Jake to complain but then he's turning it to face me. I see blank contact information. “Put your number in here. I'll text you the details of the car I just ordered so you have it.”

I blink twice, my brain slow to catch up. Despite that, I take the phone and give him my number. When he takes it back, I hear a ding in my pocket, and then my screen lights up.

TEXT: This is Luke. No need to be formal. I like hearing my name from your lips.

Next is a picture, a screenshot actually, of his phone showing me the car information on the app. My throat gets tight.

This feels like flirting. Is he flirting with me?

That can't be right. It's too far gone. It's improbable.

Instead of taking the bait to tease him back, I thank him and leave. It would serve me well to push down this crush I have on the coach since I know that he and I are never possible. Not in this lifetime anyway.