Dr. Daddy Dom (Little Lake Bridgeport 2) Read online

  Ian sighed, rubbed his neck and then nodded. "All right. But you need to let me pay rent or something. I have vacation time saved up at the construction company I work with, plus savings from my prize money."

  "Are you still competing?"

  "Yes, sir. You are looking at a national champion bull rider." Ian grinned proudly.

  "I'm impressed! Do whatever makes you feel comfortable, but it honestly isn't necessary. Here's the address." The doctor handed him the scrap of paper. "Now go home, rest, and don't come back until tomorrow. Doctor's orders." Caine stood up to hug his old friend, waved him off, and then picked up the phone to dial home.

  "Hi, Daddy! Are you on your way?"

  The sound of May's voice always made him smile. "Good morning, babygirl. I won't get done with this shift until tonight. Are you being good for Layton? Put him on the speaker phone."

  "No, she isn't being good for Layton," his older brother grumbled into the receiver. "She ate all my bacon jam."

  "Uh-oh." Caine chuckled, knowing that the man called dibs on every jam and jelly in the house, and rarely shared. "Maybelle, why did you eat his jam?"

  "I was hungry and there was no cream cheese for my English muffin, and he wouldn't go to the store and get me some," she said.

  "We need to get you that driver's license."

  "He won't let me practice!" she complained. "When are you coming home? I never see you anymore."

  "I just told you that I'll be home tonight. This rotation has been hard on all of us, but I told you how important it is that I do it," Caine said.

  "But you're a baby doctor, not trauma," May whined.

  "Trauma happens even when delivering babies, honey. It's important for me to keep up my skillset in all areas of my work. Let me talk to Layton while you go wash the jam off your face."

  "How did you know?"

  "Because I know you. Scoot now." Caine waited until he heard Layton take the phone off the speaker. "Is she okay? No nightmares with me being gone?"

  "She hasn't had a nightmare in forever, little brother. We also haven't been fighting as much, so that should make you happy," Layton said.

  "What did you do?" Caine asked suspiciously.

  "I got her a new Lego set, and have been watching that stupid Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie with her every night. I'm starting to memorize the damn script and I can't get the stupid rap music out of my head," Layton groaned. "What? No smart ass remarks? Something's bothering you, so out with it. Have you gotten any sleep at all?"

  Caine sighed and kicked his feet up onto his desk. "No, we had another emergency last night and while the patient was in surgery, I stayed with her husband. You remember Ian Channing, don't you?"

  "How could I forget him? I caught him fucking my girlfriend behind the barn," Layton grunted.

  "It's been ten years, and it's time that you got over it. Do you even remember the girl's name?" Caine asked.

  "Shelby? Shelly?"

  "It was Jane, dumbass. Ian's wife was in the accident and ruptured her spleen. She got really banged up, plus she's an alcoholic, so it's going to be a tough recovery. She's got a long road of healing ahead of her."

  "Damn. I'm sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do?" Layton asked.

  "He asked her for a divorce last night and now feels like this whole accident was his fault. The poor guy is riddled with guilt at every turn."

  "That sucks, Caine. Does he need my help?"

  "Not as an attorney, but as a friend. He refused to put her into rehab and wants to care for her himself, so I offered him the Lake Bridgeport house to use. I thought it might be a good place to take Savannah to recover, and maybe we can help him get his head back on straight."

  Layton was quiet on the other end. "Does he know about us?"

  "No. He also doesn't know that the house is part of an age-play community. I know what you're going to say, so let me beat you to it. Their marriage is over if something doesn't change for both of them. It can't hurt to give them this one last chance to mend their relationship. He loves her, Layton, but she's broken—inside and out. I know that I promised to stop trying to rescue people, but—"

  "It's who you are. I should never have asked you to stop doing what you are meant to do. I'm sorry, it was selfish of me. I just wanted May and myself to have your undivided attention and be without distractions for a while."

  "I'm sorry. I know it's been a busy year, what with setting up the safe house and putting in extra duty to make sure all those poor girls are taken care of. They are so much like our little May was when we found her that I couldn't refuse."

  "I'm just as guilty, bro. That place was Pop's legacy, and it's as important to us as it is to the girls we help. We both just need to find some balance now that it's established. Get your butt home and we'll figure out how to help Ian together, okay? I'll have a pot of Texas chili bubbling on the stove and some corn bread in the oven calling your name for when you get here."

  "Okay, thanks. I'll be there around eight," Caine said gratefully. He hung up the phone and looked out the window at the city spread before him. The Marshall boys had discovered the existence of the safe house a year previously; a program set up by their father to help abused and neglected adult women get a new beginning by offering them a loving and disciplined environment. May had been a resident on the property and, after finding a letter written by their deceased father, the two men had resumed his work to personally care for her. Little did they know that she not only had the capacity for their preferred lifestyle in age-play and BDSM, but that she had a heart big enough to fall in love with them both. And they with her.

  Thanks to Dr. Sri Adul and appellate court judge, Larry Clemmons, the Marshall boys and May were 'married' under the guise of a permanent 'guardianship' and she was permitted to assume their last name to ensure 'financial protection'. Marshall's Home for Girls was then officially recognized by the court as a rehabilitation facility, with Sri assuming the role of housemother. The persuasive psychiatrist then used her charm to obtain the support of several influential entities who were also involved in their unusual lifestyle. Among these was Carlton Hardy, a wealthy industrialist, who immediately began the building of Little Lake Bridgeport and brought to life a gated community solely designed for full-time age-players.

  The Marshalls had invested in several residences and were developing a partnering service for the unique girls in their program. Via Sri's and Larry's connections, word began to spread that an adults-only age-play community was available for qualified residents. The families who already lived there were good, honest people, dedicated to one another and the lifestyle, and Caine knew that each would bend over backwards to try to help this broken marriage and the two people in it. Yes, if anyone could help, it would be Team Marshall.

  ***

  "Where's Maybelle?" Caine asked as his brother greeted him at the front door with a hot cup of cocoa.

  "In her usual place," the handsome, gray eyed man said and winked. "Grab a seat, I'll bring you something to eat."

  "Cocoa?" Caine mused, hugging his brother. "Thanks, I'm famished. You're becoming mighty domestic these days. Marriage, even in the non-conventional sense, seems to be agreeing with you."

  "Someone has to take up the slack with you being gone all the time. Besides, feeding you will keep your temper in check. We all know how you get when you're tired and hungry. You really look like shit. Maybe you should have just stayed in the hotel and rested for the night instead of driving all this way." Layton frowned, his hands on his hips.

  Caine narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "I needed to be home, even if it was just for a couple of hours. As for my temper, I'll remind you that I'm the laid back one here. Out with it. What did she do this time?"

  "Who said that she did anything?" Layton asked innocently, placing a tray of chili and corn bread on the coffee table and handing his brother the remote. "Did you want a beer?"

  "No, I don't want a beer. She's not here, jumping like a kangaroo for
me to pick her up, you said that she's in her usual place—which is the 'bad girl' corner—and you are being extraordinarily nice to me. What did she do, and is she okay?"

  "She just took the SUV out for a little practice drive, and she's fine. Not a scratch."

  "I think I'll take that beer after all," Caine said, immediately reaching to rub his head. "How badly did she wreck it?"

  Layton quickly handed Caine a bottle and waited until he had drunk half of it before continuing. "She didn't exactly wreck it. More like… she took it swimming."

  "She drove my truck into the lake?" Caine shouted. "My brand new SUV is in the lake?"

  Layton winced. "Technically, no. She drove it onto the pier and it collapsed under the SUV's weight."

  "Oh, dear God. How the hell did this happen? Weren't you watching her?"

  "It was your idea to let her practice driving so that she could get her license, remember?"

  "So why didn't you hand over the keys to your old pickup?"

  "It's a stick. I thought it would be better for her to practice with an automatic." Layton sat down and leaned forward, with his forearms on his knees. "The tow truck pulled it out and the damages are all covered by insurance. It will be ready in a couple of weeks. I just wanted to let you know."

  Caine finished the beer and tried to keep his temper in check. "So she isn't hurt."

  "Not at all."

  "Good. Now, which question should I ask first? The one regarding why she is in the corner, or the other, regarding the reason why she drove a truck onto a wooden boat pier."

  "I think that is best answered by our darling little girl. Maybelle! Get your bottom downstairs. Daddy's home," Layton called.

  The sound of cheering reached Caine's ears and he forgot everything about his ruined vehicle the second the adorable creature with a single high ponytail flew into his arms and began to cover his face with happy kisses. He loved the tiny, incredible sprite who could make love with the passion of a woman and then enjoy the world with childlike abandon. She had brought joy and laughter to their lives, and he never once regretted the day he had first laid eyes on her.

  "I miss my Dr. Daddy Dom! I don't like you being gone all the time," she said, clinging to his solid waist and burying her face in his chest. "They need to let you come home every night instead of every three days."

  "I miss you too, baby, but I only have one full shift and a partial and then it's done. I won't have to do this again for two more years," Caine said.

  "I still don't like it and it's stupid that you have to stay there," she grumbled. "You don't like sleeping at the hospital or a hotel, and the food sucks."

  "I can't very well drive an hour each way every time I'm needed, honey. Just be patient. Everything will be back to normal soon enough."

  "Fine, tell that to Counselor Cranky Pants." She thumbed Layton.

  "I thought you two weren't fighting as much. Tell me; what did you do to make him cranky, little one?" Caine requested, pulling her to sit on his lap and lovingly wrapping his arms around her slight body.

  "I didn't do anything. It's his fault. He should have been in the corner, not me."

  Caine raised an eyebrow in his brother's direction. "His fault, huh? He told me about the truck. Is that what this is all about, Layton?"

  "Nope. Tell him the whole truth, Maybelle, and don't try to be cute."

  Fully immersed in her age-play persona, she retorted, "Tell him what, Uncle Layton? You said I could practice driving this afternoon and that you didn't need to be with me."

  "I said I couldn't go with you until I finished the case I was working on. You didn't want to wait."

  "Is that why you were in the corner?" Caine asked, trying to exercise his patience. "I'm tired, you two. Tell me what happened so I can go to bed."

  "He made me go to the corner because I didn't hear him tell me not to drive with flip-flops on."

  "May, I specifically told you that you have to wear secure shoes when you drive. Your flip-flops always fall off your feet and it's dangerous." Caine frowned, looking at her from arm's length. "Did your shoe fall off while you were driving?"

  "It wasn't my fault. I reached down to get it and one of the stupid chickens ran in front of the truck, and I swerved so I wouldn't hit it."

  "And then drove straight onto the dock," Layton added. "I also told her to stick to the dirt roads around the property. Instead, she drove onto the beach area."

  "I can't deal with this right now. May, put this in your book and we will take care of it on Sunday when I'm off. Don't give me the look. You know you screwed up," Caine said.

  "But it really wasn't my fault. He said that I could drive, and I didn't hear him bellowing about the shoes," she said with a pretty pout.

  "Am I going to have to lecture you about accepting responsibility again? The last time that happened, it ended up with you being grounded. Is that what you want, young lady?"

  "It's not fair!"

  "Yeah, that's what I keep hearing from you every time you get busted. I'm going to go to bed shortly. Do you want to sleep with me tonight?"

  "I want to sleep with both of you. Please?"

  "It's up to Layton. I have to be up before dawn. No big girl playtime, though. I'm sorry, but I'm way too tired."

  "You're always tired. Layton, please sleep with us. I miss being between you two," May begged, her big green eyes melting as she looked at the man.

  "Sure. I'll be in later, though. I have to finish this case," Layton said, reaching over to stroke May's hair.

  "That's another thing. He promised not to do any work after five. He fibbed," May snitched.

  "Can we talk about all this at another time? Please?" Caine pleaded. "Go up and get the big bed in the rec room ready and I'll be up in about fifteen minutes. I want to finish my dinner and talk with Layton, then you and I can have some cuddle time before I go to sleep."

  "Oh, all right. Do you want me to run a bath for you?" May asked.

  "Not tonight, sweetie. I showered before I left the hospital and I just want to hit the sack. I love you," he said, softly kissing her cheek.

  "I love you, too. Will you take me swimming on Sunday? Layton won't let me go into the lake by myself, and all he wants to do is work on his tan."

  "Yes, I'll take you swimming. Now go upstairs and get the bed ready." Caine waited until she had trotted away and turned to his brother. Rubbing his temple, he asked, "Why won't you take her swimming, for crying out loud? And whatever happened to the big, mean Domly Dom who would never have thought of saying yes to her driving on her own?"

  "I take her swimming, but then she just complains about it being too hot outside and wants to go back in. She forgets that I have work to do. And as for the Domly Dom shit, since you read me the riot act, I've been trying to do as you suggested and stay more in the 'uncle' mode. She's really upset about no big girl time with you."

  "From what I hear, she's not getting it from you, either. I wish you guys would give me a break. It's either do these rotations once every couple of years or go back to working full-time at the hospital. Like you, I have responsibilities that demand my time if I want to keep working from home. I don't think that I've slept for more than ten hours over these last three days, and the last thing I want is to come home to drama," Caine said.

  "It's not like we planned it. I can't believe that you only get a twelve hour break between this part of the rotation. It's illegal and dangerous."

  "It's on-call, and it was my choice so that I could get my required hours done sooner. I'll be fine."

  "Well, you look like you've been run over by a rototiller," Layton said with concern. "The fact that you didn't explode about the flip-flops tells me that you're exhausted. That's a safety issue, and I've never know either the doctor or the Daddy Dom in you to blow it off so quickly."

  "I didn't blow it off, I postponed my reaction for when I can think clearly. I'm just glad that she's safe." Caine yawned and closed his eyes. "I'm getting too old for this. I never li
ked working on-call emergency or ICU for a reason. They induce a very different type of stress than delivering babies."

  "And now add to your plate this whole Ian thing."

  "Can you blame me? He was one of your closest friends for years, and that friendship was dissolved because of a woman. Are you going to be okay with working with him?"

  "The same thing happened between you and me when our ex played us against each other, remember? And look how that turned out. I promise that I have no hard feelings towards him. I'm more worried about his wife. Do I know her?" Layton asked.

  "You've met her once. Remember when Pop asked us to come to the old high school's homecoming game; the year I started my residency and you were working at the firm in Dallas?"

  "Yeah, Pop still had the ranch then and Ian had just started working for him."

  "Right. She was that freshman cheerleader who got all up in your face, trying to flirt with you. You blew her off and told her to call you when she was of legal age," Caine said.

  "That was Savannah? The little brat dumped a Slurpee on my lap! Ian married her? When?"

  "Three years ago. From what he told me, the bratting didn't stop." Caine proceeded to share the events that had led to the woman's hospitalization. When he had finished, he looked at his older brother and waited.

  "Ian needs to grow a set of balls if he's going to have any hope of fixing this. You said that she's going to be completely dependent on him for a while, right?"

  "She won't be able to do anything for herself until the wrist bones mend. It's not just her physical dependence that's going to be the problem, but her alcoholism. Fortunately, she's heavily sedated as she's detoxing, but then he'll have to deal with keeping her from using. It's going to be tough on both of them, and I was thinking that maybe we can help him out. Not just with caring for her, but teaching him how to be the head of the household. He's always seemed to be a bit passive, so this might be the chance to help him find his voice."

  "Are you suggesting that we make him try age-play?" Layton's eyes went wide.

  "No." Layton's raised eyebrow made Caine change his answer. "Okay! Yes. Listen; the set-up is perfect. Savannah won't be able to refuse anything he does and he will be forced to step up to the plate, including making decisions and acting on them. I trust my instincts, and my instincts are telling me that this could help them rediscover something in their marriage—and each other—if they're given the chance."