She was working but had promised to start taking her cell phone with her.
“Hello,” she said, sounding breathless.
“Hey, beautiful.” From the sound of her voice he was hard as fucking rock.
“Jason, I missed you.”
He smiled, loving the teasing that came into her voice. “I missed you, too. I’m just out in my car waiting for Richard to get done.”
“You’re not standing watching?”
“No. I started to, and then I just missed you.”
“That’s incredibly sweet of you. Thinking about me even when you’ve got lots of sexy, naked women around you.”
“I’m in my car at the moment. No naked women I want in my bed other than you.”
“You’re a charmer, Jason.”
He chuckled.
Tell her.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m hamper packing. It seems teenagers are into hampers for graduation or something. They’re starting college I believe. Anyway, I’ve packed ten hampers this morning. No baking.”
He knew how much she loved baking.
“You’ll get the chance to bake.”
“I was going to ask if you wanted to come to my place tonight. I could cook, make a meal. You could invite Richard if you’d like. I’d like to get to know your boss.”
Tell her the truth.
“I’ll ask him. He’d love the chance to meet you.”
He heard her squeal. “Excellent. I can’t wait. I promise the food will be amazing, and I’ll whip up a dessert.”
Jason spoke with her for a few more minutes before ringing off. Resting his head back against the car seat, he closed his eyes, wondering what the hell he’d done once again. Why couldn’t he tell her the truth?
You don’t want her to cut you out of her life.
He was losing his mind with all of this deceit.
An hour later Richard climbed into the car, looking happy with himself.
“What’s got that smile on your face?” Jason asked, starting up his car.
“Job well done. Deep was brilliant as always.”
“Was she actually turned on?”
“No. I had to use plenty of lubrication. It just wasn’t the day.”
“I’ve got a favor to ask of you,” Jason said.
“What?”
“I need you to come with me to have dinner with Sydney.”
“Have you told her the truth?”
“No. She wants to meet my boss, and I don’t have the heart to tell her otherwise.”
Richard was silent for several minutes, and out of the corner of his eye, Jason knew he was watching him.
“What?” he asked, no longer able to take such scrutiny.
“You’re afraid of losing her.”
“Yes, I am.” He didn’t see any point in lying.
“Is she really worth all of this trouble?” Richard asked.
“You’re about to meet her. See for yourself.”
****
Sydney was nervous. Should she light the candles, or was that too intimate? If it was just her and Jason, she wouldn’t have any problem, but for her, Jason, and Richard, it seemed too much.
“No candles.”
The lasagna was baking in the oven, and she’d tossed the salad already. She’d changed into a figure hugging black dress, which she kept smoothing down her large thighs.
“It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay.”
She knew Jason, and Richard was like any other guy. She didn’t judge his work. Regardless of what other people would think, you had to earn money where you could. Her family had once owned a bakery, but she’d decided to work for someone else, even though she had the talent to open her own.
Richard had talent in the adult industry.
The doorbell sounded, and she decided it was too late to cancel any chance of canceling him.
Removing her apron, she walked down the short corridor, and opened her door. Jason was there, looking damn fine in jeans and a crisp white shirt.
“Hello,” she said.
Jason wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in close for a kiss. “Hey, beautiful,” he said.
She loved it when he paid her compliments.
“Be careful with the compliments, I could get used to them.” Her cheeks were on fire when she turned to Richard. He was a lighter blond with shorter hair than Jason. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“And you, Jason has told me so many good things about you.” Richard offered her some flowers, which she took, kissing his cheek.
“I’m pleased. Come on in. We can’t eat dinner on the porch.” She closed the door behind them, leading the way to her dining room. “Crap, I’m not really great at this. Are you both hungry?” she asked.
“Starved. I’ve not been allowed to eat,” Richard said, pointing at Jason. “He told me I wasn’t allowed.”
“You shouldn’t have been so mean.” She went up on her toes, and pressed another kiss to his lips. “Sit, and eat. Would you like wine or beer?”
“I’ll take a soda,” Richard said. “I’m not into drinking right now, and if I have to leave, I don’t want to be bundled into a cab.”
She turned to Jason, waiting for him. “I’ll take a beer.”
Nodding her head, she left them long enough to grab two cans of soda from the fridge, along with a beer. She wasn’t a big wine drinker, but she’d used some of the wine in the tomato sauce for the lasagna.
Returning to the table, she handed each man his drink, before disappearing again to grab the salad.
“I’m really bad at playing hostess,” she said. “I’m just grabbing the food.”
She returned the final time with some lasagna.
“This smells amazing, and don’t go worrying about your hostess skills,” Richard said.
“I don’t really do any entertaining for anyone.” She took a seat after serving them all a large slice of lasagna. “I only cook for my sister, and she’s away for a couple more weeks.”
“Have you heard from Dawn?” Jason asked.
“Not today. She’ll call tomorrow. I’m hoping you’ll meet her when she gets back from her trip to Europe.”
A look passed between the two men, and she looked from one to the other.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Jason said.
“Am I missing something?” Sydney asked.
“No.” Jason spoke harshly, glaring at Richard.
“I thought you two were friends.”
“We are,” Richard said. “We’re just having a little disagreement. It’s nothing we can’t handle.”
“Good. I’d hate to see anything bad happening between friends.”
“This food is delicious, Sydney,” Richard said. “The best I’ve ever eaten.”
“Thank you.” Her cheeks heated at the compliment.
“You’re not used to men paying you compliments, are you?” Richard asked.
“I think I’m going to have to get used to it.” She quickly glanced at Jason, but he was glaring down at his food.
Biting her lip, she stared down at her plate, trying to think of the best way to end the tension.
“So, Richard, how is work?” She cringed at her own words. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even think of what I was saying.”
“Work is good. You don’t have any problems with me being a porn star do you?”
“No.”
“I was just making sure. I’d hate for you to be uncomfortable in your own room.”
She frowned. Okay, something was really wrong. “Didn’t you tell him that I invited you both to come and eat with us?”
“He told me,” Richard said.
“I don’t have a problem with what you do for a career. I just don’t watch it. I did tell Jason about it.”
“He knows,” Jason said, finally speaking up.
“Can I talk to you in private?” Sydney asked, wiping her mouth on the napkin she’d provided.
She didn’t wait for an answer and made her way into the kitchen.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“I could ask you the same thing. What’s going on?” She folded her arms across her breasts, staring at him.