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.

“Nothing is going on.”

“You could have fooled me.” She dropped her arms. “Your friend and boss is out there, and you’re behaving like you don’t want him here.”

“I don’t want him here. I want you all to myself all the time.”

She melted, and unable to contain her smile, she closed the distance between them, running her hands up his chest. “You want me?”

He gripped her ass, pulling her in close. “I can’t stop thinking about you. It’s like a damn drug, wanting you, and not having you.” Jason slammed his lips down on hers, plunging his tongue within her mouth.

Sydney opened up, moaning as he made love to her mouth with a simple kiss. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed her body against his, needing him more than she’d ever needed anything in her life. He was an addiction to her. She craved his touch every second of every day.

She was in love with him, and was scared everything in their life was moving too fast. He was sweet, kind, considerate, passionate, and everything she’d ever wanted in a man.

“I know you kids want to make out, but your lasagna’s getting cold,” Richard said, shouting out to each of them.

Pulling away, she still held onto Jason.

He smiled back at her with a wicked glint in his eye. “When he’s gone, we’re going to finish what we started right here.”

“Do you promise?” she asked. Her pussy was slick with her cream she was so aroused.

“Yes, it is,” he said, nipping at her lips a final time.

She moaned, opening her mouth so that he could deepen the kiss.

Finally, he pulled away first, giving them both enough space to breathe.

When they walked back in, Richard gave them both a knowing smile. “Why do I feel that the lasagna would have gone to waste if I wasn’t here?” he asked.

“It would have,” Jason said. “I’m sorry for being a bastard.”

“We all know it’s hard for you to make real decisions,” Richard said.

There went that undertone as if Richard was meaning something else.

“I can make the decisions that are needed when the time is right.”

Sydney looked from one man to the other, eating her lasagna. “Am I missing something?”

“No.” Both men responded at once.

Holding her hands up, she smiled. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“When is your sister getting back from Europe?” Richard asked.

“In a couple of weeks.”

“I bet you miss her.”

“Yes. I’m hoping when she gets back she’ll have time to meet Jason.” She smiled over at Jason, who smiled back at her.

The rest of the dinner went by without any event, and Sydney was pleased to see Richard go. He was a nice man, charming and sweet like Jason, but something was going on between the two friends that she didn’t even understand.