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  “Tyler—”

  “I bet you wouldn’t last ten minutes serving guys like you.”

  Jack narrowed his eyes. “Guys like me?”

  “Yeah, those who have superiority complexes. Anyway, yeah I’m working as a waiter. But the place isn’t so bad, the pay isn’t horrible and the tips are decent. I like the people. Most of them anyway. And my aunt owns it so she gives me a lot of freedom and leeway. Which leads me to what else I do.”

  “What’s that?” Jack asked warily.

  “Acting. I do theater, acting classes, I’ve done commercials, pilots for television shows. I’ve been extras in movies. I’m hoping to get bigger parts, better plays. But I have to work for it. And like everyone else, that means sometimes busting my chops waiting tables.”

  “I didn’t know.”

  Tyler smirked. “Yeah. And I’m sure you probably don’t think much of trying to be a famous actor either.”

  “Is that your goal? To be famous?”

  He shrugged. “I wouldn’t turn it down. I’ve always wanted to do this. Which you would have known back in college if you had actually known me.”

  “Hmm. Well, tell me, Tyler. How much did you know about me? Other than you thought I was gorgeous, you told me that several times, and wanted me to fuck you, which you also told me several times. Did you know I wanted to be a doctor?”

  “Touché.” He smiled and took a sip of wine. “I guess I’m as guilty of being shallow, too.”

  “Listen,” Jack said. “I’ve made plenty of mistakes. But I do remember liking you as a person, what I did know of you, and I just…seeing you made me want to get to know you better. As a friend.”

  “As a friend,” Tyler repeated.

  “Yeah, you got so many you can turn down the chance for more?”

  “No, I don’t.” Tyler smiled again and Jack tried not to think how beautiful he really was. “Okay, friends it is. With no benefits, by the way.”

  Jack laughed. “Got it.”

  “And you are still buying dinner, too.”

  Jack held up his hands in surrender. “Deal.”

  Tyler flashed that smile again that melted hearts. “All right. And pour me some more wine.”

  Chapter 3

  Two months later

  “So I got this part in a play in Beverly Hills,” Tyler announced as he stabbed at his Cobb salad. He sat across from Jack at a little bistro they frequented in San Fernando Valley.

  Jack smiled. “Yeah?”

  Tyler nodded. “It’s not the lead, but it’s like the second main character. The main guy’s BFF. This is a play some people might actually see, so it’s cool. We start rehearsals this weekend.”

  “Congratulations. Was that the one you were trying out for a couple of weeks ago?’

  “Yep. I was wondering, you know, once it’s playing if you might wanna come see it.”

  Jack laughed. “Are you kidding? Of course I do. I’ll be the first one in line.”

  Tyler grinned. “Well, you gotta buy tickets and all.”

  “First one in line to get a ticket then.”

  “Thanks.” Tyler took a bite of his salad, chewed and swallowed. He forced himself to ask the question he generally asked. It always reminded them what his relationship with Jack actually was. “Going to see Lawrence this weekend?”

  Jack shrugged. “He’s been asking me to, but it depends on my work schedule. It’s getting a little crazier because one of the doctors who usually works ER went out on maternity. We’re kind of picking up the slack.”

  “Maybe he could come down here, you know? Seems like you always go up there.”

  “He doesn’t like Southern California.”

  Tyler raised a brow. “How is that gonna work between you? Isn’t one gonna have to move to be with the other eventually?”

  “Well, I mean, it’s not like he never comes here. He has a few times. Couple weekends. But mostly I go there.”

  “Still. I mean if you guys consider each other boyfriends, aren’t you going to want to make something more permanent?”

  Jack frowned and picked up his ham croissant. “We haven’t really gotten to the point where we’re even thinking about that. We met through mutual friends and so far the weekend thing seems to work for us.”

  Tyler rolled his eyes. A few casual hookups was one thing, but this weird long distance was something else. Really, he would never put up with such a casual relationship, but whatever. It was Jack’s life. “If you say so. And speaking of, I have a date.”

  Jack’s chewing paused. “A date?” he asked around a mouthful of ham croissant.

  “Yeah, dude, that’s what us single guys do when we wanna get laid,” Tyler said with a laugh. “Cute, too. He came into the diner to fix the air conditioner for Aunt Ruby. Big bulging muscles. Should be fun.”

  His friend snorted. “What are you going to do with a guy like that?”

  “You figure it out.”

  “Besides that.”

  “Why does there have to be a besides? I want to get fucked, he wants to fuck. Perfect pair.”

  Jack shook his head. “So, what? You’re going to the local EZ-Lay motel for a couple of hours?”

  “A couple? I only need one for this guy, trust me. He’ll walk out with his mind blown believe me.”

  “It won’t be his mind that’s blown,” Jack said wryly.

  “True that.” Tyler grinned. “We’re meeting for coffee first, actually. But seriously, Jack, I’m not gonna have a relationship with him.”

  “Do you even know his name?”

  Tyler thought about it. “Ed. Or Ted. Or Fred. Ah, hell, maybe it’s Red.”

  “Red?”

  Tyler waved his hand. “He’s a ginger. Anyway, it doesn’t matter.”

  “You’re not a yeller then?” Jack asked, amusement plain on his face.

  “A yeller?”

  “Yeah, you don’t scream out his name while he has you bent over the table?”

  Tyler blinked, for a second having an image of Jack doing just that with him. No. Don’t go there. He smirked. “You fucked me. Don’t you remember?”

  “Um Hmm. I don’t think you did.”

  “Right. I need to be with a guy twice before I get into screaming his name.” Tyler smiled and batted his lashes. “Something you’ll never get to know.”

  Jack blushed at that, which only made Tyler laugh.

  Jack cleared his throat. “You about done here?”

  “Yeah, I’m stuffed. So, anyway, I’m gonna be busy with rehearsals for the most part, so not sure we can get together much,” Tyler said. “Although if you’ll be around this weekend without Lawrence, maybe we could get together for coffee or something.”

  “Or I could make you dinner.”

  Tyler blinked. “Dinner? You?”

  “I can cook. Actually, back when I was a teenager I often cooked for my brothers and sisters. Mom had cancer and was pretty sick and Dad had to work. I got pretty good.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know your mom was sick.”

  Jack nodded. “She got better but things were rough for a while. Anyway, if we can work it out with our schedules, you can come by and I’ll make us something. Nothing fancy.”

  Tyler had a moment when he wondered when it would occur to Jack that they were almost dating. Well, maybe this was the way friends were supposed to be. He didn’t have a lot of friends he wanted to have sex with. None actually. Except Jack. So maybe that was why this was sort of weird.

  Tyler smiled. “Sounds good.”

  * * * *

  “So, your first rehearsal went well?” Jack asked Tyler as he opened a bottle of wine. An expensive one, Tyler noted, being aware of the winery behind the label.

  Tyler, who was perched on a barstool in front of the little kitchen bar in Jack’s house, nodded. “Yeah, I think it’s gonna be awesome. Everyone seems really nice.”

  “Good, I’m glad.”

  Tyler watched as Jack stretched up to pull wineglasses out o
f the top cabinet. His shirt rode up as he did so, revealing bare skin to Tyler’s gaze. Jack had worn loose fitting jeans and a sporadically buttoned plaid shirt. Nothing terribly exciting. Except it was on Jack and so it completely was. Jack turned around and Tyler spotted more bare skin and wiry dark chest hair, too.

  “You know your shirt’s not buttoned properly,” Tyler blurted out, and then instantly felt stupid at Jack’s quick grin.

  “Yeah, I know. I just threw it on seconds before you arrived. I took a shower when I first got home from the hospital.”

  Tyler tried to push away the image of Jack naked and wet from his mind. Friends, dude, friends.

  “Anyway,” Jack continued with a shrug. “I figured, once I saw I hadn’t lined up the buttons right, you wouldn’t care anyway.”

  “Oh, I don’t,” Tyler said quickly. Maybe too quickly. To change the subject, he asked, “What are we having?”

  “Shrimp provencal,” Jack announced. He poured two glasses of wine.

  “I love shrimp,” Tyler said happily.

  Jack looked amused. “I know. You order it a lot.”

  Tyler felt his cheeks heat. “Well, anyway, that’s a little fancy, isn’t it? I would have been good with burgers or something.”

  “Oh, I know you would, but I like to cook, like I said. No biggie.” He passed Tyler the glass of wine.

  Tyler took a sip. “Ooh, that’s good.”

  “Figured you’d like it.” Jack grinned.

  “I’ve seen it but it’s a little out of my price range.”

  “Special occasion.”

  He smiled. “How so?”

  “First rehearsal of your new play.”

  “I can totally buy that,” Tyler said, taking another sip.

  “So, um, how did things go with that guy?”

  Tyler frowned. “What guy?”

  “The ginger dude. Ed or Red or whatever.”

  “Oh. Him. The AC guy.”

  Jack looked at him strangely and Tyler wasn’t really sure what that was about.

  “It went just like I thought. Well, actually, we did get some food first rather than coffee, and then fucked.” Tyler shrugged. “Anyway, I’m pretty sure he was bi-curious.”

  “Meaning?”

  “I think I was his first guy. He was a little awkward and freaked out at first but he got into it fast enough. One of those kind of big dopey types. He thought he was straight until he met me.” Tyler grinned. “I turned him.”

  Jack rolled his eyes. “You sure think a lot of yourself, Tyler.”

  “Just know I’m good.” He smiled. “Actually, you know that, too.”

  Jack took a large swallow of wine and turned away. “Gotta check on the shrimp.”

  * * * *

  “God, that was good. That was too good,” Tyler moaned, patting his stomach. “Don’t think I’ll eat for another week.”

  “I’m glad you liked it,” Jack said with a smile as he got up to clear the plates.

  “Liked it? I loved it.”

  “I’ll take care of the dishes later. Wanna watch a movie?”

  “Sure. I’m a little too buzzed still to drive home anyway.”

  “You can always stay,” Jack said. “I mean, I have a couple of spare rooms.”

  Tyler smiled. “I should be okay after the movie.”

  Tyler followed Jack into the living room.

  “What do you want to watch?” Jack asked, pointing to some DVDs he had by the flat screen television. “We can also stream something if you prefer. You want some popcorn?”

  “Yeah, sounds good.” Tyler bent over to look at the movie choices. When he didn’t hear Jack retreat into the kitchen, he straightened and turned around. Jack still stood there. “Wait, were you just staring at my ass?”

  Jack shook his head and laughed. “No, of course not. I was just waiting to see what you would pick. I’ll go make that popcorn.”

  Tyler exhaled slowly as Jack left the living room. Maybe this friendship thing had been a big mistake.

  Chapter 4

  Okay, get it together, Jack, he told himself as he went to the kitchen sink and threw water in his own face. Yeah, he was unbelievably attracted to Tyler. Who the fuck wouldn’t be? But he was the idiot who wanted to be friends. And that was because of Lawrence.

  Jack fished his cell phone out of the back pocket of his jeans and hit the entry for Lawrence. The number rang three times before it was answered.

  “Hello, Jack.”

  “Hey. What are you up to?”

  “Right now I’m about to go into a dinner for the senator. I can’t really talk for long.”

  “Well, I won’t keep you. Just wondered, you know, since I couldn’t make it up there this weekend and you couldn’t get away from there, maybe you could come down here during the week for a couple of days. I have Tuesday and Wednesday off.”

  “No can do, Jack. The senator’s swamped with functions and he wants me there.”

  Jack held back a sigh. “Oh.”

  “I know you’re disappointed.”

  “Well, yeah, you spend more time with the senator than you do with me.”

  “It’s all part of my career, Jack,” Lawrence said, sounding annoyed. “You knew that.”

  He wanted to say that Lawrence spent almost all his time with Senator Freely now, which hadn’t always been the case. Maybe it was because Freeley was gay himself that Jack was jealous. He knew Lawrence thought working for a gay senator would give him pointers for his own future career, and Jack could totally see how that would work. Still, he never seemed to have time for them anymore.

  “Yeah, I did. Listen, how about next weekend then? Maybe I could switch around with one of the other doctors and make it up there.”

  “Don’t bother messing with your schedule. Freeley wants me to go to Washington with him next weekend,” Lawrence said, sounding regretful. “I’m sorry, sweetie. There’s no way out of it.”

  Jack didn’t bother hiding his sigh this time. “When will we see each other then?”

  “I don’t know, Jack. I’m just as disappointed as you are.”

  Except, really, he didn’t sound that disappointed to Jack.

  “Okay, well, I guess if you gotta go with him, you gotta go.”

  “And speaking of…Jack, the senator needs me.”

  Of course.

  “All right, um, guess I’ll talk to you—”

  But Lawrence had already hung up. Jack clenched his jaw. Getting angry wouldn’t solve anything. Next time he saw Lawrence, though, they’d be having a very serious conversation.

  He stuck a bag of microwave popcorn in the microwave and hit the popcorn button. While he was waiting for it, Jack dug out a bowl from the cabinet.

  “Well?” Jack asked as he walked back into his living room with the popcorn. “What did you decide on?”

  Tyler lounged on the couch. He’d kicked off his shoes and now one bare foot was stuck under the other leg. “Hmm. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen the Terminator movies. Let’s watch those. But only one and two. I never liked the others.”

  “Sounds cool.” Jack handed the popcorn bowl to Tyler, then put the first DVD into the player and took up the spot on the couch next to Tyler. He tried to ignore just how good Tyler smelled. It was damn difficult. It was sort of spicy mixed with floral notes. “Hey, what do you smell like?”

  Okay, so much for the whole trying to ignore it.

  “Huh?” Tyler took his gaze from the movie to Jack. “Oh. Um, men’s cologne my sister got me for Christmas. Ralph Lauren or something. And honeysuckle shampoo.”

  Jack smiled. “Honeysuckle?”

  Tyler blushed. “Well, I like it. It’s one of my indulgences.”

  “Well, you sure smell pretty,” Jack joked.

  “Oh, shut up and watch the movie.”

  * * * *

  By the time the second movie was nearing its conclusion, Tyler had stretched out over most of the couch, leaving Jack only in the corner. Tyler, who’d
fallen asleep, was leaning against Jack, his head resting on Jack’s thigh just above the knee. A saint couldn’t withstand that much temptation as far Jack was concerned and he certainly was no saint.

  His hand crept—okay not by itself, Jack’s brain told it to—over to Tyler’s head and he spread his fingers into the soft tresses. He didn’t know if you were supposed to think of a guy’s hair as being tresses but whatever. Tyler didn’t really wake up, just sort of hummed low.

  Jack knew he needed to stop massaging Tyler’s head. Friends didn’t do such things. But damn there was that honeysuckle. And really, who was he kidding? He wanted to fuck Tyler. He’d always wanted to. And having fucked him once, which yeah he remembered how hot Tyler was, made him just want to fuck him more.

  But there was Lawrence. Jack was starting to think he and Lawrence weren’t long for this world, but technically they were still together even if really they hadn’t been together for a while. Still, the right thing to do would be to end it before he made any sort of move with Tyler. If he was going to make a move at all.

  And God, he was tempted. Right now his cock was uncomfortably hard, pressing against his jeans. His fingers moved from the crown of Tyler’s head to the man’s forehead, rubbing the temples with featherlike strokes. He was tempted to trace the cheekbones and the delicate, long nose. Tyler was striking even in his sleep or perhaps he was more striking in repose.

  Jack grazed his thumb along Tyler’s jawline. There was just the faintest of stubble there and Jack found it unbelievably sexy. His brain told his thumb to trace Tyler’s plump lower lip and of course his thumb obeyed, knowing any touch could wake Tyler up and then he’d move away from Jack and he’d be bereft. But inexplicably, Tyler did not wake when Jack’s thumb caressed his lip.

  He wondered if touching his friend like this, while he slept, might be just the tiniest bit creepy. And just then, Tyler’s lashes flickered, lifted, and those impossibly blue eyes took a moment to focus, but when they did it made Jack’s gut clench and he realized his thumb was still gently stroking Tyler’s lip.

  “Jack?” Tyler’s voice came out low and raspy with sleep and it sent a jolt of pure lust straight to Jack’s already hard dick