Free Love For Hire by Anna Marie May Page B

still sizzled and burnt like fire.

    Jayden looked up, dropping his piece of bread onto the plate.

     “I’ve got us theater tickets for tonight,” Matt informed him.

    “You… what?” Jayden stuttered because he hadn’t expected Matt to take him to the theater. Wasn’t that for cultured people? And Matt seemed more like someone who would enjoy a good party or sitting for hours at a bar. He didn’t strike him as someone who went to the theater , but then again, what did Jayden know, right?

    “Theater tickets,” Matt repeated. “Have you ever been before?

    “Uhm…,” Jayden hedged, quickly breaking eye contact, fiddling with the napkin. “No?”

    “Would you like to go, then?”

    A wide smile broke out on Jayden’s face, and he nodded eagerly.

    “All right, then.” This time Matt squeezed his shoulder, pushing himself up from the table. “I’ll pick you up at seven, then.”

    “Of course. I’ll be ready.”

    He watched as Matt and Scott left together, how they casually fell into an easy step. Only when the door closed behind the two men did Jayden allow himself a little huff of displeasure.

    He stabbed at the bacon on his plate as if it was offending him.

    “Get a grip,” he mumbled. “This is a job. Nothing more.”

    He passed the day in his usual fashion, and when it was time to get ready for the night’s entertainment, he dressed with extra care. With only a few minutes to spare, he headed downstairs to wait by the door. He had no clue if Matt was home or not, but his question was answered when he passed the parlor.

    Voices drifted through the small opening in the door, and at first Jayden had no intention of stopping or even listening. He came to halt when he heard his name being mentioned. It might be bad form to listen to other people’s conversations, but in the end, curiosity won out.

    “Jayden seems nice.” Scott’s voice drifted out into the hallway.

    “He is,” Matt answered.

    The tiny spark of love blossoming inside Jayden’s chest grew a little bit more, spreading outward like a tree spreading its roots.

    “You sure you want to go out tonight?”

    “Yes.” There was no hesitation when Matt answered. “Everything should be over soon anyway. Better to get a move on things. Don’t you agree?”

    “True,” Scott agreed even though he didn’t actually sound convinced. “If it were only you and me, I would be totally on board with this—”

    “Everything will be fine,” Matt quickly interrupted him, obviously not in the mood to hear a contrary opinion. “Oh, and Scott?” Matt’s voice sounded different, and while Jayden wondered why, he continued, “I don’t want you to leave the house. It isn’t safe for you to even be here. Use your head for once.”

    “I can take of myself,” Scott bit out, annoyed.

    “I know you can.” Now Matt sounded condescending, and Jayden wondered why Scott wasn’t slugging his friend yet for his unbelievable attitude. “Please?”

    “Fine.” Clearly Scott was agreeing to this against his better judgment, but the please uttered by Matt had apparently changed his mind.

     “Just stay put. Twenty-four more hours won’t kill you.”

    When Jayden finally figured out why the volume of Matt’s voice had been changing, he dashed down the corridor at breakneck speed just in time to take a corner before Matt entered the hallway. There was no time for him to stop, so he continued down the hall until he descended the stairs. Once he was in the foyer, he braced himself, taking a few deep breaths before forcing himself to pace the floor as if he had already been waiting for a few minutes.

    When Matt walked down the steps, Jayden stopped, enjoying watching him move. The dark fabric of his dress pants was hanging loosely on Matt’s trim frame, but combined with the dark-green shirt and a jacket easily flung over his right shoulder, he was the picture of rich, handsome, and breathtakingly beautiful. He didn’t miss a