“I’m going to try. I’ve not actually spoken to her yet.” Jason sat down by his friend, opening the box to show the diamond ring.

Richard whistled. “I let Dawn know where you lived.”

“She stopped by. I think we’ll be okay with each other. She loves her sister, and that’s fair enough. I love Sydney.”

They were both stopped from talking by the sound of a knock at the door.

“That must be the pizza.” He handed the box to Richard then made his way toward the door. Jason opened the door without checking to see who it was.

Sydney stood at the door with her hand raised again.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hello.” His heart pounded as he looked at the woman he loved. She was so beautiful even though she looked a little pale. “I thought you were pizza.”

“I’ve been called a lot of things in my day, but a pizza is not one of them.” She laughed, and her cheeks heated.

Jason wanted to reach out and touch her to know that she was real.

“I couldn’t stay away another moment,” she said, taking him by surprise.

He didn’t say anything.

“I love you, Jason, and I really don’t care that you’re a porn star. I accept you whatever way you are. I love you, and I’m sorry.”

“I lied about being a PA, but everything else, that was the truth. I swear I didn’t lie to you about anything else.”

She rushed into his arms, and he closed his eyes, holding her close.

“I love you,” he said.

“I love you, too.”

“You’d really accept me for who I am?”

“Yes.”

“You amaze me, baby. I quit the industry,” he said, tugging her into his apartment.

“I think it’s time I left,” Richard said, coming to the door.

“Take the pizza on your way out. I don’t need it.” Jason smiled at his friend and closed the door behind him.

Jason didn’t let Sydney go as he held onto her. They moved to the sofa, and he cupped her cheek, amazed that she was back in his arms.

“I’ve never been so miserable in my life,” she said.

“Me neither. I love you, baby.”

“And I love you. You don’t know how much.” She closed the distance, pressing her lips against his.

He moaned, sliding his tongue into her mouth.

She pressed her hand to his chest and pulled back. “I went to the doctors to get checked,” she said.

Jason smiled. “I figured you would. You were hurt, and it was my fault.” He stroked her cheek, staring into her eyes. “You’re so damn beautiful.”

“You’re out of the business?” she asked, clearly confused.

“I’m out of the business. I’m investing my money, and I’m not going to be with another woman again. You’re the only one I want, and it has been that way for some time.” He pressed a kiss to her lips.

She smiled at him. “I would have accepted what you did. I wouldn’t have asked about your day or what you did, but I’d have learned to accept you for you.”

“God, I love you.” Out of the corner of his eye he saw the velvet box. “I know we’ve known each other a couple of weeks, but I really am in love with you, Sydney.” He picked up the box and held it up in front of him. “Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Sydney gasped and stared at the box then at him. “You’re proposing to me?”

“Yes. I’m never going to love another woman.”

“Yes,” she said.

“What?”

“I love you, and I want to marry you. I say yes. I want to marry you.” She giggled, pressing a hand to her mouth, and her eyes were wide. “I can’t believe I just giggled.”

“Don’t be. I love that sound, and I’m going to make sure you have a hell of a lot more to be happy about.”

He slammed his lips down on hers, happier than he’d ever been. Yes, he’d fucked up, but Sydney had given him another chance.

****

“Tell me what we’re doing again?” Dawn asked, wriggling her body into the dress.

“We’re going to the club tonight.” Sydney stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked exactly like she had that Friday when she first met Jason.

“What about—”

“Don’t talk about anyone or anything.” She turned to Dawn smiling.

“I’m confused.”

“Everything will be clear very soon.”

The cab that Sydney had called pressed on the horn. Without waiting for Dawn to ask more questions, she closed up her house, and followed Dawn to the cab. Climbing in the back, she smoothed out her skirt, and stared out of the window.

Dawn was chattering away about work, and the boss that drove her insane. Sydney listened even though she was more interested in what was going to happen.

The bouncer in front of the night club gave Dawn a kiss, promising to dance with her after the show.

“Go and dance,” Sydney said, moving toward the bar.

“You’re acting strangely,” Dawn said, shouting to be heard over the music.

Sydney felt strange being back here, but it was what she and Jason had agreed to.

Standing at the bar, she ordered her and Dawn’s drink then waited.

This had been both her and Jason’s idea, to start over, to start afresh.

The card slipped to the floor, and she bent down to retrieve it.

“Excuse me,” she said, tapping his arm.

“I’m not signing any autographs.”

He remembered what he’d said to her.

“Excuse me, I’m not after your autograph. You dropped this.”

Jason turned to smile at her. This time there was no blonde talking to him. He turned his gaze on her, and Sydney was rooted to the spot.

“Well, hello, beautiful.”

“I bet you say that to all the girls.”

“No, only the pretty ones.”

Her cheeks heated at his intense gaze. Everything else fell away, the club, the past, and the music, so it was like they were the only two people in the world.

“You mentioned about an autograph. Are you a star or something?”

“No. I’m an ex-porn star. I just recently quit the business.”

Her heart was pounding, and Sydney stared at where their fingers touched. She released the card, giving him the chance to put it away. Once he had, he caught her hand once again.

“I’ve never met a porn star before.”

“Ex-porn star.”

“What was it like?”

“It got me where I am right now. You see, I met this girl at a club, this very one in fact. She started talking to me, and when she asked what I did, I panicked. I loved the feel of her in my arms when we danced, and I was afraid if she knew the truth, she’d cut and run.”

“Sounds like you were torn.”

“I was. I wanted to be with her and tell her the truth. I spent the four most amazing weeks of my life with her. I fell in love, but then she found out the truth. I didn’t touch another woman. Being with her made me realize exactly what I wanted in life.”

“I imagine she regrets kicking you out of her house. I bet it hurt her finding out that you lied, but then she realized everything else you’d ever said to her was the truth.”

“It was. I pretended to be a person I actually wanted to be. I didn’t want to be in porn anymore. All of the thoughts I told her were my own. The only lie I ever told her was that I was Richard’s PA.”

“I love you, Jason, and Bone Harder.”

“I’m not that man anymore. He was a lie to get a job. This is who I really am, and I promise you, you’re never going to get anyone else.”

He slid the diamond ring on her finger. Tears filled her eyes, and she batted them away. She wasn’t going to spoil this moment with tears.

“You’re going to make me the happiest man in the world. Would you dance with me?”

“I’d love to.”

Placing her hand within his, she followed him onto the dance floor. The song turned to a slow number, and she didn’t care. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed her face against his shirt front.

“I can’t believe you were going to accept me for who I was.”

“I’m not going to lie to you, Jason. I don’t know what I would have done that night six weeks ago. I’d probably have moved on. Part of me is pleased you lied to me.”