Roman sat down at a table. Randy seemed more distant than usual, staring off into space and picking at his food.

"What's up with you? Are you getting sick?"

"Yea, I'm sick alright." Randy murmured, stirring his coffee with his hand propped up against his cheek. "So, what was so important that you had to catch a red eye out of Vegas?" There were a lot of break ins going on around town lately, but Randy knew he did not have to personally take care of each one. Roman's firm took care of Randy's business, a large construction company and often the sites were looted after the sun went down. Roman used to roam the lots personally at night before the promotion.

"Destiny's pregnant." He let his friend in on the secret before Mia returned from the bathroom. He had an on going affair with the young dispatcher at his office for a while now. She was hot, had the perfect curves and he was drawn to her animal like sexual appetite.

"I thought you were always careful."

"I guess the damn condom broke." Roman scowled. "Anyway. I don't plan on letting this happen again."

"This is going to destroy Mia." Randy sighed and he wasn't sure if he was making a point or sympathizing with the sweet woman who he had wrapped around his finger. He liked Mia. Thought she was great, but she wanted so much more than he would ever give her. He had seen enough of what love did to people through his parents. He was the illegitimate son of a New York tycoon and his mother died waiting for him to leave his wife. He had the same possessive and persuasive allure over women. An inheritance that he embraced. It came in handy sometimes and kept him from ever having to fall in love. Every time he felt himself falling for Mia, he would find some other woman who would remind him why it was a bad idea to give himself completely to a single woman. Still, he cared for her and he wanted to keep her.

Destiny had been his latest distraction and he had laid it on the line with her. He would not leave his Mia for her. Not ever. Mia was a great cook. Looked great on his arm and she was quiet, never giving him any grief. They never fought. She was easily subdued, something that was very important. Destiny on the other hand, had a fiery attitude. She kept him on his toes. He liked that about her, but there was no place for it in his every day life.

"You know you have to tell her."

"Nope." Roman insisted. "Destiny doesn't want my help. She said she wanted a kid, but she doesn't want a man to help her raise it."

"You know I've stood beside you all these years, Roman. But this is so unfair to your girl. You know how much Mia wants a baby and you have flat out told her no with no compromise. And here you go fathering a child with another woman."

"I'm nothing more than a sperm donor." Roman clicked his tongue as he let the juice flow over it. "I'm still not a father. I hate kids, but I planned to make things right with Mia. I think I'll tell her I'm willing to try to get her pregnant."

"So you're going to marry her then?" Randy still didn't seem like himself, but he shrugged it off. It wasn't uncommon to pick up some kind of illness from crowded places.

"Hell no." He answered. "But we don't have to be married to have a baby."

"You just said you hate kids."

"She's not going to get pregnant. But she will be happy that I'm willing to try."

Randy snorted. "You really must be tired, because that makes no sense. If you try, she will get pregnant eventually."

"Well, next week I'm going on a business trip."

"A business trip? In your line of work?"

"I'm really going to get snipped." He admitted. "She'll never know and everyone will be happy."

"Until she doesn't get pregnant. Eventually she's going to want to go to a doctor to find out why. You can't be that cruel to her, Roman."

"It would be crueler to have a child I don't want. She knows I hate doctors. She won't push the issue. Mia, is cool. She's perfect."

Randy shook his head.

"You need to get your head out of your ass." he growled. "I've lost my appetite."

"What is wrong with you?" Roman barked. It was unlike his friend to judge him. He usually understood.

"Nothing. I have to find some Pepto. But don't let me ruin your fun. Enjoy your life."

Roman watched him walk off. Perhaps he was mad about the girl he had met. The one that had discreetly followed Roman out of the hotel lounge. He laughed as he remembered her throwing herself at him in the hotel room when he went to retrieve his bag. It had been a quick fling, over in minutes, but satisfying. He guessed Randy knew, but he would get over it. Randy didn't want much more with the girl himself. It would have been different if it was a serious date for his friend, but it wasn't, so he had acted within the rules.

"There she is." He stood when Mia returned. "I missed you." And he did. Maybe not at first, but after a while of being apart, he longed for that beautiful smile. She stared up at him, stood on her tiptoes to touch his lips. He could see it in her eyes. What he had warned her about. He had told her not to fall in love at the very start. Now, she could be hurt and he never wanted that.

"What happened to Randy?"

"He wasn't feeling good. You two must have had one hell of a party last night." He laughed. He could always count on Randy to stay by her side, rendering her off limits to any guy who looked her way. He didn't have to worry about another man stealing her away in his absence. The perfect decoy, his buddy. She had someone to keep her company and he had the security of her safety, both intimately and physically.

"something like that." Mia seemed tired to him as well, and her normally natural face was plastered with thick make-up. He didn't mind the heavy eyeliner and mascara. It made her beautiful eyes pop. Such brilliant eyes. What had attracted him in the first place. He grazed her arm with his thumb.

"Are you feeling alright?" if she was sick, he would be sick. He was a germ-a-fob of sorts. Avoiding the simplest sneeze like it was the bird flu.

"I'm fine. I'm just tired. I think I stayed out too long last night."

"Well, then let's get you to bed." He said coyly. Of course, he had only left Destiny's bed a few hours ago, but he had the energy to please Mia as well. He gently took her hand in his and led her to their hotel room. He laid her down on the bed, moving his hands up her thighs as he lowered her.

"Roman," she pulled down her skirt too quickly for his liking, barring him from peeking at those toned thighs. "I'm really not up to it." she turned on her side, covered herself to her neck, shutting him out. It hurt. Damn. He had never felt that before and he suddenly knew how she felt when he did it to her, which was often.

"Okay, baby." he croaked, settling beside her, on top of the covers, holding her until she fell asleep. He tried to decode his emotions. It had never bothered him. He had struck out before, but he had only laughed and moved on to the next target. But Mia, she never turned him down. He had always been able to sway her, tantalize and tempt her to get what he wanted.

Randy walked and walked. His hands stuffed into his pockets. He had the key, laying in the palm of his hand and he couldn't use it. All he had to do was confront Roman in front of Mia. He couldn't lie. Mia knew when someone was lying. Yet, Roman had a way of convincing and Randy would lose them both. He couldn't stand to be cast away like that.

He ventured back, swallowing his pride, lust and undeniable love. Turned the knob and entered the room to see the bed that he had shared with Mia only hours before. Only this time she shared it with her boyfriend. They slept so peacefully. Roman with his large arm about her waist. The man loved her, even if he never admitted it. His subconscious sure as hell did.

Randy rubbed a hand over his face, laid down on the sofa and covered himself with the sleeping bag he had brought with him. He chose to lay his head on an end in which he could face them, stare at them. Damn it, Mia was his wife. He had every right to be angry. Envious. It wasn't fair.