Page 103 of Mr. Perfect

“Fuck you, Yankee,” Tawny said. “We don’t all kiss our cousins down here in the South.”

Asher laughed and let the subject drop.

Felix heard water slapping against wood and caught a whiff of the fishy river smell as they neared the wooden dock where they’d left their boat. Once they stepped onto the floating platform, the marshals removed their hoods. It was still dark out, but the sun was flirting with the horizon. Tawny, Ginger Snap, and Blondie retreated into the woods, leaving Asher behind to talk to Rocky. Asher stood with his hands on his hips while Rocky crossed his arms over his chest. His friend looked utterly closed down, and Felix didn’t like it.

Jude pulled Felix into his arms and kissed him softly on his lips. “What a crazy night.”

Felix burrowed tighter against Jude, letting the bigger man’s warmth seep into him. “It feels like a nightmare.”

Jude softly said his name, so Felix looked up at him. “The whole declaration… It’s okay if you want to take it back. We were under duress, and I can’t expect you to—”

Felix shut Jude up by kissing him hard on the mouth. It was brief, but it got his point across. “I won’t take it back. I love you.”

Jude’s lips curled into a smile, flexing his dimples. “I love you too.”

The wood beneath Felix’s feet vibrated as footsteps echoed against the planks.

“Ready?” Rocky asked warily.

Felix pulled Rocky into an embrace and kissed his forehead. “You okay, Major?”

“No,” Rocky said honestly. Then he leaned into Felix and sighed. “I will be though.”

Asher narrowed his eyes as he watched them, and Felix flipped him the middle finger.

“Let’s go home,” Jude said, clasping Felix on the shoulder.

Felix released Rocky and stepped back. They took turns climbing into the boat bobbing in the water.

“Thank goodness for the trolling motor,” Rocky said. “I’m too knackered to row.”

Jude and Felix returned to the stern, and Rocky sat in the bow, facing them instead of Asher, who’d remained on the deck. Jude yanked the pull string, firing the engine to life while Felix untied the rope tethering them to the dock.

Jude turned the boat around and steered them back to where they’d left Rocky’s truck and boat trailer. The change in direction made it possible for Rocky to watch Asher until they rounded the bend. Felix couldn’t tell what his friend was thinking. Rocky had always been an enigma. A man who flirted shamelessly but never acted on it. Someone who camouflaged their quick wit and brilliant mind behind good looks and a laid-back personality. There was so much Felix didn’t know about Rocky, but Felix trusted the man implicitly and would wait patiently for his friend to open up.

“Why does everyone call you something different, Jacobs?” Jude asked, breaking the silence.

“Most people call you Rocky, Felix calls you Major, and US Deputy Douchebag calls you Ford.”

Rocky threw his head back and laughed. “US Deputy Douchebag. I’m totally stealing that.”

“Go right ahead,” Jude said.

“My full name is Major Rockford Michael Jacobs.”

“What a mouthful,” Jude said. Felix was too tired to jump on that opening.

“Asher is the only one who shortens Rockford to Ford instead of Rocky like everyone else.”

“Except me,” Felix said proudly.

Rocky grinned. “Just don’t call me late to dinner.” He looked at his watch. “Or breakfast in this case. Anyone interested in a bite to eat?”

Felix just wanted to go home and sit in the quiet of his home office. He had a big decision to make. Skeet, or whatever his name really was, mentioned the timelines had moved up, so Felix expected the news about the Spencer family’s death to break later in the day. If he was going to expose Cameron, he’d need to have a story ready.

“We’re in,” Jude said, pressing a kiss to Felix’s temple.

“Always trying to feed me,” Felix grumbled.