Page 29 of Mr. Perfect

They laughed and talked about everything except the elephant in the room—Rocky’s confession. While Felix was curious as hell, he wanted Rocky to tell him willingly, not because liquor had loosened his lips. It was even possible Rocky would forget he’d confessed to marrying someone who possibly broke his heart.

“I can’t believe I got all poetic about the color of your eyes,” Rocky said.

Felix looked up from dunking his fry in ketchup. Rocky’s body language was tense and pensive. His gaze was locked on a spot on the table between them. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Rocky lifted his head and just stared at him for a few seconds.

“Poems rhyme,” Felix said.

Rocky laughed. “Not all poems rhyme, Fee.”

“The good ones do, Major.”

They were back on solid footing again, and all was right in Felix’s world. Until he glanced up and locked eyes with Jude Arrow.

What the fuck?

Jude’s dark blue eyes looked as black as midnight in the dimly lit space. Jude’s mouth hung slightly agape as if his jaw hinges had broken. Felix imagined he wore a similar look of surprise on his face, although Felix hoped he wasn’t as obvious.

Just what the hell was The Straight Shooter doing in a sex club anyway?Like you need to ask?

“Oh no,” Rocky groused. “I don’t like that look.”

Felix tore his gaze away from his nemesis and focused on his partner. Rocky’s speech had resumed its regular cadence and tone, and his eyes glittered with their usual intelligence and mischief. Felix wouldn’t hand Rocky the keys to the Lincoln anytime soon, but he was confident his friend was back to firing on most cylinders.

“What look?” he asked innocently.

Felix glanced back at Jude, who’d recovered from his shock and was heading in their direction. Felix’s body tensed from head to toe, but he forced himself to melt back against the booth as if he had not a single care in the world other than getting laid.It has been a really long time.

“The one that says you’ve either spotted a ghost or a ghoulish human.” Rocky leaned forward. “Who is it? Spencer?”

Felix shook his head.

“Some kind of monster who’s about to kill us?”

Jude arrived at their table before Felix had a chance to respond. Rocky took his time raking his gaze upward until it landed on Jude’s face. Rocky smirked, then dismissed Jude with a negligent shrug.

“Yep. A ghoulish monster.”

Jude ignored the barb. “What are you doing here, Felix?”

Felix quirked a brow. “I’m pretty sure a hard-nosed, investigative reporter like yourself should be able to figure it out.”

Rocky tipped his head to the side. “I bet someone else does all the investigating, and pretty boy here just stands in front of the camera and takes all the credit.”

Felix looked from Rocky to Jude, curious to see how the blow had landed. Rocky’s intuition never failed to surprise Felix. He hadn’t even told his partner about Jude’s penchant for taking ideas and credit that hadn’t belonged to him. Guess Rocky was familiar with the type.

Jude showed no reaction at all; he just kept staring at Felix. After a pregnant pause, Jude shifted his attention toward Rocky. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”

“We haven’t,” Rocky said flatly and made no attempt to rectify the situation.

Jude extended his hand toward the PI anyway. “I’m Jude Arrow.”

Rocky ignored the civil gesture and clasped his hands over his heart instead. The PI batted his eyelashes like a true Southern belle.

Dial it down a notch, Scarlett.

“TheStraight Shooter?” Rocky asked breathlessly.