Page 110 of Pretty Poison

“I really want to wear yours too.”

“And?”

“Yes, I will marry you again,” Asher said. “And again. And Again. For however many times it takes.”

“One more time will do the trick.”

“I’m going to sing my vows.”

Rocky groaned. “No. I’ve heard you sing. It’s not pretty.”

Ignoring him, Asher rattled off various songs from any and all genres he could choose from to represent the epic love he had for Rocky. The lyrics ranged from the sweet to the ridiculous. Rocky nixed them all.

“Can we do one of those cool first dances?”

Rocky snorted. “You’re smooth in the sack, but you can’t dance for shit.”

“Can’t sing. Can’t dance. I’m not exactly sure why you’d want to marry me all over again.”

“For the fucking stew, of course.”

“Of course,” Asher agreed.

The Dive Bar parking lot was packed to the brim when they arrived, even though they were twenty minutes early. Asher found a spot in the lot for an adjacent business that was closed for the day.

“It looks like all of Savannah showed up tonight,” Rocky said as he took Asher’s hand.

“Marla will soak it up like a sponge.”

“As she should,” Rocky said. His cell phone rang before they reached the door to the bar and he pulled it from his pocket to see who was calling.

“Something important?” Asher asked.

“Not sure. I don’t recognize the number,” Rocky replied before answering. “Rocky Jacobs.”

“Mr. Jacobs, it’s Tess Hamilton.”

He pulled up short and Asher stopped too. Tess was the last person Rocky expected to be on the other end. He mouthed her name and Asher nodded. “Hello, Mrs. Hamilton. How was your vacation?”

“It was lovely, dear. Please call me Tess.”

“What can I do for you, Tess?”

“When Grant picked me up from the airport, he informed me that you won’t be continuing your investigation. I just wanted a chance to say thank you.”

“For what? I wasn’t very helpful.” Rocky still struggled with his decision on occasion, but his conscience was clear.

“I think we both know that’s not true, Mr. Jacobs.”

“Rocky,” he told her.

“Okay, Rocky. You believed in me when not many others did. That’s not all, but we’ll let the other things remain unspoken.”

“You’re welcome, Tess. I wish your family the best.”

“Likewise, my dear. Take care.”

“What was that all about?” Asher asked after Rocky pocketed the phone.