Page 77 of Pretty Poison

“Fiancé,” Felix corrected.

Rocky kicked Felix to shut him up. There was clearly a big problem with the relationship if Dandridge kept forgetting they were engaged, not to mention the shame eating they’d witnessed.

“Yeah,” Dandridge said. “I can’t go home with meat on my breath.”

Jesus. Rocky was suddenly glad Dandridge hadn’t brought his guy to dinner. “I have a spare toothbrush in the bathroom.”

“Yeah, okay,” Dandridge said, looking longingly at the chili before walking away. The trio of trouble stepped aside so he could head toward the bathroom.

“The second drawer on the left,” Rocky told him.

Dandridge held up a hand to acknowledge him but didn’t say anything.

“Poor guy,” Felix said. “He should be glad Marla didn’t witness this, or she’d be at his house first thing in the morning trying to fix his life too.”

“And a damn fine job I did with you ungrateful lot,” she said from the open sliding glass door. “Did I hear that some little lamb chop is in trouble?”

“Dandridge,” Felix said quickly, then looked at Rocky. “What? If I can throw your ass to the wolf, I surely wouldn’t hesitate to feed Gingersnap to her.”

“Wolf,” Marla said. “I like it. You boys clear out of here and leave that fine man to me.”

“Yes, ma’am,” they all replied.

“Not so fast,” Marla said, wrapping her wrist around Rocky’s bicep to stop him.

Felix and Jonah practically ran to evade capture. Rocky shook his head as he met her warm brown gaze. “Hi, Mama.”

“Hello, Pretty Boy. You look so much better. Are you okay?”

“Getting there.”

Marla studied him for a second and must’ve liked what she saw because she nodded. “Give me a kiss and get out.”

Rocky kissed her cheek before hustling out the back door. Asher met him at the bottom of the steps, and Rocky walked into his embrace.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“Yeah. We finally got a break on a new case.” Rocky kissed his lips. “Sorry it took me away from the party.” He wanted to point out that he’d noticed Asher silencing Duggins’s calls but didn’t want to get into it right now. It would ruin their perfect day.

“Don’t worry,” he said, nuzzling his nose against Rocky’s neck. “It’s starting to break up anyway. Soon I’ll get you all to myself.”

“You have to share me with the Roses,” Rocky reminded him. “We need to start season four, and it’s my favorite.”

Marla came out a few minutes later without Dandridge. “Sweet Kurt had to head home. He asked me to tell everyone goodbye for him.”

“Is he okay?” Asher asked.

“Time will tell,” Marla said.

Ugh. There was that damn phrase again.

As Asher said, their guests started heading home after their offer to help clean up was rebuffed. Rocky had loved their company, but like Asher, he was ready to hang with his man. And the Roses.

“Bring the ice cream,” Asher said as he started down the hallway.

“How do you have room for it?” Rocky countered.

“Fine,” Asher said. “We’ll share a pint instead of eating our own.”