Page 82 of Pretty Poison
Rocky’s pulse sped up in response, but he focused on the rhythm of his breathing. Nice and steady. “I did. Even though Duggins hated my guts, I thought he had your best interest at heart.”
“Clearly, he didn’t.” Asher looked so betrayed; it broke Rocky’s heart.
“Are you sure there’s no truth to it? Could Duggins have overheard something? Would Bradshaw have confided in him?”
“No fucking way,” Asher growled. “How could I have been so fucking stupid?”
“Hey,” Rocky said, “neither one of us is stupid. We got played by a liar and a manipulator who took advantage of a bad situation. Duggins had one thing on his mind, well, maybe two. He wanted to get rid of me to have a chance at you.”
A guilty expression washed over Asher’s face, and he turned his head to break eye contact.
Breathing suddenly got harder as if a boa constrictor had wrapped itself around Rocky’s chest. He inhaled deeply to prove to his brain that he wasn’t suffocating, then released it slowly. He repeated it a few more times until the tightness eased up.
“But you knew this already,” Rocky prodded. “When I left Vegas, you were still oblivious to Duggins’s feelings for you. When did that change?”
Asher met his gaze again. “He came on to me during my going-away party. Duggins leaned in to kiss me, and I jerked my head away. He’d tried to blame it on the alcohol, but I’d seen him drunk enough to recognize the difference.” Asher rubbed his eyes for a second before reaching for Rocky’s hands. “I swear to you, I never knew Duggins was into me like that. He was out at work but never flirted or indicated he was attracted to me.”
“Would it have made a difference?” Rocky asked. “Would Duggins have been your first male lover instead of me?”
Asher shook his head. “No. Even if he hadn’t been my partner, I only felt friendship for Duggins.” He took a deep breath. “Things have been strained between us ever since I rejected him.”
“It didn’t sound like it when you talked to him on your first night here,” Rocky said. He’d tried to keep the bitterness from his voice but failed miserably. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m the one who’s sorry.” Asher blew out a deep breath. “Is Karen’s couch big enough for both of us?”
Rocky chuckled. “Probably.”
“With thousands of miles separating Duggins and me, I attempted to get our friendship back on track. Chances are good that I’ll have to work with him again someday. I didn’t bring up the botched kiss and kept our conversation to neutral topics.” Asher shook his head. “Things seemed better between us, and I started to think maybe Duggins had been drunk when he tried to kiss me.”
“But then,” Rocky prodded.
“Duggins started probing into our relationship. Subtle things at first,” Asher added. “I figured evading his questions would only spark more interest, so I kept my answers vague.”
“I’m guessing your method didn’t work because now you’re avoiding his calls altogether.”
Asher cringed. “He went too far.”
“Do I even want to know?” Rocky asked.
“Duggins somehow got ahold of Dandridge’s number and called him in the guise of a friend looking out for another. He wanted to be sure my new partner had my back and knew the score.”
Rocky stiffened. The fuse he thought he’d extinguished burned closer and closer to the dynamite. “You mean Duggins bared my personal business.” Rocky stood up suddenly and fisted his hands in his hair. “Fuck.”
“Ford, I’m sorry,” Asher said as he stood up. “I know this might not help, but Dandridge was furious on your behalf. He told Duggins to lose his number.”
Rocky jerked away from Asher’s touch. “Which part did Dandridge pity most? That I’d watched a woman gun down her husband and sister-in-law after I unwittingly led her to them? Or that—” His voice broke, and tears streamed down his face. Rocky couldn’t voice his worst fear. Had Duggins told Dandridge Rocky couldn’t pleasure Asher because his brain was so fucked up?
Asher snagged his wrists and tugged Rocky back into his arms. “Don’t pull away from me, baby,” Asher said. “Scream, rage, and throw things if you need to, but please don’t shut me out again.”
“I used to pity Duggins because I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to watch you fall in love with someone else,” Rocky said, fisting his hands in Asher’s shirt. “I fucking hate him now.”
“I’m so sorry, Ford. I’ll make this right somehow.”
How could Asher fix this? “Savannah was my safe place.”
Asher kissed his forehead. “It still is. Don’t let Duggins undo the progress you’ve made. We’re going to have the life we always talked about. Right here in your safe place.” He pointed out the window and said, “Our kids will play under that magnolia tree with Fifi by their side.” Asher’s words created a striking piece of art to rival his mother’s watercolor paintings. “I’ll deal with Duggins.”
“By ignoring his calls and hoping he gives up?”