Asher checked Rocky’s waistband for hidden weapons before examining his front pockets. His fingertips nearly grazed the head of Rocky’s dick before he pulled his hands free. “Well, they look surprisingly good with your complexion.”
“Are you a federal marshal or the fashion police?” he asked.
Asher chuckled as he dropped his arms and stepped back. “I was just making conversation. I didn’t realize it was such a sensitive topic.”
“You’re just being an ass.”
“Is that how you treat everyone you ask for a favor?” Though Asher had put some space between them, it wasn’t enough. Rocky could still feel the heat rolling off his much bigger body. “Turn around,” Asher instructed before Rocky could respond.
Rocky pivoted around but didn’t lift his head to meet his husband’s gaze.
“Look at me,” Asher said firmly.
Rocky took a deep breath and raised his head on the exhale. Asher’s dark brown eyes glittered with conflicting emotions.
“It’s good to see you, Ford.”
Rocky could only manage a nod before Asher slapped a handcuff on his right wrist, then the left. The metal clicks felt ominous, but he didn’t have time to dissect it because Asher led him around to the rear passenger door behind the driver’s seat. He risked a glance toward Gingersnap and nearly laughed when he saw the man squatting down next to Snickerdoodle, giving the dog belly rubs.
Asher got in the front passenger seat and turned so he could make eye contact with Rocky. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”
“Why are you here?” Rocky asked.
“Dandridge and I were assisting SPD with an outstanding warrant.”
Rocky shook his head. “I wasn’t asking what you were doing on this street. I want to know why you’re in Savannah.”
“I think we already talked about this on the dock behind the Spencers’ house.”
“We did no such thing,” Rocky replied. “You insulted my friends and me, then avoided answering my questions. So, I will ask you thrice. What are you doing here?”
Asher snorted. “Thrice?”
Rocky rolled his eyes. “It’s a Schitt’s Creek reference.”
“A what?”
Rocky growled his frustration. “Answer the damn question.”
“You’re so fucking cute, Ford.”
“Shut up.”
“And I didn’t insult you or your friends,” Asher countered.
“You called us meddlesome idiots.”
Asher nodded. “I only spoke the truth.”
Rocky balled his hands into fists on his lap. “Maybe you should’ve handcuffed my hands behind my back. I can still reach you.”
Asher’s lips curved into a dangerous smile. “You’re welcome to try, baby.”
“Still evading my question, I see.”
“I’m not trying to be coy. You want answers I can’t give.”
Rocky narrowed his eyes. “I specifically asked you if the transfer Spencer mentioned was permanent or temporary. You responded with ‘time will tell’ before the goon squad called you away. If that’s not coy, I don’t know what is.”
“Goon squad?” Asher’s big shoulders shook with laughter. “Wait until they hear your nickname for them.” He checked on Dandridge’s progress with Snickerdoodle’s dad, then returned his gaze to Rocky. “I think us running into one another is fortuitous.”
“Speak for yourself,” Rocky grumbled.
Asher ignored him and kept talking. “I helped you out, and now you can return the favor.”
“I’m fresh out of them.”
“Fine,” Asher said, reaching for Rocky’s bound wrists. “Let me just release the cuffs so you can step out of the vehicle and explain to Snickerdoodle’s owner why you were peering into people’s windows.” Asher grinned because he knew he had Rocky exactly where he wanted him.
“Fine, but I’m not sucking your dick.”
Asher held Rocky’s gaze in a silent standoff like two gunslingers waiting for the clock to strike twelve. They both knew it wouldn’t take much for Rocky to eat his words.
“What do you want?” Rocky asked, breaking the silence.
He checked his partner’s status once more, then shook his head. “Dandridge is coming back. We can talk about it later.”
“How much later?”
“You have someplace you need to be?” Asher asked.
Fuck. During the excitement, Rocky had forgotten all about his therapy appointment. He checked his watch and was relieved when he saw that he would only be a few minutes late if he could get on the road soon. “Um, yeah.”
“Dressed like that?”
“Well, I hadn’t planned on Snickerdoodle ripping my jeans off.”
“What time do you think you’ll be home?”
“Six.”
Rocky started to push Asher for more details, but Dandridge opened the door and climbed into the SUV.
After quick introductions, Dandridge asked Asher what they were doing with Rocky.
“We’ll drop him off at his car,” Asher said.
Rocky told Gingersnap where he’d parked. The marshal shifted the SUV into drive and said, “Mr. Sexton has made some serious accusations against you.”
“Like what?”
“He claimed you were prowling around his neighbor’s house and peeping into windows,” Dandridge said.
“Bullshit. I was following up on a letter I’d sent to Mr. Sexton’s neighbor regarding an investigation.”
“Fair enough,” Dandridge said, “but it doesn’t explain why this man caught you peering into the neighbor’s first-floor window. Are you going to deny it happened?”
“Nope,” Rocky said, shaking his head. “I heard a weird noise and decided to investigate.”
“Define this weird noise,” Asher said.
“It sounded like metal scraping against concrete. It’s like nails on a chalkboard.” Rocky shivered dramatically. “At first, I didn’t think anything of it because the house is clearly undergoing a major overhaul. But there were no construction vehicles or workers on site.”
“Mr. Sexton said they didn’t show up today,” Dandridge added. “He said it was the first day in weeks where there wasn’t constant noise coming from his neighbor’s house. When Snickerdoodle started barking, he assumed you were part of the crew until he saw you creeping along the side of the house and peeking through windows. That’s when he opened the door and unleashed the dog.”
“Hellhound,” Rocky countered.
“What kind of case are you pursuing?” Asher asked.
“I’m not obligated to divulge that information to you.”
Asher smirked. “Fine. You can have your secrets for now.”
“My car is just up ahead on the right.”
Dandridge pulled to a stop next to it. Asher got out of the passenger seat and opened Rocky’s door, then released the cuffs around his wrists once he stepped out.
“I’ll be over around six,” Asher said as he started to get back in the SUV.
“Wait. What?” Rocky asked.