Keeping a new love secret is exciting, but difficult. Like all new lovers, Rosco and Luke couldn't resist kissing and touching. They were well aware of the looks they got, when they found excuses to hide around corners and in shadows. Fortunately, they found a few places, where they could be completely alone, like the Duke's barn...and Rosco's office.

Luke was glad Rosco's office at the courthouse had a sturdy lock on it. He settled onto Rosco's lap, pulling the sheriff into a deep, illicit kiss. Rosco responded eagerly. They'd barely seen each other the day before. He was looking forward to a solid hour alone with Luke. Unfortunately, Rosco wasn't used to locking his door during the day, yet. The door swung open, startling the lovers and freezing them in place.

"What do you two think you're doing?" Boss demanded, scandalized, from the doorway. "Rosco! Get away from that criminal!"

Rosco glanced from Luke to Boss and back, his eyes wide and worried. Luke gave his lover a comforting squeeze, before standing up and approaching Boss Hogg.

"Boss. You need to calm down," Luke said evenly.

"I don't need to do nothing, Duke boy!" Boss snapped, angrily, waving his cigar in Luke's face. "That's my sheriff and brother-in-law and, if he knows what's good for him..."

"He knows that better than you do," Luke interrupted, impatient. "You don't control his personal life."

"Oh, don't I?" Boss asked, scoffing. "Well, I say..."

"I don't care what you say," Luke told him. "I care about Rosco. I love him and I'm tired of watching him writhe on your hook!"

Rosco watched, nervously, shifting a bit with indecision. Part of him was worried and thought he should interfere and defend Boss. On the other hand, no one had ever stood up for Rosco like this before and he was grateful for it. It didn't seem right to interrupt. Also, it was funny watching Boss' face turn colors!

"He ain't on no hook!" Boss said, indignant and mocking. "He ain't got much sense, but he's got enough to do what he's told!"

Shame and anger flooded Luke's gut with fire. A month ago, he'd have mocked Rosco for being Boss' bird dog. Now, he just felt protective.

"Don't insult him to me, Boss," Luke ordered quietly. "I ain't gonna listen to you trash talk him. You do and you're risking a black eye or two."

Boss stared hard, shocked at Luke's anger. He edged back a bit.

"Rosco, he's threatening me! Do something!" Boss said, unable to keep fear out of his voice.

"I can't hardly fight my lover, Boss. That wouldn't be right."

"Wouldn't be right?!" Boss protested.

"Boss," Luke interrupted, impatiently. "You just be civil and we won't have a problem."

"Wellll. Here's a switch," Boss drawled, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "I suppose your family's got no issue with you dating the local law?"

"They're okay, so long as I don't try and coax him into a uniform."

"I'll wear a uniform for you, Rosco," Luke offered, teasing, then winked. "Only in private, though."

Rosco blushed, giving a helpless laugh, that sounded embarrassingly like a giggle. Boss rolled his eyes, considering just leaving.

"Rosco, I ain't gonna say anything more," Boss said sternly. "You just better make sure this...fling don't interfere with your work!"

"This ain't a fling and it won't," Rosco retorted, then added coolly, "so long as that work don't involve conning people and trying to put the Dukes in jail."

"You're going honest again?" Boss cried in dismay. "Rosco, you do that and I'll fire you AND divorce your fat sister!"

"Really?" Luke asked, unimpressed. "Well, I guess me and Rosco better go and let her know to start packing."

Rosco and Boss both turned stunned gazes on him.

"Well, if you're gonna do that, I'd rather have it broke to her gently," Luke reasoned. "It'll be hard enough on her, without you telling her in a dudgeon."

Boss turned on Rosco, who just frowned, keeping quiet. He figured Luke was up to something and the boy really was clever. Maybe he thought Boss wouldn't do it? Rosco had his own doubts about that, but he'd never wanted to risk hurting Lulu. He knew Boss really would fire him. He'd done it before. Of course, that one time, Boss had been hurt, thinking Rosco had betrayed him. Then again, there was the robot sheriff incident...

"Of course, she may turn the tables and divorce you, when she learns how you're treating Rosco," Luke added, fighting not to smile.

"Now, wait just a second!" Boss cried, realizing the Duke boy was perfectly capable of doing what he threatened. "Let's not be hasty."

"Nah, I wouldn't want to do that," Luke agreed. "I figure even an honest sheriff has to be better than the clowns you hired, whenever Rosco has gone out of town. Right?"

"Yeah, yeah," Boss agreed, hastily. "They were horrible. Rosco's the best sheriff around. Y-you know I wouldn't do him no harm."

"I hope not," Luke said coldly. "You have fired him before. I can't imagine Lulu was very happy about that."

Boss shuddered dramatically.

"She wasn't," he admitted. "All right, all right! I won't do none of that, but he won't be getting any cuts of my money, either!"

Rosco grimaced, but nodded. He'd expected that. After all, if he wasn't doing Boss' work, then he couldn't take Boss' money. Had it ever been worth it? Even with the illegal cuts, he barely made ends meet.

"You just let me and Rosco worry about that," Luke told Boss.

"You do that," Boss agreed, walking away.

As soon as Boss cleared the doorway, Luke shut the door and locked it. He turned back to Rosco, who smiled sheepishly.

"I'm sorry, Luke. I should've remembered to lock the door."

Luke shrugged, with a grin.

"It's okay. We had to have that talk sooner or later," Luke said, perching on Rosco's desk, in front of him.

"Yeah, just...please, don't hit Boss," Rosco pleaded. "I know he riles ya, but he could throw you in jail for that and I'd have to do it."

"I won't," Luke promised, reluctantly, then gave a wicked grin. "Though, that could be a lot of fun, too."

Rosco blinked a bit, then his jaw dropped.

"Lukas K. Duke, we ain't having sex in my jails!"

"Why not?" Luke asked, chuckling.

"Well, we'd get caught for one," Rosco said shortly. "And them bunks are dang uncomfortable."

"Yeah, but it'd be a good time for me to try on that uniform for you," Luke coaxed.

"I think you're getting our roles mixed up," Rosco said, dryly, pulling Luke back onto his lap and squeezing his ass. "You're the naughty one."

"Uh huh," Luke agreed, waggling his eyebrows, while grabbing Rosco's tie and pulling him into a kiss.

Rosco moaned as the taste of Luke's mouth poured over his lips and onto his tongue. Money be damned. He was an honest cop again and had a lapful of his favorite Duke. He'd never been happier.