Twisted Rock

by Jill Sanders

  “Rose. I think we’re at the point of using first names,” Rose chimed in.

  The chief nodded. “We don’t really do that, but I will start calling you Clayton if that’s okay?”

  She nodded and smiled.

  “Is Sawyer your last name?” Julie turned and asked Sawyer.

  “Yes, Royce Sawyer.”

  Julie nodded. “Royce.” She said the name and Rose mentally said it again as well. She liked it but still thought of him as Sawyer.

  “We’ll head down.” Sawyer opened the door and a blast of cold air hit the room. Then the men disappeared quickly.

  “When are the men going to put in the glass doors?” Julie asked.

  “Tomorrow, if all goes well. My contractor texted me early this morning. It’s why I woke up.”

  “Still can’t handle your wine?” Julie joked.

  “A glass, two maybe. But two bottles? No one can handle that much.” She pulled the pan of muffins from the oven and inhaled the wonderful scent.

  “Wimp,” Julie said under her breath.

  She glanced over her shoulder at her friend. “You weigh about ten pounds more than me…” she started with a smile.

  “Oh, we’re going there,” Julie jumped in, laughing.

  “No, it’s just…” She chuckled. “You live in the city and probably have drinks with people every night. I’ve been living here.” She motioned around after setting the pan down. “I’m lucky if I remember I have a wine closet.”

  “Bedroom,” Julie added.

  “Whatever.” She chuckled. “I’m not used to drinking that much.”

  Julie walked over and wrapped her arms around her. “That’s why I love you.”

  “Why?” She laughed. “Because you can drink me under the table?”

  “Yes, and you have the best muffins.” Julie squeezed Rose’s butt cheeks. Rose laughed and pushed her friend away playfully.

  The men walked in and stopped dead when they saw the women hugging.

  “At ease men. I was talking about Rose’s banana nut muffins.” Julie saluted and stepped away from Rose as Sawyer and the chief chuckled.

  “She’s trouble,” Rose added with a smile as she set a plate of muffins on the table. “I’ve made enough so you can take some back to the office.”

  Just then the doorbell rang again. “That’s Detective Anderson,” Sawyer said before disappearing again.

  “Wow, these are amazing,” the chief said, after sitting down and biting into a muffin.

  “Thank you,” she sat down and took a muffin for herself.

  Detective Anderson walked in behind Sawyer. “I’m going to take him downstairs,” Sawyer said before disappearing through the basement doorway.

  For the next hour, the detective and the chief went up and down the basement stairs many times. Pictures were taken, molds were made of the snow prints in the basement. She wanted to see the process but couldn’t stand to go into the basement again. Instead, she and Julie headed upstairs to her studio while Sawyer dealt with the basement matter.

  “This is some of your best work,” Julie said, as she stood over the artwork that Rose had chosen to show her. “But I know you, so I want to see the rest.” She nodded towards the wall that held the paintings Rose hadn’t chosen.

  “Go ahead.” She sat back while her friend went painting by painting.

  She was surprised as she pulled out a few pieces.

  “Wow,” Julie said, holding up a painting. “Yeah, smoldering and sexy.” She turned the piece around and Rose stared at Sawyer’s face.

  She smiled, remembering pulling out her paints for the first time since Isaac’s death. She walked over and took the painting from her friend and set it on the easel.

  “If it wasn’t for him, I would still be sleeping in front of the fireplace wearing sweats,” she said softly.

  Julie moved next to her silently. “You’d gotten that bad? I should have stayed longer.” Her friend wrapped an arm around her waist.

  Rose shook her head. “No, I needed to go through what I did in order to come out on the other side.”

  Her friend’s arms wrapped around her waist. “I’m only a call and an eight-hour drive away.”

  Rose chuckled. “Thanks,”

  That evening, Julie helped Rose cook dinner. Julie was in the mood for margaritas, so Rose cooked enchiladas.

  She made sure to add extra jalapenos and seasoning, making them spicy.

  After, instead of heading up to bed, Sawyer stuck around and enjoyed talking with them while they sat in front of the fire. They told him stories of how they met in college and how they had become best friends.

  Rose hadn’t laughed that hard in years.

  She’d met Julie at one of the first art showings she’d gone to in California. She’d walked in expecting one thing, but as she stood in front of the first piece of art, she had no idea what she was looking at.

  “I swear it was a V-J,” Julie blurted out.

  “That’s what you said when you stopped by me that night,” Rose added.

  “It was true. I had no idea the art show was sex-themed.” Julie laughed.

  “We’d never laughed so hard,” Rose added. “We both had been invited, but the flyer didn’t say anything about what kind of art show it was. So, we spent the night being embarrassed together and laughing hard.”

  “Then we ended up grabbing dinner after and that was that.” Julie smiled. “Friends ever since.”

  “What about you, Royce?” Julie turned to him. “How did you end up here? In Twisted Rock?”

  He glanced at Rose quickly before answering. “I lived in Cleveland most of my life and after a divorce, I needed a change of scenery.”

  “Understandable. Divorce sucks.” Julie said.

  “Yeah, Ann decided my best friend Nick was better suited to her lifestyle,” he answered.

  “Which was?” she asked.

  “Jet-setting to far-off places and spending every dime on fancy clothes and fast cars.”

  “Are you a penny pincher?” Julie asked, gaining a tap on her toe from Rose.

  “It’s none of—”

  Sawyer laughed. “No, but a cop’s salary isn’t much compared to the salary of one of the top cosmetic surgeons in Cleveland.”

  “Oh,” Julie said slowly. “Ouch,”

  “Yeah. It’s for the best.” Again, Sawyer’s eyes moved over to hers. “On that note.” He stood, and Rose heard him groan, then he stretched slightly and shifted his weight. “I’m heading up. I’ll let the dogs out, then check around before I head up to bed.”

  Rose frowned. “Check around?”

  “The chief thought it might be best if I had a look around each night. You know, make sure all the doors are locked.”

  Rose could tell he was trying to act nonchalant about it.

  She glanced over at Julie, who just shrugged. “I… I’m going to go…” Rose started.

  Julie nodded. “I’m heading up now. I’ve got to drive back tomorrow and need an early start.”

  Rose nodded, then followed Sawyer into the kitchen.

  “Is there a reason the chief is worried about securing the house each night?”

  He opened the back door and glanced back at her as both dogs took off outside. Tsuna darted out after Ozzy, assuring Rose that Sawyer’s training sessions earlier that day with her dog had helped.

  His green eyes met hers and he touched her shoulder. “Nothing for you to worry about.”

  “Sawyer.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “We haven’t known each other long, but I know you well enough to tell when you’re hiding something from me.”

  He sighed and leaned against the doorway. “The chief thinks that whoever came in through the basement might come back,” he answered.

  “Why? Why would someone come back?”

  Sawyer’s eyes held hers.

  “Me?” She was shocked. “Why would someone…” Her breath hitched, and her hands shook as she covered her heart. “You think
that someone, the same someone who killed Isaac and Willis, is after me now?”

  Sawyer shrugged. “The chief wants me to stick by you, which means I’m here until they find the murderer. Babysitting duty.” Her eyes narrowed as anger replaced fear. “I didn’t mean…” Sawyer started quickly, then sighed and ran his hands through his hair.

  But it was too late. She turned and marched from the room and took the back stairs two at a time. She felt like slamming the bedroom door but knew that Julie might already be in bed. After all, her friend had drunk three margaritas.

  She paced for a while. When she heard the dogs scratching at her door, she opened it for them. She hadn’t expected Sawyer to be standing there, his fist raised as if he was about to knock on her door. The dogs rushed past them and jumped into the dog bed. Seeing them circle around and curl up together was heartwarming.

  “I…” he started to say, but she moved to close the door. “Rose.” He stuck his foot in the door and held out his hand to stop the movement. “Give me a chance to explain.” She moved slightly, opening the door a crack.

  His eye brows rose. She sighed loudly and stood back then motioned for him to come in. She shut the door behind Sawyer and motioned for him to start talking.

  “I shouldn’t have said… It’s a term we use…” He sighed. “I’m sorry.”

  “I don’t need a babysitter,” she said clearly.

  “No, of course, you don’t.” He reached out to touch her. “I’m just… on edge.”

  “Why?” She felt the anger drain from her when she saw worry flash behind his eyes.

  “If something were to happen… to you.” He shook his head and closed his eyes.

  “Hey.” She touched his shoulders. “I’m right here.”

  His eyes opened and caught with hers. “I don’t think I could bear it if something happened to you.” He reached up and touched her face. “I’m falling for you,” he said softly. His fingers cupped her face as he brought his lips down to hers. “Don’t make me worry about you further. Let me protect you.”

  She nodded and swallowed. “Yes, of course.” She reached up on her toes and kissed him and was pleased when he took the kiss deeper.

  He surprised her by quickly picking her up in his arms. She heard him groan with pain, but he shook his head quickly, signaling that he was okay. “This time, there’s no stopping,” he said against her skin.

  “No.” She smiled. “Stay with me, tonight.”

  He laid her down gently on the bed, then reached for her. She sat up and unbuttoned his shirt, running her nails over his skin. She avoided the bruised areas and focused only on his pleasure and hers. Her mouth moved over his skin as his moved over her neck. He pulled the sweater over her head and groaned when he realized she hadn’t put on a bra that evening. Then he dipped his head and licked circles around each of her breasts.

  Pulling back, his eyes ran over her, taking in everything about her as hers did to him. He started to tug her leggings off her legs and she helped him. He sighed with pleasure when he noticed she wasn’t wearing anything underneath those either. His eyes heated her skin, and she felt on the verge of exploding.

  When she reached for his jeans, he covered her hand and stood up to quickly tug them down himself. Then he was back beside her and their mouths joined again as their skin pressed together, everywhere.

  “There. Drawer,” she said breathless, as she pointed to the nightstand. “Condom.”

  He quickly pulled out a package, then was back next to her, raining kisses over her as he opened it.

  When he settled between her legs, she quaked with want and didn’t think she could hold off. Her body ached for him, from the nights she’d spent dreaming of him, just like this.

  Having Sawyer inside her, over her, filling her, she realized she’d never been truly pleased before. She’d never felt as much as she felt with him and when they joined together and fell at the same time, she knew exactly what she’d been missing her entire life.

  Seventeen

  The plot thickens…

  For the next couple days, Sawyer took it easy and recovered, but the evenings he and Rose spent locked in each other’s arms, tangled together in the best sex of his life.

  The construction crew had finished installing the large glass doors in the basement and the new high-tech cameras and had even repaired the gate at the end of the driveway, so now the house was very secure.

  Even now, however, he was still concerned that someone was after Rose and remained on guard as much as possible.

  He even went with her into town to deal with her daily chores. Taking Tsuna to the vet to get her nails clipped or shopping for groceries, he never left her side.

  They ate at a small restaurant in town and he realized everyone he knew had known her for longer. People she’d gone to school with stopped and talked to her about Isaac or the murder of Willis on her property.

  He expected that most people thought that he was only there for Rose’s safety, since the chief had spread it around town that Rose was under police protection twenty-four seven. The chief had told him that getting that information out would help keep Rose safe. It also gave them some cover, so they didn’t have to explain to anyone about their relationship.

  The chief’s first inclination had been to stick extra cameras and triple protection on Rose, then spread the rumor that she was staying at the house by herself. Sawyer had knocked that idea down quickly. He was not okay with using Rose as bait and, in the end, the chief had agreed with him.

  They went an entire week without an incident, then the chief called with some news he wanted to break firsthand.

  They waited for him to show up as they speculated what it could be. Rose hoped it was to tell them that they had caught Isaac and Willis’s killer, but Sawyer was sure he would have heard something first if that was the case. Besides, something was just feeling off lately.

  When the chief rang the doorbell, they answered it together.

  “Well?” Rose said as soon as she shut the front door. “What’s the news?”

  “How about you sit?” The look on Rose’s face told him that she wasn’t going to wait. “Okay, stand then. We’ve arrested your father-in-law.”

  “For…?” Her hand went to her throat.

  “Not for the murders, but for a slew of other things including racketeering, bribery, extortion, misappropriation, and even tax fraud.”

  “What?” Rose walked away from the entrance and sat in the chair closest to the fireplace. The chief and Sawyer followed her into the room.

  “The proof was all there, in Isaac’s files, the ones we took from his office, here.” Deter nodded towards the office across the hallway.

  “Isaac?” she asked.

  “From what we can tell, your husband had nothing to do with any of it. There were several communications between father and son where Isaac urged his father to stop the illegal activities. According to the string of lawyers going through all of the evidence, your husband’s accounts were all on the up-and-up. His company, however, for now, is shut down.”

  Rose relaxed slightly. “What will happen to Sean?”

  “His license to practice law in New York has been suspended. He’ll be tried, and if convicted, he could face disciplinary action including jail time. The federal courts have seized all his assets in the process as well.”

  Rose leaned back and closed her eyes. “What a mess.”

  “This opens another door into the possibility that Sean Clayton had something to do with Isaac’s murder. If we can find proof that Isaac threatened to go public with his knowledge of his father’s illegal activities, there’s a possibility that a man in your father-in-law’s position would do anything to keep his secrets.”

  “But… kill his own son?” Rose asked.

  “It’s happened before,” Deter said. “I’ll let you know when we know anything further. We have a lot more data to go through. Mr. Clayton’s flight records are now in our possession along with his tr
avel itineraries. If we can prove that he was the one flying your husband’s plane that day… then we’ve got him.”

  “What about Willis? Why would he want to kill a construction worker?” Rose asked.

  “He could be covering his tracks. According to RJ, Willis was the first man on site the day they poured the cement and he was the one handling the cement pump.”

  They were walking Deter to the front door when Sawyer finally got a moment alone with him.

  “What about Kristy Owens?” he asked.

  “What about her?” Deter turned towards him.

  “You mentioned there were issues with her flight?”

  “Oh.” He took a deep breath. “Yeah, apparently, she lied to us. She told us she was flying out on a private plane, so we followed her, thinking we were going to the small airport. Instead, she had booked a commercial flight out of Buffalo.” He groaned. “We had to follow her all the way up to damn Buffalo.”

  Sawyer chuckled. “I told you that woman was trouble.”

  “And then some. She demanded that you be the one to drive her. After arguing with her that you were off for medical issues, she finally agreed to drive herself.”

  “Thankfully the town is getting back to normal.”

  “Yeah, Twisted Rock had its five minutes of fame, I suppose.” He settled his hat back on his head. “Until we get confirmation, do you mind sticking around here longer?”

  Sawyer smiled. “No,”

  “Yeah, I didn’t think so.” Deter winked. “Don’t forget, you’re still on the job. Well, at least until the doc clears you for active duty again.”

  “Right.” He nodded and leaned against the front door as he watched the chief drive away in the snow. When the car was gone, he motioned for the dogs to head out and do their business. Both dogs had taken to the hand commands quickly. Tsuna was over her fear of snow and rushed out after Ozzy.

  “You’re amazing with the animals,” Rose said as she came up behind him.

  “She just needed a little coercing. Besides, Ozzy showed her the ropes, mostly.” He wrapped his arm around her as they watched the dogs playing in the falling snow. “Do you think your father-in-law had anything to do with the murders?” he asked once the dogs were back inside. He had just laid another log on the fire and turned to study her as she thought about it.