by Jill Sanders
“I like the sound of that. Home.” He sighed. “We need to talk about what’s going to happen after I feel better.” He rested his forehead against hers. “At least until this thing is over, I was thinking of staying put.” His eyes met hers and when she smiled, he relaxed.
“I’d like that.” She kissed him again. “Go, play cop.”
He hated getting in the elevator and leaving her but trusted that Hunter would keep an eye on her. He stopped by her stepbrother’s room and knocked before leaving.
Hunter answered in a towel still wet from the shower.
“Hey.” He leaned against the door.
“I’m heading out to see what I can learn from the flower shop. You’ve got your eyes on Rose today?”
“Sure thing.” He smiled. “We’re doing breakfast then shopping.”
“We’ll meet for lunch around one at the café she mentioned.” He glanced at his phone. “Let me know if you think anything is off or if your plans change.”
“Will do.” Hunter saluted him with a smile. “Keep us posted, will you?”
“Sure.” He turned to go.
“Sawyer,” Hunter called, and he turned back around. “We’ll have a chat about you and Rose soon.” Sawyer’s stomach dropped, but he nodded to the man and left.
So much for personal life being private, he thought as he stepped out onto the sidewalk. The snow was coming down even faster and it took him almost an hour to get to the flower shop that was supposed to be less than half an hour from the hotel.
After wasting almost an hour talking to the manager and waiting for the owner to show up, he realized that the reason the man who’d sent the flowers to Rose had chosen that flower shop was because it was stuck in the early eighties. They didn’t have a security system, which meant there were no cameras in the place. He even went to the store across the street and the one next door. It appeared that the entire block was a black-out zone without any cameras or security. The closest camera was at the ATM on the corner. Still, he took down the information and figured he could have Carson contact the bank. He sent his partner the information and made his way over to the tux shop.
He arrived almost ten minutes late for the appointment that Julie had set up for him. He thought moving was hard with his bruised body but standing still for almost a full hour was absolute hell.
His muscles screamed at him and he felt a bead of sweat roll down his back as the man took his measurements. Still, he was thankful when he walked out of the store with half an hour to spare.
He thought about what Rose had said, how Isaac used to surprise her with gifts all the time. He had to admit, part of him felt guilty for not getting her anything for the event tonight. So, as he made his way down the street, he stopped in a small jewelry store.
A silver bracelet caught his eye and, after talking to the clerk, he realized how perfect it was for Rose. The silver chain had room for several small charms and he could pick them from hundreds of choices. He chose five charms: a light pink rose with a Swarovski gemstone in the middle, a silver paintbrush, a silver artist’s palette, a charm with an R for Rose, and then a clear Swarovski crystal in the shape of a heart.
The bracelet wasn’t as expensive as something Isaac would have bought her, but still, it showed her exactly what he thought of her and he hoped she would enjoy it for what it was—his feelings for her expressed on her wrist.
He stuck the box in his pocket and was just leaving the store when the television screen caught his eyes.
Seeing Rose’s face on the screen caused his heart to jump. He watched what was happening to her in horror. He pulled out his phone and called her, and when his call went to her voicemail, he tried Hunter’s number.
“Hey,” Hunter answered on the first ring.
“Is Rose with you?” he asked.
“I just left her in the shoe section of the store while I ran to buy some cufflinks.”
“Where are you?” Sawyer asked quickly.
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“Kristy Owens. It’s all over the news.”
“What is?” Hunter asked.
“They’re face to face and it looks like Kristy is getting the better of Rose,” Sawyer said, starting to run down the street now.
“Damn it, I’m rushing back to where I saw her last.” He could hear Hunter running.
“Where are you?” he asked again.
“The mall, just across the street from where we were meeting for lunch.” Hunter was breathing heavy. “Damn it, there’s paparazzi everywhere over here.”
“I’m a few minutes out,” he said. “Call me when you have her.”
“Okay,” Hunter said before hanging up.
Sawyer ran as fast as he could towards the end of the street.
When he reached the outside of the mall, his phone rang.
“We’re out of there. Meet us back at the hotel,” Hunter said.
“I’m just outside the mall,” Sawyer said.
“We’re already a block away. I had to get her out of there.” Hunter sounded pissed. “They had her cornered.” Sawyer could hear Rose crying and it broke him that he wasn’t there for her.
“I’ll meet you in her room. Take her straight up,” Sawyer added.
“Okay, see you there.” Hunter hung up again.
Damn it, Sawyer thought, he should have been there with her, to protect her. Julie had told them last night that the news of Rose coming into town was all over. He should have guessed that Kristy Owens would have played her next hand in such a manner. After all, reality TV was popular and what’s more exciting than a mistress confronting the wife of her murdered lover?
His phone chimed with a message from Hunter.
-Made it safe to her room.
He was surprised to see a crowd gathering in front of the hotel. Paparazzi was everywhere and when they noticed him, the cameras turned in his direction as questions were yelled at him.
“Officer Sawyer, what are you doing in New York?”
“What is the Twisted Rock Police doing in New York?”
“Did you follow Rose Clayton to New York to protect her or arrest her?”
Without answering any of the questions, he stormed past everyone and didn’t stop until he was in the elevator alone. He tapped his hand impatiently against his leg as he was slowly taken up to the top floor. The doors opened, and he banged on Rose’s door. Hunter opened it and he marched past the man to take Rose into his arms. Seeing the lost and hurt look in her eyes made him want to punch something or someone. She held onto him and cried so hard that her body went lax when he wrapped his arms around her.
He turned while holding her and asked Hunter, “What happened?”
“From what I can tell, they, the paparazzi, jumped and swarmed her. That woman…”
“Kristy Owens,” he supplied, and Hunter nodded.
“She was nowhere to be found by the time I got there. Rose was backed into a corner as the damn paparazzi took pictures and yelled questions at her,” Hunter growled out. “I should have been there.”
“We both fell down on the job,” Sawyer said.
“I have to move,” he said, pacing the floor. “I’ll go get us some food downstairs.” Hunter stormed out of the room.
“Are you okay?” he asked Rose when they were alone. He gently picked her up and carried her into her bedroom and sat with her on the edge of the bed.
“It was awful,” she said against his chest. “That woman… The things she said.”
“Did she touch you?” he asked.
Rose looked up at him. “N-no.” She shook her head. “I don’t think so. Why?”
“You could have her arrested for assault if she pushed you,” he suggested.
“No, she didn’t touch me.” Rose shook her head slightly.
“But she backed you into a corner?”
“Everyone… the paparazzi did. She approached me and accused me of killing Isaac. She said that I’d never loved him like she did and that he only t
olerated me because… he felt sorry for me.” Her eyes closed, and his heart broke seeing her pain. “She said that he was going to leave me, that he was tired of being around me. She laughed and said that he had no plans of having kids with me and that he was going to tell me the night he disappeared.”
“Hey.” He brushed her hair out of her face. “She’s an actress. She’ll say anything to further her cause and to hurt you.” He pulled her close again. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
She nodded against his chest and wiped her eyes with her coat sleeve. “Hunter saved me.” She sighed. “I should have known better than to go shopping today.” She looked up at him, then gasped slightly. “You don’t think… that sort of thing will happen tonight? That she’ll be there?”
“I’ll make sure it doesn’t.” He pulled out his phone to call Julie as Rose watched him. When she answered, he stepped out onto the balcony.
“I saw it on television. I’ve been trying to call Rose. Is she okay?” Julie asked.
“Yes, for now. We need to know that Owens won’t be allowed in tonight.”
“Of course not. I’ve already talked to security and told them that she’s not allowed. I may be playing off the publicity, but I love Rose and would never do that to her.”
“Good, what about the paparazzi?” he asked.
Julie sighed. “Well, that’s a little different. I can’t keep everyone with a camera out tonight, but I have a list of some of the worst offenders and I’ll make sure they stay out.”
“I’ll want to talk to your security firm beforehand,” he added.
“Sure, I’ll forward their contact information and tell them you’ll be calling them.”
“Thanks.” He started to hang up.
“Tell her I’m sorry,” Julie added. “I never expected…” She sighed. “Tell her I’m sorry.”
“Will do. We’ll see you in a few hours.”
“Okay.” Julie hung up and he stepped back inside out of the cold.
While he was on the phone with Julie, Hunter had walked in followed by a woman with a cart of food. Now Rose and Hunter were sitting around the dining table.
“Is everything okay?” Hunter asked.
“Yes, security is all arranged for tonight.” He took Rose’s hand. “I won’t take my eyes off you.”
“Neither will I,” Hunter added quickly.
Rose smiled. “How can a girl go wrong with you two as protection?”
“Eat, then you can rest before the show,” Sawyer suggested.
He could tell that the ordeal had worn Rose out. After finishing off her burger, she disappeared into her bedroom.
“What’s the plan?” Hunter asked once they were alone.
“Plan?” Sawyer asked. “To have one of us within a foot of her all night long. That’s about it.”
“What if something like that happens again?” he asked.
“Then we get Rose out of there like you did today.” He slapped the man on the shoulder. “Great job by the way.”
Hunter’s shoulders lifted, and he smiled bigger. “Thanks.” His smile fell quickly. “I shouldn’t have left her. I had forgotten my cufflinks and thought I could just…” He sighed and shook his head.
“Hey, I wasn’t even there. I had my own errands to run.” Sawyer leaned back in the chair.
“What are the police doing about finding Isaac’s killer?” Hunter asked.
Sawyer’s eyes searched Hunter’s and seeing only concern, he gave him a vague answer that gave him more information than he would have given anyone else. “We’re working hard on it. We have our suspects.”
“I take it from all the questions on the way up here that I’m one of them?” he asked.
Sawyer nodded slowly. “Along with a few others.”
“Kristy Owens and Sean Clayton?” Hunter asked.
“Yes, on both accounts,” Sawyer answered.
“Sean’s out, waiting on his trial.” Hunter sighed.
“Yeah, I’d heard.” Sawyer felt his stomach roll at the possibility he was behind his son’s murder and the thought that the man might get away with everything he’d done.
Sawyer could only remember a few things about his own father, but the man had been nothing but kind before cancer had taken him before his thirtieth birthday.
Hunter sighed. “After that stunt today, I’m putting all my money on Kristy Owens. That was a nasty situation, and from what everyone is saying, it was all her doing.”
“Have you seen the video?” He nodded to the television, which was turned off.
“No, I don’t think I could stomach it.” Hunter glanced at the set.
Sawyer walked over and flipped on the screen, making sure to lower the volume to where he had to stand in front of it to hear anything.
Hunter walked over and stood next to him as he flipped through the stations until he found one of them playing the video.
The scene started outside the store. Owens was smiling into the camera, giving an obviously staged interview. Then someone zooms past her shoulder and calls out to Rose. Suddenly, Owens was next to Rose.
“Why don’t you save us all some time and confess to murdering Isaac, the love of my life,” Owens said, standing a foot away from Rose.
Cameras were turned onto Rose, who already was looking as if she’d been blindsided. Rose’s eyes scanned the room, seeking help from any source.
“You know he was leaving you that weekend.” Owens chuckled. “He told me you wanted a child.” She laughed harder. “Like he would ever want a child with you when he has one with me,” Owens sneered. “He couldn’t stand you. The only reason he was with you is because he felt sorry for you.”
Rose let out a small gasp as tears started falling down her face. The cameras were shoved closer to her face as questions were yelled out. This went on for almost a full minute before Hunter could be seen pushing several men away from Rose, gripping her arm, and pulling her free of the crowd.
Sawyer flipped off the set and tossed down the remote. His anger boiled over and he was pretty sure that Hunter’s matched his own.
“Bitch,” Hunter said under his breath.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t argue that, and I’d wager most everyone who saw that is thinking the same thing now.”
“Kristy Owens looked stoned or drunk,” Hunter suggested. “Anyway, I’m heading downstairs and calling in a few favors to get a restraining order filed against her. By tonight, that woman won’t be able to come within a hundred feet of Rose.” Hunter pointed to the dark television set, then spun around and headed towards the door. “I’ll see you in the lobby at eight.”
“Keep me posted on the restraining order,” he called after him. Hunter waved his hand and disappeared out the door.
Sawyer flipped the lock on the door behind Hunter and then moved into Rose’s bedroom doorway. Seeing her balled up on the bed fast asleep, he toed off his shoes and crawled in next to her, pulling her close to his side. She sighed in her sleep and snuggled against his chest, and he drifted off holding her tight.
Twenty-One
An evening to remember…
Rose looked at herself in the mirror one last time. Gone were the puffy eyes and the red-tipped nose, thanks to the stylist Julie sent over. Ranald was twenty-something and fabulous. Even Sawyer laughed at his jokes as the man curled her hair and applied her makeup.
Sawyer’s tux arrived half an hour before they were set to leave, and he disappeared into the other bathroom to get ready himself while Ranald finished the last touches on Rose. Then she slipped on her dress and shoes and walked out into the main room where Ranald and Sawyer waited for her.
All three of the men’s eyes lit up and she smiled.
“Twirl, baby girl,” Ranald said, and she obliged. “My work is done.” He smiled at her and walked over to kiss her cheek. “Have fun and be fabulous,” he whispered before leaving.
“You look amazing.” Hunter kissed her cheek. “And we’re going to be late if we don’t leave now.”
He made his way towards the door.
“We’ll meet you in the lobby,” Sawyer said, holding her hand to stop her from heading towards the door.
Hunter shrugged and pulled on his coat, then walked out.
“Sawyer, we’d better go.” She smiled up at him, unsure of why he wanted to be alone with her.
“Soon.” He pulled out a large square box, and she frowned down at it. “I have a gift to say… congratulations on a successful night, but I couldn’t wait until after the evening was over to give it to you.” He smiled and opened the box.
The silver bracelet was beautiful. Small charms hung off the silver chain. He helped her clasp it onto her right wrist. “It’s beautiful.”
“Do you like it?” he asked. She looked up into his eyes.
“It’s perfect.” She smiled and hugged him. Isaac had always given her things that cost too much or were things that he wanted. She’d never received anything as perfect as this. She ran the jeweled heart between two fingertips and smiled. “Yours?” she asked.
“If you’ll have it,” he said softly.
She answered him by leaning up on her toes and kissing him.
The limo ride to the gallery was short and when they pulled up outside of the glass building, there were more people with cameras than had attacked her earlier that day.
She must have stiffened because Sawyer reached over and took her hand in his. “Easy, we’re here.”
“Are you okay?” Hunter asked her.
She took two deep breaths and smiled at them both. “Yes, I can do this. I’m ready.”
When they climbed out of the limo, Hunter went first, followed by Sawyer, who reached back and helped her from the low vehicle. The extra material in her long dress snagged on the bottom of her heel, but she freed it just before stepping out onto the sidewalk, which was full of cameras.
Brushing the material of her skirt until it lay straight, she pulled a wrap over her shoulders and then took Sawyer’s arm as they made their way down the carpet towards the front doors of the gallery.
Questions were shouted at her, but she held her head up high and smiled as they walked through the light snow and the bright flashes from the paparazzi’s cameras.
