“I’ll need to talk to everyone, Tony. All the contestants and all the crew.”
The producer nodded again and pulled out his cell. “I’ll call Gordon and tell him to get everyone together. Do you want them at the station?”
It was as good a place as any. He’d start with the contestants and work his way through with the help of his deputies. They might just get done by tonight.
“Yes. Competitors first. If they have any proof of their whereabouts, now would be the time to produce it. Except for Jazz. She has an ironclad alibi.”
“What’s her alibi?” Tony was punching in a text and scowling at the phone.
“She was with me all day.”
This time Tony looked up and nodded. “That is a damn good alibi. Wish I had it. I was right about you two, wasn’t I?”
“Shut up, Tony,” Griffin responded, not willing to play the man’s games today of all days.
This time a killer wasn’t going to go unpunished. If he couldn’t solve Casey’s murder, then by God, he’d solve this one.
* * * *
The click of the door roused Jazz from where she was dozing in Griffin’s man-sized leather recliner. Rubbing her eyes, she pushed the chair closed with her legs and watched as one very tired sheriff shut the front door, kicked off his boots, and made his way into the living room.
“Did I wake you?”
“I was just dozing a little. What time is it?” The sun was down and the room had grown dark with only the flickering of the television for light. Griffin pulled off his hat and sent it sailing across the room to land on the dining table.
“Damn, I’m beat. I didn’t think we’d ever get through those statements. You’re going to have to come to the station tomorrow, Jazz, and give one too. I let it slide tonight because you’re not a suspect. But you might know something that could help us.”
That got her attention. Sitting up straight in the chair, she stretched out her stiff legs with a yawn. “Is everyone on the show a suspect then? That’s terrible.”
“They were at the beginning of the evening but luckily several people do have strong alibis so we were able to cut down the number of suspects in a few hours. That helps a great deal. Levi and Peggy were with Adam studying their handbooks so we can cross them off the list. The crew was having lunch in the diner and there were witnesses so I’ve marked them off as well.” Griffin cushioned his head with his hands and stared up at the ceiling. “That leaves Wayne, who can’t seem to account for his whereabouts at all. Very fishy. Also Tony and Gordon. Tony says he was on a conference call with the network part of the time but I don’t have corroboration of that yet. The rest of the time he’s not sure of what he was doing, which I find odd. Gordon says he was with Tony the entire time. Now that I believe considering the way he has his nose stuck up Tony’s ass twenty-four seven.”
“So Tony’s your main suspect? Maybe someone from town did it.” She hated to point the finger at people she didn’t even know but she couldn’t imagine Tony killing anyone. Just having him under suspicion was going to upset Caitlin.
“I’m concentrating my efforts on Tony, Wayne, and Gordon until someone tells me that Sandy had contact with anyone else. I’ve impounded Tony and Gordon’s rental car and I’m doing background checks on all the contestants.”
“Including me?” Jazz got up from the recliner and sat next to Griffin feeling the heat from his body.
Griffin nodded, his gaze capturing her own. “Even though you have a solid alibi, I can’t treat you any differently than the others. It wouldn’t be right.”
“I don’t mind. I don’t have anything to hide, but damn, there’s that integrity again,” Jazz sighed. “All that honorable stuff is keeping me celibate.”
His silver-gray eyes seemed to glow in the dim light. “About that. You’ll probably find out tomorrow but the network has cancelled the show. They don’t want to be seen as cashing in on Sandy’s death. Tony said the insurance company will probably just split all the prize money between the contestants.”
The news wasn’t completely unexpected. She’d wondered today as she’d waited for Griffin just what the network and producers would do. Canceling the show was one of the options she’s considered. The money would come in handy but she would miss out on the exposure, although she’d been thinking about that less and less these past few days.
“You won’t get a new deputy,” she said, not wanting to think about leaving. There was nothing holding her here now.
“I’m going to make Levi an offer. But I’m more worried about you. Are you okay about this? I know you wanted to win.”
His hand curled around hers and their fingers entwined, sending streaks of heat to her extremities and making her nipples bead behind the lace of her bra.
“You know I never really wanted to be a deputy. I’m fine with the network canceling the show. I’m disappointed but that just means I need to work extra hard at getting another break.”
It sounded kind of depressing when she said it. Going back to her empty and fairly vacuous life wasn’t as appealing as it had been only a few days ago.
“I hope you get it.” Griffin’s voice was soft and it sent shivers up her spine. Just being near to him was doing dangerous things to her equilibrium. He could arouse her with just a few words or gestures without really trying.
“Your mother stopped by earlier,” Jazz said, unwilling to discuss her career and the goals she’d set for herself when she was only a teenager. “She left a roast chicken in the refrigerator and a few other things. She heard about Sandy and thought you might work late. Said that you don’t take care of yourself very well.”
Griffin chuckled, his lips curving into a smile. “I probably don’t, but then I always know she’ll drop off a chicken or a pot roast. Did you have some?”
“It seemed weird to make myself at home like that, eating your food and using your kitchen.”
“I told you to make yourself at home,” he reminded her.
“I thought that meant to watch television or maybe sit on the deck. I didn’t think it meant eat my food, look through my closets, and take a nap in my bed.”
His callused fingers slid from her hand up her thigh and for a second she couldn’t breathe. Her pulse began to pound in her ears and she had to swallow hard to be able to speak.
“Did you look through my closets?”
His mouth was close to her ear now and she was literally shivering with arousal at his nearness. Clamping down on her emotions, she inwardly shook herself trying to control her runaway heart.
“No. I didn’t nap in your bed either.” Her voice sounded rusty and choked, and she almost swallowed her tongue when he began to nuzzle her hair. This Griffin wasn’t one she was familiar with at all. Was he playing with her?
“Now that is a real shame. I would have liked to come home to you in my bed, Hollywood,” he said deeply. She pulled back in shock as his words began to penetrate her addled brain.
“What about your integrity?”
Without answering her, he quickly levered to his feet and gave her the most wicked grin she’d ever seen. She yelped as he scooped her up and her world turned decidedly upside down. Tossing her over his shoulder, he gave her bottom a playful slap as he strode into the bedroom. She was unceremoniously tossed on the king-sized bed and barely able to catch her breath before Griffin’s large body was coming down on top of her, flattening her into the mattress.
“Honey, the show is over. I’m not your boss anymore, if I ever really was. So we can do dirty, raunchy things together all damn night and my integrity is securely intact. I’ve been looking forward to this since Tony told me the news.”
She stared up into his face, so sexy and handsome. He was grinning from ear to ear and she could feel his very hard cock up close and personal as it pressed into her belly. If he was as big as he felt, she was in for quite a night. There was only one thing left to say.
“Thank you, baby Jesus. Let’s get naked.”
Chapter Sixteen
Horndog Griffin was quite different than honorable, sheriff-in-charge Griffin. Bottom line?
He was much more fun.
After several minutes of long kisses and rolling around on the comforter getting it all wrinkled and messy, she tugged at his shirt trying to pull it free of his pants. His fingers stayed her movements even as he pressed a soft kiss to the base of her throat, wringing a groan from her lips and sending a streak of lightning straight to her pussy.
“Easy, honey. We got all night. We’ve only kissed once before tonight and I don’t want you to miss out on the buildup.”
He had to be out of his fucking cowboy mind. They didn’t have time for that. She needed him now. Right now. It felt like her body was on fire, the flames licking at her skin and sending a flush of arousal from head to toe. They’d only kissed and she’d gone up in flames.
She slid her hands under the cotton of his shirt and explored the warm skin and play of muscles under her palms. “I want you now, Griffin. I can’t wait.”
“We’ve waited this long, we can wait a little longer,” Griffin chuckled against the sensitive flesh of her ear while one of his hands glided down her body and cupped her bottom, giving it a little squeeze.
“I thought men were always supposed to be in a hurry,” she breathed, barely noticing when he popped open her jeans and pulled down the zipper.
“I think you’ve been hanging out with the wrong men, honey,” Griffin replied with a smile and then he didn’t say anything at all. His mouth was too busy kissing the skin he’d exposed on her abdomen. He licked and nipped his way down to where the zipper ended before tugging at the denim material to slide them down her legs.
Cool air hit her overheated flesh and she sucked in a breath as he tossed the pants to the floor. Pushing her thighs apart with his wide shoulders, he pressed wet kisses from her toes, up her calves, along her inner thighs, and over her abdomen until he was stopped by the barrier of her blouse. She was writhing and twisting on the bed as he started the process all over again with her other leg, unerringly finding every sensitive or ticklish spot on her lower half.
Her hair was tangled and her breath was ragged when he paused from torturing her to slowly unbutton her shirt one button at a time. It felt like the air was being sucked directly out of her lungs as he bared her inch by excruciating inch.
“You’re driving me crazy,” she choked.
He picked up her hand and placed it on the denim of his fly where his hard cock pulsed under her fingers. She rubbed the fabric until he closed his eyes and growled.
“I’m driving myself crazy.”
“Don’t. I’m ready for you.”
She doubted she’d ever been this wet before in her life. The crotch of her panties had passed damp a long time ago and the honey was starting to make her thighs sticky.
“It will make it even better if we hold back. Just a little bit, Hollywood. But if you’re that needy, I’ll take care of you.”
Needy was a good word. Greedy was too.
Griffin hooked his thumbs on the sides of her panties and slid them down her legs before tossing them over his shoulder without another glance. She’d have to hunt for those later but for now the room seemed to spin as he traced patterns on her lower abdomen with his tongue. Grabbing his head and tangling her fingers in his short, dark hair, she held on for dear life against the tidal wave of pleasure as that naughty tongue slid through the dark blonde curls and straight down to her swollen clit.
His tongue swirled around and around the nub while her insides quaked in response. The tension began to build deep within her and she crumpled the sheets as her fingers clutched the cool fabric. Tighter and tighter her arousal coiled even as he pressed first one thick digit and then another into her pussy.
“So tight, honey. I can’t wait to be inside of you.”
He whispered the words and his hot breath caressed her clit, making her toes curl. It was too good, too intense and her entire body felt as if it was strung taut and ready to snap at any moment.
His fingers caressed her from the inside as his tongue played games on the outside. He lapped at the top of the swollen button, and her legs shook and shifted farther apart.
“Ready, honey?”
He didn’t expect an answer apparently, which was a good thing as she couldn’t have formed a word to save her life. Everything she was feeling had overwhelmed her conscious deliberate thought. All she could do was respond and react to his sensual ministrations. Moving his fingers in and out, his mouth covered her clit and sucked gently while using his tongue to tickle the sides.
The explosion was instantaneous.
White and colored lights danced behind her lids as the coil inside her unwound, unleashing a torrent of pleasure so exquisite it took her very breath away. It was not like any orgasm she’d ever experienced, but then Griffin Sawyer wasn’t like any other man. She should have known he’d be expert at the give and take of pleasure. He was damn fine at everything he did.
He kissed his way to her mouth by blazing a heated path up her body before capturing her lips as if in victory. Her limbs heavy with languor, her heart racing in her chest, she’d give him this win but it was only a battle, not the war. Her goal was to make him feel as good as she did right at this moment and she wouldn’t be deterred.
Wrapping her arms around him they kissed, hot and urgent. She could feel the heat of his hard cock sear her skin through the heavy denim of his jeans. When she wrapped her legs around his lean waist and ground against him, his dick jumped behind his button-fly. How he could hold himself in check at this point was beyond her, his self-control like iron.
“Oh God, that was intense,” she breathed.
“Now that’s what I like to hear. You like playing games, baby? I like to play games in the bedroom too.” Griffin chuckled and nipped at her shoulder, making her shiver in his arms before levering up and tugging at her open blouse. She rose up so it would slip off her arms and then reached around to pop open the fasteners of her bra but his fingers beat her to it.
“Sincere, hard-working Sheriff Sawyer likes to play games?” Her voice was husky as the lace and satin bra slid down her arms and off. He tossed it on the growing pile of clothes on the floor, not even sparing it a second glance. Every bit of his attention was focused purely on her. The sensation was a heady one.
Jazz wasn’t a virgin. She’d had sex before with various men, although not in near the numbers that some of her friends had. In those past encounters she’d always felt as if she were in competition for the man’s attention. Maybe from the demands of his cock, or his phone, or sometimes from his own ego. Not tonight. Every bit of Griffin Sawyer was with her. He wasn’t thinking about tomorrow morning or his work schedule. He was here totally in the present.
“I most certainly like to play games. How about we play the ‘strip game’? I ask you a question and if you answer it correctly, I’ll take off a piece of clothing.”
Laughter bubbled from her lips. She’d never seen Griffin act silly and goofy but this was nice. He didn’t take himself too damn seriously.
“I don’t know about this. What kind of questions are you going to ask me?”
His head dipped down and he captured a nipple between his lips, licking and nipping at it until she was moaning and writhing underneath him. When he finally lifted his head, he went to work on the other until it was a tight bud and she was breathless and begging for a reprieve. Her empty pussy clenched, wanting and needing to be filled and only Griffin would do. She clutched at his broad shoulders and wriggled her hips in provocation.
Sliding down her body, he dropped kisses along her torso and thighs before coming to a standing position on the floor in front of her. Leaning back on her elbows, she enjoyed running her gaze up and down his gorgeous body even though it was fully clothed. Peggy had been right that very first night.
The only reason a woman would kick Griffin Sawyer out of bed would be to do it with him on the f
loor.
Maybe they could do that next time. This time would be on the very comfortable bed.
Griffin played with the first button on his shirt and gave her a smile that took her breath away. “First question. What two colors mixed together make purple?”
What was this? Preschool? Her mind was already fogged with arousal and desire and he wanted her to think?
Shit. She blinked and tried to remember playing with paints as a kid.
“Red and blue.”
“Winner, winner,” Griffin chanted, popping each button open way too slowly. When he pulled the material apart to reveal his perfect male chest she had to bite her lip to keep from running her tongue over those perfect abs. He tossed his shirt aside and moved his hands to the buttons of his jeans.
“Question number two. Name a mammal that lays eggs.” His smirk made her want to hurl a lamp in his direction, but she could tell that he wouldn’t be swayed from this little game.
“I swear when this is over, I will kill you,” she hissed. “Slowly and painfully. Mark my words, Sheriff.”
“I’ll take my chances, Hollywood. Now answer the question.”
“Platypus, you asshole. Now strip.” Her voice had risen slightly but it sounded more strangled than pissed off. Griffin laughed and popped open each button on his fly and pushed the jeans down to his ankles before kicking them away. Clad only in a pair of black boxer briefs and white socks he should have looked ridiculous. Instead, he looked delicious, better than any of those male models that flocked together in Los Angeles, primping and preening for the cameras. This show, while frustrating as hell, was only for her. The public wouldn’t get to see this. Ever.
“Now for question thr–,” he began but didn’t get any further. Unable to take it any longer, she sat up and grabbed the front of his shorts, pulling him toward her until he laughingly fell on the bed next to her. She tugged at the last layer of fabric between but he obligingly put his hands over hers and shed the briefs along with his socks, letting them fall to the floor.
Cowboy Famous: Book 4 (Cowboy Justice Association) Page 14
