Page 82 of Home Town Knight

“That’s kind of you. I would invite you in, but the idea of you watching me sleep is a little weird.”

He laughed. “Yeah, I think I’ll skip that.”

After brushing my teeth, I went into the room andstripped down to just my T-shirt. I slid beneath the covers. I didn’t see how I’d be able to sleep.

But at some point I must’ve drifted off, because the next thing I knew, Owen was crawling in beside me. “What happened?” I asked.

“Go back to sleep. I’ll tell you everything in the morning.” He pulled me up against him, his body curving around mine. And I drifted off again.

It was my second morning waking up next to Owen. But yesterday, we’d still had that barrier of pillows between us. This morning, Owen was plastered to my back. His half-hard cock nudged my hip through his boxers. I looked over my shoulder at him, feeling fond and sentimental.

How was it possible to feel so tied to someone I’d known just over two days?

Maybe because each of those days had seemed to last a lifetime. Between the murder investigation, meeting Owen’s friends, discovering the connection to Stillwater—so much had happened that I was still struggling to make it fit in my head. But Owen had been there for me at every step. Proving that I could rely on him. And showing me a really good time while we were at it.

I tried to slip out of bed, but Owen’s arm held me back. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“To the bathroom to brush my teeth. And then I’ll make us some of that terrible coffee they provide in the room.”

“I’ll allow it.” He let me go. I bent over to kiss his stubbled cheek. Owen’s eyes were still closed, and I wondered how much sleep he’d gotten. Probably not enough. It was only nine-thirty according to the clock on the nightstand.

I was quick in the bathroom, then made our mediocrecoffee. When I handed Owen his mug, he sat up against the headboard. He pulled me to sit between his legs. I leaned back against his chest.

“What happened with Trooper Rossiter?” I asked.

“I searched him after my backup arrived, and he had the gold coin on him. After that I turned him over to CSP. They can do what they want with him.”

“It didn’t seem like he knew anything about Stillwater.”

“No, I agree. As far as I can tell, he just wanted Ellis to show him where the money was. I bet they’d agreed to split what they found. Probably thought the coins were collector’s items or something they could sell for the precious metal in them.”

“What about the coin Rossiter had?”

“I’ve got it.” He pointed at the pants he’d laid over the back of a chair. “No way am I letting that disappear again if it’s a clue to Stillwater. Unfortunately, a lot of other people know about that coin now. Including Grissom, because I had to explain my suspicion about Rossiter stealing evidence. I didn’t breathe a word about how you recognized it.”

I hadn’t expected he would. “But there were more of those coins, and Ellis claimed Tucker had found them at the same time as the cash. Which means Tucker stole from someone connected toStillwater.” No wonder he’d wound up dead. “The killer has to be tied to Stillwater as well.”

“Yes.”

We’d already suspected that could be the case. But the confirmation still sent a nauseating pulse of dread to my stomach. Owen’s arm was draped over my lap, and he moved to pull me tighter against him.

I set my mug on the nightstand. “The public official Stillwater is paying off… He could be feeding the killer information. What if it’s Grissom?”

“I’ve considered that. I can’t rule him out. Or Jud Hale. Ihave no idea if Tucker found the coins on Hale’s land. But until recently, Hale was a legislator. He would’ve been in the right position to help Stillwater in exchange for payments under the table. And he’s got Grissom’s ear.”

“There has to be something you can do.”

“There is. I’m turning over the investigation to Norris Linscomb.”

“What?” I twisted in his lap. “Why on earth would you do that?”

“Genny, I’m out of leads. Official ones, anyway. Everything else points to Stillwater, and we can’t afford to make that public. Not with the danger that would pose to you, and the level of threat we’re up against. River will keep doing his thing on the computer. I’ll ask Lynx if he can help narrow down where Ellis might’ve been taking Rossiter.”

“But you realize Grissom and Hale are going to use this against you. Hale will make it look like you gave up. Or that you caved to the accusations that you were doing something inappropriate.”

“So be it. This is bigger than a murder investigation. Bigger than my job title. I’ve tried to navigate between upholding my duties as sheriff and seeking justice with Aiden, Trace, and River. I’ve had to compromise on both fronts. Maybe it’s time to admit I can’t do everything.” Owen threaded his fingers into my hair, his gaze going soft as he looked at me. “I can’t protect you when all I’ve been doing is keeping you close to the danger.”

“What do you mean?”

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