Chapter Nine
“This place multiplies fit, attractive men like rabbits. What is going on?” Sawyer looked away from Kurt and studied the security team.
I had to agree—they were buff and nice-looking.
Garrick stepped forward and reached for my hand. “Jessica’s murderer is still free. Considering your and Knoah’s apartment was next door, I want to take the necessary precautions. The police seemed concerned with Knoah’s name on the lease, so I reacted accordingly.”
Sawyer sobered. “Still nothing? Do you think they were after Knoah?”
“We’re not sure, but if the police show concern, that’s enough for me. The tower is secure. Joe, our head of security, will go over protocols. Since you work for your brother, commuting to work will be easy.”
After leaving As You Wish, Sawyer began to work for her brother, Cameron, managing Kurt’s band. His offices were located on the third floor of Garrick’s building.
From our conversations, Sawyer had an idea of what was going on, but being here brought it all home. “Soo…I scream, and they run to me?” In true Sawyer fashion, she used her wit to diffuse a stressful situation.
I mashed my lips together to suppress a giggle. The men looked confused. “She’s kidding,” I assured them.
“Maybe.”
Raising my eyebrows, I overrode her. “You’re kidding. Tell them.”
“Okay, okay, okay. I’m kidding.” Under her breath, she muttered, “Ish.”
Kurt chuckled. “I’ll keep her under control.”
Sawyer raised her eyebrow at that. “I’m too much woman for you, Kurt Hendrix. I think our phone conversations have proved that. We’ve discussed the fact that you’ll be my sidepiece if I have to attend any functions with you.”
Oh jeez, she still hadn’t dropped the idea of Kurt being her arm candy. This was Sawyer’s hard-to-get mode. This time, though…she wanted to be caught.
“We’ll see if you can handle me,” Kurt said with a smirk.
Wow, openly flirting with each other. What all had they talked about?
Definitely spelled T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
Garrick cleared his throat. “If you need anything, let me know and I’ll have it arranged.”
“Thanks.” Then Sawyer caught a glimpse of my ring again. “I can’t believe it. I’m really happy for you guys. It took me by surprise, but I am happy.” Taking my hand, Sawyer gave me a smile. “Congrats, Knoah.” Then she raised her eyebrow. “You and I are having a girls’ night tonight at my new place. Mr. Rockstar will have to come over here for a while and hang with Mr. Perfect.”
“Sounds good to me.” Kurt smirked, running his hand through his dark hair. “Garrick can help me brainstorm some projects for you to do. Perfect idea.”
Ignoring Kurt with a roll of her eyes, Sawyer approached Garrick. “Thank you again for all you did for Mom. I appreciate it.”
“Of course. If you need anything else, let Knoah or me know.”
“Thank you.” She picked up her purse. “Okay, I’m going to go get settled. Six o’clock, my place. Come on, sidepiece, let me into my apartment.”
With a dramatic bend at the waist, Kurt offered his arm. “At your service.”
“Something’s up. You’re being too…agreeable.”
From his blank, innocent expression, Kurt looked guilty as all get-out. Oh no, her room. I’d forgotten about her room. All of his Reverence memorabilia now decorated her room.
I grabbed Garrick’s hand. “Oh, this is going to be bad. We may need to protect Kurt.”
He kissed my lips. “I think Kurt can fend for himself.”
As we went into the hall, we saw that Kurt had left the front door to their place open. Garrick nodded to Joe, who had a smirk on his face. With Sawyer around, everything felt lighter, more manageable.
From the door I heard, “Wow. Thank you for getting all this done last week. The place looks amazing. I have a few sticky notes with lists of what we should accomplish next. And I have another set with a list of chores.”
I glanced up at Garrick, and he smirked. “Kurt’s going to have his hands full.”
“You have no idea. He’s starting a war.”
From inside the apartment, Kurt asked, “Is there anything else you want to change in here?”
We leaned in closer to hear Sawyer’s response. “No, it’s perfect. I’m glad you’re a neat freak, too. I was nervous I would have to take drastic measures.”
“Drastic measures? What the fuck is that?”
“Oh, you’ll see, Mr. Rockstar, if you ever piss me off.”
A booming laugh filled the air. “I imagine that will be sooner rather than later.”
Then there was silence. And more silence. What’s going on in there?
“I…uh…which one is my bedroom?”
“Umm…this way?”
What happened? They sounded flustered. Did they kiss? Almost kiss? The door creaked open. “Oh, this is going to be so bad,” I murmured.
I closed my eyes when I heard the shriek.
“What the fuck is this? No! No! No!”
Garrick opened the door, and I walked in. Kurt was casually leaned against the doorframe, his back to me.
“A monkey? Seriously? A monkey in a wig?”
Sawyer’s voice continued to rise as I crept closer to the bedroom door. On her bed was a stuffed monkey wearing an Elvis costume. On the front was a picture of Kurt’s band’s emblem. I gasped.
Every surface in Sawyer’s bedroom was covered in Reverence fan stuff. The bedspread was of Kurt’s band. Posters covered the wall. Cardboard cutouts of the band members were lined up next to her bed. Even the lampshade had the band’s logo.
To top it off, a huge wall decal of Kurt’s face loomed above Sawyer’s bed. There was nothing in her room that wasn’t Reverence related.
And now there were curtains and some sort of guitar light fixture. If it were possible, the room was worse than when I saw it yesterday. And it smelled of something disturbing.
“What’s that smell?”
“A new cologne the band is thinking about sponsoring. It’s on a timed dispenser.”
Sawyer gagged. “Oh shit. I can taste it.”
Garrick coughed.
Without missing a beat, Kurt said, “Well, you missed the wedding. I thought you might want something to remind you of the monkey you loved getting for the Elvis lover.” He didn’t crack a smile but remained completely collected.
The woman he was referring to had been Bridezilla incarnate and obsessed with Elvis. Sawyer had dodged a bullet with that wedding.
Turning on her heel, Sawyer saw me and halted. “Were you involved?”
“No. I’m Switzerland.” I held up my hands. “I had nothing to do with this. I even recommended he change it back when I saw it yesterday. Sorry, Kurt. Every man for himself.”
Kurt beamed. “I’m not worried.”
“You have one chance.” Sawyer’s mouth went flat as she held up a finger and put a hand on her hip.
With easy confidence, Kurt strolled into the room and sat in a vinyl chair with a picture of the band on it. “I thought this would be a good learning opportunity about our band’s products. You said they were, and I quote, ‘cheesy.’ Unquote.”
“Kurt. Where is my stuff?” Sawyer was on the verge of cracking. In her world, everything had its proper place. And this was chaos.
Casually, he crossed his denim-clad legs. “In a secret location.”
“And when is it coming back?”
“At a time I deem fit.”
Oh, the wheels were turning in her head. Sawyer paced a few more times, definitely out of sorts. And then suddenly, she stopped and gave the sweetest smile. “This is perfect. Thank you.”
Oh shit.
“What?” Kurt fidgeted, looking like his shell was starting to crack.
With a total change in attitude, Sawyer walked around, touching the different items. “This room. It will help me do my job to the best of my ability. Thank you.”
“I knew you’d see reason.” Kurt raised his eyebrows to me to tell me he had this.
“Oh yes, I have.”
He was beyond screwed.