Dead of Winter_Aspen Falls Novel

by Melissa Pearl

  “You were so restless. I should’ve just gone back to my brother’s place.” She rolled her eyes. Erin’s brother owned a huge house on the north side of town, and had converted the downstairs into a little apartment that Erin could use when she was back in Aspen Falls.

  “Sorry,” Blaine mumbled, staring into his cereal bowl, distracted by the memory of Rosie’s voice as she called herself a loser.

  It was hard to hear. He’d always held her in such high esteem, but she’d obviously gone through some tough stuff since high school.

  He was desperate to know what it was.

  “Are you even listening to me?” Erin waved her hand in front of his face.

  “Huh?”

  “Great. You’re doing that thing again. Where your mind has already left for work before your body has. You know, I specifically asked to work from Aspen Falls this week so I could see you. I have to be back in Minneapolis on Friday. Are you going to be acting this way tomorrow too? When you’re supposed to be off duty?”

  He glanced at the clock on the wall, not sure what she wanted him to say.

  “Blaine, you seriously need to switch off when you’re not at work.”

  He paused, his lips twitching with a smile before he started laughing. “Are you lecturing me about not switching off? You work all the time. You bring work with you wherever you go. You are always thinking about work.”

  “I’m a criminal defense attorney. That is very different. I don’t have shifts. I’m on call twenty-four-seven, okay? I’m just trying to look out for you and make sure you switch off sometimes. You and I are very different. You need to be able to step back and unwind. I have the ability to just keep going.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her, his skeptical expression making her eyes roll yet again.

  “Okay, fine, I know I need rest too. I get that.”

  Blaine gazed across the table with a smirk.

  Red bloomed over her pale cheeks as she snickered at herself and then leaned forward to kiss him. Holding his chin, she gazed into his eyes and whispered, “I like arguing with you over breakfast. We should move in together. We can find you the perfect job in Minneapolis. They’d love you down there.”

  His stomach rebelled as the same old conversation reared its ugly head.

  He eased away from her with a kind smile. “Are we really doing this again? You know I’m not ready to leave Aspen Falls.”

  “Why not? There’s no room for growth here. A job in the city would be so much more exciting for you.”

  He grimaced. “Aspen Falls needs me.”

  “No, they don’t. This place basically runs itself.”

  He let her comment slide and muttered, “I’m not sure I want to be a city cop.”

  She clicked her tongue and frowned. “You won’t know until you’ve tried it. Honestly, Blaine, why are you being so narrow-minded about this? All I’m asking for is a shot. If it doesn’t work out, we can reassess things then.”

  He took his half-eaten cereal bowl and walked to the sink, hoping his lack of response would end the discussion.

  He couldn’t put his finger on why he was so hesitant to move to Minneapolis with Erin. He could probably be a city cop no problem, and she was a good woman. She worked hard. She cared about him. But something was holding him back, and after driving Rosie home, he couldn’t help but wonder if that love-struck teenager he’d tried to forget about was actually coming to life again.

  Was he an idiot?

  He’d loved Rosie from afar. That was completely different to being with someone for real.

  And he wasn’t going to dump his girlfriend just so he could be with someone else. It seemed wrong.

  Erin’s phone buzzed, and a few minutes later she was setting up her computer to attend an online meeting with her boss. She was a driven woman, determined to move up the ranks and increase her chances of making partner with the firm. Her boss took advantage of this, often piling on work to see just how much she could handle.

  Maybe that was it, Blaine thought.

  The idea of living with Erin while she constantly worked around him was exhausting. He’d never be able to relax.

  To be fair, she was asking a lot of him. He’d have to leave all his friends in Aspen Falls, and move to a big city where he only knew a few people—all of them Erin’s friends. He’d visited a few times and liked it, but it would take a long time to feel like home.

  Turning his back on the sink, he gazed over Erin’s head and into his tiny living space. He couldn’t help picturing Rosie on his couch, nestled up against him while they watched some inane TV show. She’d giggle in that sweet way of hers, tucking a curl behind her ear, her nose wrinkling as she watched the screen.

  He’d kiss her cheek, curl his arm around her body and keep her warm. As the night sky became dark, he’d carry her to bed and…

  “Do you mind?” Erin tapped her watch and flicked her hand at the door. “My meeting’s about to start.”

  Great. She was kicking him out of his own apartment.

  He walked into his room and looked at the neatly made bed, images of tousled sheets and naked limbs stirring his blood. Rosie’s auburn hair spread across his pillowcase, her body draped over his as they fell asleep against each other.

  It was thrilling yet comfortable. It felt like home.

  The watch on his wrist started beeping. Glancing at the time, he turned off the alarm and gathered his stuff for work. He was looking forward to the shift. He needed the distraction.

  Wednesday, February 21st

  7:00am

  “I’m what?” Blaine frowned at Kellan and then looked back at the assignment board.

  “Higgs is out for the day, and Matt needs a training partner.” Kellan fought a smile as he patted Blaine on the back. “You can do this.”

  “What about Ollie?” he called to Kellan’s back.

  “Check the board.”

  Blaine glanced to his right and saw that Ollie was with Jessica.

  “Lucky bastard,” he mumbled before taking a sip of his coffee.

  He made a face and quickly abandoned the bitter drink. It was time for a new pot.

  Walking to the kitchen, he started brewing a new one before the morning briefing.

  He didn’t finish before he was interrupted by Nate.

  “We’ve got another one.”

  “Another OD?” Blaine stopped what he was doing to face his brother.

  “No, another link to Riley. Her name’s Bianca Whitman. Apparently they were seen together the night Riley OD’d. When we questioned Riley’s best friend the other day, he didn’t mention her, but I still think that guy was covering.” Nate held out the information slip. “I’m going to question her this morning. Find out if she knows this Billy guy or if she’s seen any blue pills floating around.”

  “Jarrett’s newspaper article has probably sent them underground.” Blaine shoved the note in his pocket.

  Nate’s expression turned black. “Don’t talk to me about that blabbermouth.”

  “He was just trying to warn people.” Blaine watched the coffeemaker, wishing it would brew faster.

  “He should never have gone and questioned that Prianka girl. I can’t believe she talked to him.”

  “She probably thought she was being helpful. At least the picture he printed was just generic blue pills.” Blaine grabbed two mugs and poured them both a cup.

  They took it black, no sugar. It was the way it had always been in the Hartford house.

  “Has the toxicology report come back?” Blaine asked after he’d swallowed a mouthful of coffee.

  Nate took a sip before answering. “Fentanyl-laced ecstasy. Technically, Riley should be dead. If her friends hadn’t been right there and rushed her to the hospital…” Nate shook his head with a grim frown.

  “Is that what killed Rebecca too?”

  Nate nodded, then looked confused for a second. “But it didn’t match the two pills we found in her apartment. That was just straight ecstasy.�
�

  “So that probably means both the girls were using and then decided to look for a stronger hit.”

  “Maybe.” Nate shrugged. “Or maybe they thought they were buying what they always had and were given something they didn’t see coming.”

  “Contaminated drugs,” Blaine muttered. “You think the supplier knew? If so, that could be classed as first-degree murder.”

  “Yeah, it would be.” Nate looked drained by the weight of it all. “I’m going to get what I can from this Bianca girl. Press her if I have to. There’s got to be a link between Riley and Rebecca,” he muttered, storming out of the kitchen and back to his office.

  Blaine slumped against the counter and sipped his coffee while he waited for the briefing to start. Matt would have no doubt read the board and be eagerly waiting for him.

  He internally cringed.

  The shift was going to be a long one.

  17

  Wednesday, February 21st

  12:30pm

  “I’m starving. Let’s stop at Lulu’s for lunch.”

  Blaine gave Matt a tight smile and held his tongue while the rookie cop drove them to the last place he should probably go.

  He couldn’t really protest. Every cop working this part of town always stopped at Lulu’s for a bite. It was the best, so there was no other option.

  He tapped his finger on the edge of the window as Matt found a parking spot across the street. Despite Blaine’s initial reservations, it had been a pretty easy shift so far. Rookie duty meant easy cruising around the streets.

  Blaine kind of wished he was working on the drug cases with Nate, but patrolling the streets of Aspen Falls was valid too. He should be grateful. It gave him time to stop by Gary’s Garage and arrange for Rosie’s car to be towed and serviced. Gary was skeptical that the Escort was worth the cost of fixing it, so Blaine told him to hold off on starting anything so he could check with Rosie first. She probably couldn’t afford the repairs anyway, but could she be without a car? He needed to talk to her about it, but he hadn’t wanted to call in front of Matt. What if he said something stupid again?

  He still couldn’t believe he’d admitted to loving her in high school.

  And then Erin had texted, which served as a stark reminder that he had no right to love Rosie at all.

  The snow crunched beneath Blaine’s boots as he walked across the fresh powder. Matt held the door for him and they strolled into the warmth of Lulu’s. It was hard not to feel good in this place. It was a home away from home…for anyone.

  Approaching the counter, he looked to see who was serving, his heart doing a little hiccup when Rosie appeared from the kitchen.

  “Oh, hi.” Her smile was a little tight at the edges but soon softened when he grinned back at her. She tipped her head and closed her eyes with a soft giggle. Leaning against the counter, she told him. “I got a call from Gary. Thank you so much for arranging the tow.”

  “Not a problem.” Blaine winced. “Did he talk to you about the car?”

  “Yeah,” she said, her expression clouding. “I think I’m just going to have to accept his offer and sell it to him for the parts that actually do work.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “That’s okay. I need the cash anyway.” Her face flickered with a frown he wanted to understand.

  “Why?” Matt moved in beside him, his tone a little abrasive.

  “E-excuse me?” she stammered.

  “Why do you need cash?”

  The question stunned her, the color from her face quickly draining as she opened and closed her mouth.

  Blaine’s insides stirred with curiosity, but concern overrode the feeling.

  With a sharp nudge, he shut Matt up. “I don’t think that’s any of your business, Officer Billings.”

  “Sorry.” Matt snickered. “I was just curious.”

  Rosie’s eyebrows rose as she shared a quick look with Blaine. He winked at her, which made her grin, and Blaine was reminded once again that he should not be standing there flirting with Rosie Sweet.

  “So, eating…” He cleared his throat and looked up at the board.

  Rosie grabbed a pencil, seeming way more confident than she had even just a few days ago.

  “I’ll take a chicken sub with the works and a Diet Coke, please.” Matt pulled out his wallet.

  Blaine stood back to let him pay, unable to keep his eyes off Rosie as she smiled at him with a polite friendliness.

  As soon as Matt moved out of earshot, Blaine stepped back up to the counter. “I’ll take a turkey on rye, hold the mayo.”

  “Hold the mayo?” She frowned. “How can you enjoy a sandwich without mayo?”

  “It’s fattening.”

  “Like you need to worry about that.” She ran her eyes down his torso, her cheeks tinging pink as she fought a smile. Her gaze made him feel something special, which he kind of loved. “Have the mayo. Have extra mayo. It’s delicious.”

  He grinned. “Do you talk to all your customers this way?”

  “Only the ones I consider friends, and I can tell you with full assurance that Julio stood over me as I made the mayonnaise this morning and it has turned out very nicely.” She swallowed. “At least my third attempt did.”

  He chuckled. She was adorable. “And here I was thinking Louanne just bought the mayo in bulk.”

  “People come here for a reason, Officer Hartford.”

  He grinned. “Alright. I’ll try the mayo, but only because you made it.”

  “You won’t regret it.” She winked, and he had to look away in case he actually disintegrated on the spot. He was flirting with Rosie Sweet, and she was flirting right back.

  You shouldn’t be flirting with Rosie Sweet!

  He reprimanded himself and paid quickly, stopping to grab a water on his way to the table.

  “So, who is she?” Matt’s bright blue eyes sparkled as he wiggled his eyebrows.

  Blaine tried to play it cool. “Just a friend from high school.”

  “I haven’t seen her around.”

  “She just got back into town.”

  “When?” Matt scratched his chin while he stared across the coffee shop at Rosie, who was now serving an elderly woman with a cane.

  “Last week.” Blaine shrugged, not wanting to delve into the fact that he pulled her over for speeding but then didn’t give her a ticket.

  “Huh.” Matt nodded and glanced out the window, seemingly finished discussing Rosie. “Think we’ll get some more fresh snow today?”

  “If you believe the weatherman. But we know how often they actually get it right.”

  Matt snorted. “Never.”

  “Wonder if they’ve updated the forecast.” Blaine pulled out his phone, so busy looking at the weather that he missed his opportunity to watch Rosie walk their sandwiches over.

  It was a good thing.

  He shouldn’t be watching her anyway.

  He slid his phone away and smiled up at her. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” She patted his shoulder and was about to walk away from the table when Matt’s question stopped her.

  “So, I hear you just got back into town. Where were you before then?”

  “Um…” She smoothed down her red apron and gave him a tight smile. “I’ve been all over. I’m a bit of a nomad.”

  “So just flying back home for a little visit, then?”

  “Yeah, catching up with a few old friends.” Her nose wrinkled and she smiled at Blaine.

  He gazed at her with interest, desperately hoping she’d dish out a little more. He wanted to know where she’d been. Which cities had she flitted through on her nomadic journey?

  “You completed your degree at the U, though, right? That’s where you were headed after graduation.”

  “Yes.” She nodded. “And I stayed there for a little bit before moving on.”

  “You like the big city, huh?” Matt tore off an edge of lettuce and popped it in his mouth.

  “Minneapolis w
as a little too big for me. I’ve kind of been going smaller since then.”

  “Oh yeah? Where?” Matt’s face lit up while Rosie’s eyebrows pinched together.

  He was pushing it a little, Blaine thought. It wasn’t that his questions were bad, but the way he delivered them was too much, and with so much force that declining to answer seemed like it would be unacceptable.

  Blaine dipped his eyebrows and lightly kicked Matt under the table.

  The young cop snickered. “Sorry if you think I’m being nosy. I’ve just lived in lots of towns around here. St. Cloud, Princeton, Monticello, Brookvale.”

  Rosie bit her lips together as he listed the cities. She looked nervous for some reason, and Blaine’s gut pinched with concern.

  She pulled her expression into a tight smile. “Wow, you really have moved around. We’ll have to swap stories sometime.” Smoothing down her apron again, she glanced over her shoulder and pointed at the counter. “Excuse me, I better get back to work.”

  Matt studied her as she walked away, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Did she seem nervous to you?”

  Yes!

  But Blaine wasn’t about to say it. His protective instincts made him shrug. He picked up his turkey sandwich and took a large bite to stop any more conversation. It tasted freaking amazing.

  Rosie was right. He didn’t regret the mayo.

  18

  Wednesday, February 21st

  12:55pm

  Rosie found every excuse in the book to stay in the kitchen while the two police officers were eating their lunch. Thankfully Louanne showed up and wanted to work the front counter so she could chat with her customers.

  Mandy was flustered, but in no frame of mind to delegate, so Rosie turned to Julio, who distractedly asked her to deal with the cookies. They were cool enough to frost. Rosie gulped and looked down at the tray of naked sugar cookies. She’d had some practice frosting cupcakes the day before and wasn’t too bad. Louanne had talked her through how to hold the bag of icing, and she’d only screwed up a couple of cupcakes before she figured it out. By the end, Louanne was beaming with a smile.