Page 17 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Her smile faded. “So, anyway…”

He’d been staring. “Yeah… My friends should be here any minute.” He’d called Reid, Thomas, and Fitz from the car while Aspen was in the hotel, gathering her things and checking out. Fitz, a police detective in Plymouth, was on duty, but Reid worked from home and Thomas was off. They both said they’d be happy to help. “I’m glad you decided to stay here. No sense staying in town when you have this big place all to yourself.”

She shuddered. “I’d be more comfortable in town than in this big secluded place, but I’d rather not spend the money on the hotel if I can help it. Since there’s furniture and something that sort of passes for heat…”

He chuckled. “You’ll be warm enough. I’ll take your suitcase upstairs.”

“Thanks. I’ll put away the groceries.”

When they’d left the hotel, she’d said she’d go back to town later to buy what she needed, but he swung by the little store so she wouldn’t have to. It was supposed to snow that evening, and he didn’t want her driving in it just to pick up dinner.

Come to think of it… “I bet I can find you a kitchen table. Nothing fancy, but at least you could sit to eat.”

“Don’t go to any trouble.”

“Are you planning to buy furniture?”

She gazed around the empty space. “I’ll need to.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

By the time he’d carried her suitcases upstairs, his friends were at the door. He let them in and introduced them to Aspen.

Reid was tall and fit and some might say handsome, but he was happily married.

Thomas, on the other hand, was a bachelor. Successful and confident and charming, not to mention good looking, the guy volunteered for the fire department and search-and-rescue. He kept himself physically fit as if those were his day jobs. Everybody in town liked Thomas. He eyed Aspen a little too closely and with a little too much admiration.

The feeling that rose in Garrett was so unfamiliar, he almost didn’t recognize what it was—possessiveness. Idiotic, considering he had no claim on her at all.

Still, as Aspen chatted with Thomas, Garrett barely resisted the urge to tell his friend that she was off limits.

When Garrett forced himself to quit staring at the two of them, he saw that Reid was watching him, a little too much amusement in his eyes.

He ignored his friend. “Let’s get to work so we can get out of Aspen’s hair.”

“Right behind you,” Thomas said. To Aspen, he added, “Be right back.”

Before she responded, Garrett snapped, “Let’s go,” and stalked to the basement door.

Together, the three of them carried one of the twin beds and mattress—she insisted she didn’t need both—to the master bedroom. They also took up the nightstand and the bureau. She’d put the bedding in the wash, and Garrett almost asked her if she’d like him to stay until it was finished. Knowing what had happened in the basement, he hated to think of her down there by herself.

But this was her house, and she was an adult. She didn’t seem like the type of woman to run scared from a creepy basement.

In the junk room on the second floor—that was what he’d been calling the bedroom where he’d stored everything he’d found—he and his buddies located some pots and pans andplates, utensils and glasses and cups, and brought them to the kitchen.

“That ought to tide you over,” Garrett said, setting the items on the counter.

She looked up from where she was scouring the kitchen sink. “Those are perfect. Thank you.” Her gaze moved to Reid and Thomas. “I can’t thank you enough for helping me out.”

“A friend of Garrett’s is a friend of ours,” Thomas said.

Garrett managed to not glare at him.

Reid said, “I hope you’ll join us at church Sunday. I’m sure my wife would like to meet you.”

“I’ll be there. I’m looking forward to it.”

“You need anything else?” Garrett asked.

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