Page 86 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“I can do it, if you want.” At her nod, Garrett walked toward the mangled metal, sucking in a deep breath as he did. It was all too much to consider, and he certainly didn’t want to start considering it at that moment. With Larry’s help, he got a rear door open and crawled inside.

Her purse was there, zipped up tight, thank heavens, so her things weren’t all over the place. He grabbed it and crawled backout. When he handed it to her, he said, “This is all that’s in there.”

“The rest is in the back.”

Of course it was.

He anticipated trouble with the hatch, but aside from a few scrapes, it was undamaged. He opened it and slid back the cover used to hide cargo from passersby. He found a few plastic shopping bags, one from an electronics store. He peeked inside.

A new laptop.

He hefted the packages, and Larry slammed the hatch shut. “It all looks fine, even the laptop.”

Aspen smiled for the first time since Garrett had picked her up on the mountain road. “Amazing.”

Garrett handed Aspen the lighter bags and turned to Larry. “What do you think? Can it be repaired?”

The man chuckled. “You’re kidding, right?”

He had been. There was no salvaging that mess. Garrett focused on Aspen. “Sorry, babe.” Babe? Had he just called herbabe?

But she either didn’t hear or didn’t mind. “It’s not like we’ve grown attached, the car and me. I only owned it for a week. I’m just thankful it held up.”

He seconded that.

With her purchases in the back of his truck, they said goodbye to Larry, and he backed out of the parking spot. But he didn’t leave the lot. It was after eight, and he hadn’t eaten dinner yet. “How about we pick up a pizza? There’s a great place in town.”

“Okay.” Her voice was small, as if she were fighting emotions. Rather than question her—who wouldn’t be emotional after the night she’d had?—he simply squeezed her hand before fishing his phone from his pocket. “What’s your poison?”

“I like everything but green peppers and mushrooms.”

When he ordered a small goat cheese and pear pizza, her eyebrows lifted suspiciously. He winked at her, then added a traditional pie—this one with every kind of meat a person could want. They wouldn’t finish them both, but he was never sorry to have leftover pizza in the fridge.

“It’ll take about fifteen minutes,” he said. “It’s only a five-minute drive. We’ll just stay here out of sight until it’s ready.”

She nodded, leaned back, and closed her eyes.

While they waited, he texted Dylan, told him what happened, and asked if there was any chance Aspen could stay with him and Chelsea. Because of Chelsea’s position as owner and CEO of HCI—not to mention the trouble she and her family had had in the past—their house’s security was top notch. Aspen would be safe there.

But Garrett got a response almost immediately.Wish we could help. We’re in NY and won’t be home until Friday. If she still needs a place to stay after that, we’ll be happy to have her.

So much for that idea.

Garrett and his friends had a group chat, so he texted it, asking if anybody had any ideas.

He got responses immediately. Fitz offered his place, but hadn’t Aspen told Garrett Tabby’s mother was staying there? He’d only met Mrs. Eaton a few times, but she could be a lot to take.

James offered his place, as did Braden. Both of them had new babies at home, though. They were kind to offer, but there had to be a solution that didn’t put anybody out.

Reid didn’t text back. Garrett guessed it was Ella’s bedtime because he had no doubt Reid would offer their place as well.

But it was Andrew’s response Garrett was hoping for.I just texted Grace. She’d love to have Aspen stay with her.

That was the perfect solution. Grace didn’t have a baby at home or a mother staying with her or a five-year-old. She had anextra room, which he knew was furnished, since she’d fostered a little girl for months. The girl had been returned to her family, so the room was available. And Grace lived within spitting distance of Garrett. He could see her front door from his.

That would be great,Garrett told his friend.I’ll text her myself, work out the details.

He did, and a moment later, Grace responded.Happy to have her, but I’m in town for an event at the youth center. I’ll be home by ten. She can come here for the key, if she’s in a hurry to get in.

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