Page 107 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“I do want to meet your uncle,” she said.

“We can leave right after dessert. Or…anytime you want. Just say the word.”

Aspen’s side of the cab was silent. Not being able to talk about what she’d learned was probably making whatever she’d heard feel even worse.

She needed a distraction. Dean and Deborah would be able to provide that, if nothing else.

They rode in silence until he parked in the driveway. “You ready?”

She nodded and pushed open her door.

He ran around to help her from the truck. “Uncle tells me a gentleman always helps a lady in and out of vehicles.”

He’d expected at least a smile.

“Can I carry that for you?”

She handed him the box, which he shifted to his other hand before sticking out his elbow. “They have some drainage issues, so the driveway stays wet for a while. It might be a little slick.”

She slid her hand into the crook of his elbow and held on tight.

He loved the feel of her leaning on him, trusting him. Later, after dinner, after he took her back to Grace’s, he’d coax what she’d learned from Cote out of her. He could be trusted with it, and she needed to share it.

He was glad she’d decided to come. Once Dean spent an evening with Aspen, he’d understand why Garrett was enamored with her. He’d realize she was nothing like her mother. The grudge he held against her would have dissipated by the time they dug into Josie’s desserts, of that Garrett had no doubt.

As usual, they hadn’t reached the front door before Deborah pushed it open. “Welcome! Hurry, hurry. It’s cold out here.”

He chuckled. “Auntie, if you’d leave it shut until we got there?—”

“Oh, shush. Can I help it if I’m eager?”

They walked up the concrete steps, and Deborah pulled Aspen into a quick hug. “I’m so glad you came.” At the sight of the box in Garrett’s hands, her eyebrows lifted. “And what is that?”

“I picked them up at that coffee shop,” Aspen said.

“Josie is a master.” She took the box from Garrett and stepped back. “Dean’s in the kitchen.”

Garrett helped Aspen with her coat and hung it on the hooks right inside the door before shrugging out of his own. They walked up the half flight to the main floor, Deborah right behind.

With a hand on Aspen’s back, Garrett urged her toward the kitchen, where his uncle was facing the stove. “Uncle Dean, this is Aspen Kincaid.”

He turned to them. Though he wore a smile, Garrett saw wariness behind it and hoped he only recognized it because he knew the man so well.

Aspen stepped forward, hand outstretched. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Garrett’s told me a lot about you.”

Dean shook her hand. “Glad you’re here.”

“Thank you for the table and chairs.”

“They were just taking up space.”

Garrett peeked beyond him. “I’m starved.”

“Chicken scampi,” Dean said to Aspen. “I was gonna do shrimp, but I didn’t know if you ate shellfish.”

“I do, but I like chicken,” she said. The scents of garlic and spices filled the air. “It smells delicious.”

“You guys sit. It’ll be ready in a minute.”

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