Page 31 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“Nope. Yours is my only job right now. Besides, I doubt you’re going to fit everything you need, plus living room furniture, in the back of that SUV.”

He made a point.

“Come on. It’ll be my pleasure.”

CHAPTER NINE

Rather than turn toward the interstate, Garrett detoured into the center of Coventry and parked downtown.

“I know I’m new to the area,” Aspen said, “but this isn’t Plymouth.”

He gestured toward a thrift store. “You’ve got money to play with, but why waste it on brand-new furniture if you can find some used. This place usually has a decent selection.”

“Great idea.” Before she opened the passenger door, she flashed him a smile that had his heart doing a weird little flip.

He met her on the sidewalk. Though there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, the sun hadn’t warmed the air much, Aspen pulled up her hood for the thirty-second walk between his truck and the entrance. He could picture that wavy blond hair blowing in the wind as she surfed, but all bundled up like that, she was adorable.

She glanced his way. “What are you smiling about?”

“Nothing, nothing.”

He needed to remember that she was a client. And that he was spying on her. Which meant he could not get emotionally involved.

But he wasn’t truly spying. He was being a friend. If she decided to tell him something about her mother, he’d listen. And then he’d pray about what to do with the information.

If God told him not to tell his uncle, then he wouldn’t.

Even if the thought of denying the uncle who’d saved his life sent acid to his stomach.

He scooted ahead and held the door open for Aspen. Bells overhead announced their arrival as they stepped in. He pulled the door shut behind him. It was notorious for flying open at a gust of wind.

“Come on in. And make sure you got that door…” The woman’s voice faded as she looked up from behind a cash register. “Oh, hey, Garrett.”

“Hey, Trudy. This is Aspen. She’s looking for some furniture.” To Aspen he said, “Trudy goes to my church.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Same,” The older woman said. “You two on a date?”

Did Aspen’s cheeks turn a little pink? Probably just a remnant of the cold.

“She’s a client,” Garrett said. “I’m helping her out.”

Trudy nodded, but she didn’t seem convinced. “What do you need?”

“Pretty much everything.” Aspen looked around, and he followed her gaze.

The place was nicer than other thrift stores he’d seen, with all the items neatly merchandised. Trudy not only employed people who were down on their luck, she also donated a portion of her profits—and a good deal of clothing and other items—to the local food bank. She’d opened the store to serve the poor, especially those who were too proud to take charity.

Racks of clothes filled the front half of the store. Household and decorative items were behind that, and way in the back,furniture. He’d bought a sofa and recliner here when he’d first moved into his condo.

“You know where to go.” Trudy turned back to her work. “Yell if you need help.”

Aspen grabbed a shopping cart and headed down an aisle.

“Not sure furniture will fit in that.”

But she beelined toward kitchen items. “It’s amazing the things you don’t think about.”

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