“Try!”
They were both laughing so hard by the third try that they nearly knocked the little table off-balance.
“Ooops.” Randy steadied the table. “I’m not all work. I play softball. Go to the gym. I do stuff.”
“Then why is a good-looking guy with a good job like you still single?”
She thinks I’m good-looking.Randy absently rubbed the scruff on his chin. “I just haven’t met the right woman.” But in his heart he was beginning to think he had. “My friends haven’t introduced me to a girl like you yet. You clearly had better friends than me in that department.”
“I got lucky. What are you looking for?”
You.“I have no idea.”
“That might be part of the problem,” she teased.
“Yeah. Probably, but I know that we’d better get to the DMV and get those tags while we have the chance, or they’ll be closed and you won’t be able to drive your truck.”
Chapter Eighteen
NATALIE LOOKEDon as Randy squatted in front of Jeremy’s pickup truck, twisting the last screw to secure the new Virginia tags. “Thanks for doing all of this. I have a feeling none of this has a thing to do with your detective duties.”
“Happy to do it.” He stood. “All set. Do you want to practice driving and parking in the lot first?”
“No. I’ll just follow you, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, but how are you going to get both vehicles back to the mountains?”
“I’m going to put the Mustang back in storage. Technically, I still have that storage unit paid up until the end of the month anyway. I’ll just extend it.”
“You know, it’s not good to leave a car in storage. It needs to be started, if not driven. I know a guy who might be able to help you.”
“I can’t sell it.”
“I wasn’t suggesting that you sell it. My buddy owns the Bay Area Automobile Gallery and Tap House. They rotate custom cars through the display every other month. He has a huge warehouse with a bunch of classic cars. I bet he’d let you keepthe Mustang there if you let him put it in the rotation inside the brewery. The guy is a real gearhead. He’ll make sure it’s taken care of, and he probably won’t charge you what you’re having to pay for storage.”
“Really? Why would he do that?”
“Well, he’s a friend, but he’s also a Mustang nut. He’d be thrilled to have this one on display. Just an idea. I could ask if you want.”
“That would be great. Thank you.” She shook her head almost as soon as the words came out of her mouth. “No. Not great. Look. I know you mean well, but I’m about to have an anxiety attack over this already. I don’t think I can let this car out of my control. I know in my mind that everyone is not out to take advantage of me, but I just can’t risk it.”
“It’s okay. You’ve got some healing to do. When you’re ready, I can ask him about it.”
Embarrassed by her reaction, she asked, “Do you really think a person recovers from this? I mean, I know it’s not logical to think this way, but I can’t help myself.”
“Give yourself a break. You’re going to be fine.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Come on. Follow me to the precinct, and then I’ll follow you in your truck to put the car back in storage.”
“That would be great. Thanks for understanding.”
“That’s what friends do,” he said, then walked back to his car.
Yeah, they do.She climbed into the truck and waited while Randy got back into his car.
She was thankful the truck had been recovered. Randy wasturning out to be more than an acquaintance. She waited for him to get to his car, her thoughts wandering to his sister, Courtnie, and her new beginning. Natalie would’ve never guessed that woman had lost everything and started over in such a short period of time.
