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Mag was sitting in the living roootten she was there Rachel threw her a quelling look when she would have opened her mouth

“I wasn’t going to say a thing,” Mag denied

“I bet” Rachel left the house to go to work at the church store Fridays were always pretty busy, so Rachel liked to ot there early

As she opened the door, surprised Lily was running late, the frigid air hit her in a blast and Rachel shivered, pulling on the sweater she had taken from the car She had otten This was beyond ridiculous She couldn’t understand why Pastor Patterson hadn’t seen to it His faloo

Rachel went to the back of the store and put some water in the coffeepot to heat for tea and had just decided to raise one of the rear s to let in some warm air when she heard the front door open She went back to the front of the store and didn’t see anyone A chill ran up her back that didn’t have anything to do with the cold air

No one had coone out Whoever it was had been in the store when she had come in

Rachel started going through the store carefully None of the things there were expensive, all the itean to ite items: a few cans of food and some clothes Several of the books on the shelf were out of order, and she had straightened theo home yesterday

Going back behind the desk, she called the pastor’s office He answered on the first ring, and when she explained what she had found, he came immediately to the store

“Were you able to see anyone?”

“No, I would have never known anyone was here if I hadn’t heard the bell over the door ring I was out back, opening a hen I thought someone had come in”

Pastor Merrick frowned at her “Why were you opening the ?”

“Because I was freezing I was trying to let in some warm air”

“The air conditioner still isn’t fixed in here? The repairman fixed the other unit for the church and house last week I assumed he had fixed this one also”

“No, it’s still freezing in here I’ve been leaving the s open in the back to let in warm air”

“I’ized

“I should have mentioned it before now” She should have told him she had mentioned it to Brooke several times

“Do you want me to call Knox?”

Rachel thought of the itery and needing clothes “No, that’s all right I’ry They were probably frightened off when I came in early,” Rachel speculated

“If you’re sure…”

“Yes” The door opened and Lily caht smile

“All right, then I’ll go call the repairman”

“What has the both of you looking so serious this ?” Lily questioned as she stashed her purse under the counter

“How the repairive him a call I’ll talk to you both later” The pastor excused himself

“I hope he fixes it soon It’s like Alask

a in here,” Lily admitted

“I’,” Rachel shivered

She fixed Lily and herself both tea as the custo in The intruder and the custohts too busy to worry about her date with Cash tonight She wanted to call it off, and she certainly had no intentions of going through with her pro out of the rest of the bet Besides, she knew Cash would be able to track her doherever she hid out

“What are you doing tonight?” Rachel asked

“Babysitting for Beth and Razer They haven’t had a date night since she’s had the babies How about you?”

“I’ out on a date with Cash”

Lily threw her a startled look as she arranged clothes on a rack “I didn’t know you were seeing him”

“I’m not; this is our first date” Rachel blushed, aware of how thistown knew she had lost her virginity to him

“Where are you going?” Lily asked with a worried frown

“I figured ould go to aclothes at Lily’s reaction