Free Brand New Me by Meg Benjamin Page B

I’m an expert. Think of me as your personal thrift store shopper.”
    Deirdre bit her lip, trying to fight back the sense of encroaching doom. She pictured her closet at Docia’s apartment, the rows of sober business suits. Business suits she’d probably never need again, given that she was going into the coffee business. “Does this store buy clothes, too?”
    “Sure. They’re basically resale, so they take a lot of stuff on consignment, or Carolee can give you a flat payment.” Clem took a gulp of her iced tea. “Why, you got some stuff to get rid of?”
    “I might, now that I think about it. And then I could use the money to buy something that would be appropriate here.”
    Clem shook her head. “I shudder to think what that might be, but Too Good To Be Threw has a little of everything.”
    “Okay.” Deirdre nodded decisively. “I’ll take some time off tomorrow after the lunch shift.”
    “Good.” Clem stood up again. “Time to set up the nachos so y’all can throw them in the microwave when you need to.”
    Deirdre pushed herself away from the table, thinking about her suits, her shoes, her matching bags. A whole other life that I won’t be needing anymore. At least with any luck I won’t. She rapped her knuckles lightly on the wooden table, then turned toward the bar to get change for the night.

Chapter Six
    Craig drove his Suburban to Konigsburg, leaving his BMW at home. He figured it was best to be inconspicuous, at least at first, and the Suburban would definitely fit in better in the Hill Country. Dee-Dee should be glad to see him, given how long she’d been out there on her own by now, but he wasn’t taking anything for granted. After all, he hadn’t expected her to stay out this long in the first place.
    He sauntered down Main, looking for a bookstore. Big John hadn’t been able to give him the name of the place, just that his niece owned it and he’d know her when he saw her (“Six feet tall and orange hair. Never been one to hide her head under a basket either”).
    Kent’s Hill Country Books looked like his best bet, given that the niece’s maiden name had been Kent. He hadn’t exactly decided what he’d say if he found Dee-Dee working there. It depended on how miserable she looked. Maybe she’d just let him bundle her up right then and there and take her home, which would really work out best for everyone concerned. He wouldn’t remind her how dumb she’d been, either.
    He didn’t see Dee-Dee in the shop when he walked in, but he didn’t see any six-foot redheads either. The woman behind the counter was small and dark-haired. He managed not to grind his teeth in frustration.
    “Can I help you?” the brunette asked.
    Craig gave her his best promoter’s smile. “I’m looking for the owner.”
    The brunette smiled. “That’s me. I’m one of them, anyway. Janie Toleffson.”
    Well, hell. This was going to be more complicated than he’d thought. “Actually, I’m trying to find Docia Kent. Is this her bookstore?” Big John hadn’t been able to remember his niece’s married name either.
    Janie Toleffson’s forehead furrowed slightly. “This is her store, but her name is Toleffson now, too. Are you a friend?”
    “Not exactly.” He upped the warmth of the smile. “We’ve never met. I need to ask her about someone—a common acquaintance.”
    The brunette’s forehead didn’t get any smoother. “I don’t know when Docia will be here exactly. Perhaps you could leave a card with your number so that she could call you.”
    Craig figured he wouldn’t hold his breath waiting for that call, but it was the best he could do at the moment. He handed the brunette a business card, with one more smile. “She can reach me at my cell number. I’ll be in town for a few days.”
    Janie Toleffson glanced at the card, then looked more closely. “Brandenburg, Inc.?”
    He nodded. “I work for Mrs. Toleffson’s uncle.”
    Something flickered behind her eyes for a moment,