Page 45 of By The Book
“Temporary,” Claire added, reminding herself and Marsali.
“Ah, yeah, I suppose he is that,” Marsali with a wrinkle of her nose. “But that statement… Does that mean you’ve thought about dating again?”
“Oh. Marsali…”
“I know it’s hard, but if you’re ready, I’d love to help you with that. Free of charge. Just say the word. I’d be honored to set you up, and with you moving back to Carolina Cove, it would be a great way of meeting people and…making new friends?”
Denz had warned Claire that Marsali would be all about setting her up. At the time, she’d laughed off the idea, but now…maybe it was time tothinkabout moving forward?
“You’re considering it. I can tell,” Marsali said, her tone excited. “Oh, Claire, please let me help you?”
Chapter 18
During the next couple of days, Claire and Tommy worked mornings to midafternoons with Claire’s father. Denz spent his days at PT, fishing off the pier, or on the beach reading and took Tommy to the gym in the evenings. The kid’s attitude seemed to be improving, and Denz even caught a few smiles.
Earlier at the gym, Tommy told the kids in the group about moving to Carolina Cove, and the news was met with enthusiasm. Tommy was invited to the beach with the kids the following day to swim and hang out again, and the kid quickly agreed.
Denz sat on the apartment steps to enjoy the evening breeze and noted that Claire still wasn’t back. Tommy had told him Marsali and Eliza had accepted Claire’s offer to pitch in on wedding prep, but Denz figured the ladies were simply using that as an excuse to hang out as women tended to do.
His phone buzzed and he frowned when Claire’s number appeared. “Hey. You have too much fun and need a ride home?”
“Denz, something happened. I’m fine. We’re all fine. B-but there was a man… Can you come get me? I-I’m too shaky to drive and I don’t want to wake D-dad…”
He gripped the phone so hard he heard the plastic crack. “Where are you?”
“Eliza’s house. Do you know—”
“I’ll be right there. Stay with Oliver. I’m on my way.” Denz had liked the idea of Claire hanging out with her friends, knowing she needed that time to reconnect. But obviously being in close proximity to Oliver and Marsali had put Claire in danger.
He grabbed his keys and raced across Carolina Cove before getting stopped by police when he turned down their street. Lights flashed up and down the area, but mostly at the end near Carter Hayes’s home. His pulse raced at the sight, and Denz lowered his window as a cop approached.
He had to show his ID, but Oliver or someone had alerted the police to Denz’s impending arrival. The cop allowed Denz to pass, and he jerked the vehicle to a stop and hurried toward Carter and Eliza’s house.
Carter stood on the porch talking to yet another cop, while more searched the area with flashlights. “What happened?” Denz asked Carter when he got close enough to be heard.
“Oliver and Marsali had an unwelcome visitor tonight. The girls finished the wedding prep and walked over to the house to take a tour of the remodel only to discover they weren’t alone.”
Denz’s heart thumped hard in his chest as adrenaline surged at the news. He jogged up the steps to where Carter waited.
“Thanks for your help,” Carter said to the cop before turning to Denz. “Come on, everyone is inside.”
Carter led the way into his home, and Denz followed on the man’s heels, impatient in his desire to get to Claire.
Oliver and Lincoln stood in the kitchen with two more officers, all of them wearing dark expressions. Denz’s hands clenched when he didn’t see the ladies.
“Denz,” Oliver said.
“Mr. Beck,” Denz greeted, adding a nod. “You’ve had some excitement.”
The ladies emerged from a room behind them. Marsali immediately moved to Oliver’s side. Eliza and Amelia joined their husbands respectively, and Claire stopped somewhat awkwardly a few steps away from Denz, arms wrapped tight around herself because she trembled from head to toe. “Hey,” he said softly. “Are you okay?”
“That man scared us all to death,” Marsali said. “We were looking at the house, and teasing Claire because she’dfinallyagreed to let me match her, and there he was.”
Match her? So Claire wanted to date, huh?
“Yeah, just when I think I’m ready to date again, the world’s like, let’s send in a crazy guy.”
Everyone laughed at Claire’s wobbly attempt at humor. Everyone but Denz, who couldn’t stand the sight of her trembling like a frightened puppy. He shoved his reservations aside and closed the distance between them. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and drew her close, very aware of the gazes watching them.
