By the Book Page 9

  “I’m going to go take my walk before it gets any later,” Tom said, shoving himself back from the table.

  “I’ll clean up,” Claire said.

  “Tommy, you help your mother,” Tom said.

  “Okay.”

  Tom seemed surprised by the kid’s quick agreement, but the man left without commenting further.

  Denz stood and carried his plate to the sink.

  “Oh, leave that. We’ll get it,” Claire said.

  “That’s not how I was raised to leave a table,” Denz said, hoping Tommy listened.

  With all three of them clearing, loading the dishwasher, and wiping things down, it didn’t take long to clean up.

  “Can I watch TV now?” Tommy asked.

  “Yeah, go ahead. We’re finished here.”

  Claire took the tablecloth outside to shake it off and Denz followed her. “Dinner was great.”

  “It was, wasn’t it?”

  “So was the company.”

  She stilled and he watched her closely while she stopped shaking the tablecloth and held it in front of her. Her teeth sank into her lower lip while she folded the material.

  “Denz…”

  He waited, watching her. When she didn’t continue, he stretched out his hands and grabbed the sides of the tablecloth, letting his grip slide to the opposite ends from hers. He lifted them and carried them up, fingers brushing hers in the process. “Something wrong?”

  “No. No, I’m fine. I’m just… Was that weird? For you? What I did?”

  “It wasn’t weird at all. Was it for you?” He let her take the material but didn’t move away from her.

  “A little. I’m…not sorry, though.”

  “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “But I don’t want it to be… I don’t want you to think that… What I mean to say is I’m…”

  “We’re good, Claire. And the shoulder I offered is still available any time you need it.”

  “So we’re…friends.”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. That’s…good.”

  “Are we still on for the wedding?” he asked, hoping the change of subject might remove some of the tension he saw in her beautiful features.

  “Yes. I can’t wait. I haven’t looked forward to anything as much in a long time.”

  He grinned at her words, wishing she looked forward to going with him as much as she did rubbing shoulders with Oliver and seeing her school friends again. “I’m sure it will be spectacular, especially with Eliza Hayes planning it.”

  “It will be nice to reconnect with everyone again, especially since I’m going to move ba—”

  She broke off so abruptly he frowned. “Come again?”

  “I, um”—she glanced toward the house, lowering her voice—“talked with my father this evening while you and Tommy were gone. I’ve…decided to move us back to Carolina Cove.”

  “But you haven’t told Tommy?”

  “No. He knows I’ve been thinking about it but not that I’ve decided for sure.”

  “Maybe the time at the gym will help the transition,” he said. “He seemed to get along okay with the kids there and is excited about hanging out.”

  “I’m glad. I can’t thank you enough for that. For taking him and introducing him… It means a lot.”

  “You’re welcome.” He took a step closer but then stopped himself. “I guess I should go and let you settle in for the evening.”

  Claire stared up at him, her eyes sparkling as she nodded.

  “Have a good night.”

  Denz turned and headed down the steps and across the yard. He didn’t let himself glance back until he made it to the stairs leading up to the apartment. Claire had gone back inside and stood at the kitchen window at the sink, the light overhead giving her blond hair a bright shimmer.

  Tommy’s question came back to him then, filtering through Denz’s brain. Friends let friends lean on them. They helped them.

  And while he was in town, he planned on letting Claire do that…in whatever form she needed.

  Claire decided to wait until the following afternoon to tell Tommy about her decision. She’d told her father they wouldn’t be joining him today at work and instead woke Tommy up and took him to the battleship. The tour was self-guided, and they spent hours climbing and reading and exploring every accessible part of the ship.

  “We’re moving, aren’t we?”

  Tommy’s quietly posed question drew her attention to where her son stood looking at the impossibly tiny room designated as officers’ quarters.

  “Yes.”

  “I knew it. You’ve been acting weird all day.”

  “I haven’t acted weird. Have I?” she asked.

  Tommy shot her a look and she inhaled and moved closer to where he stood. “Okay, fine. Maybe I have, but only because I don’t want you to be upset, but I know you’re going to be at least a little. Just, please remember that I’ve looked at every option and…I think this is the best for us.”

  “Me, too.”

  Tommy’s response couldn’t have shocked her more. “Excuse me?”

  “I think you’re right.”

  “Okay. Who are you and what have you done with my kid?”

  “Mom,” he said, rolling his eyes.

  “I—I’m not sure what to say except I’m glad you feel that way.”

  “Denz said that part of being a man is doing stuff I might not like because it’s important for someone else.”

  Denz said, huh?

  “I don’t want to move, but I get that the house is too much, and I can tell Grandpa is lonely.”

  “Yeah. Grandpa… I talked to Grandpa and he says we can have the apartment as long as we need. Would you like that? Living so close to Grandpa and the beach?”

  “It would be okay. Grandpa’s already said I could work with him in the summers and after school and save up for a car.”

  A car? Oh, that was a reality that wasn’t all that far away, wasn’t it? “When did he say that?”

  “The other day.”

  “Sounds like you’ve made some plans of your own.”

  Tommy shrugged. “Maybe.”

  She placed her hand on Tommy’s bony shoulder and gently squeezed, wondering how her six-pound ten-ounce baby boy had grown so much. “I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think it was best for us. You know that, right?”

  “Yeah, I guess. If we move, do I still have to go to therapy?”

  “Yes. Sorry, kiddo, but that’s nonnegotiable.”

  “Denz says he’s gone to therapy.”

  He had? “Oh?”

  “For the shooting and the military and stuff. He said it’s not a big deal and I need an open mind.”

  “Does that make therapy more tolerable now?” she asked, “knowing that men like Denz talk to people about what they’ve been through?”

  “I guess. It definitely doesn’t make it seem like loser-ville.”

  “Well, there is that, I suppose,” she said, smiling.

  “I’m hungry.”

  “When are you not hungry? Come on, let’s get moving so we can feed you.”

  “Mom?”

  “Yeah?”

  Claire turned back and waited as Tommy studied her.

  “I’m sorry I’ve been a pain. I know I said I was sorry before but…I really am.”

  Her heart squeezed from the vulnerability she saw in Tommy’s eyes. “Thank you. That means a lot to me, Tommy.”

  She wanted to hug him, but she knew his teenage mind would probably view that as ruining the moment. So instead she smiled and led the way toward the next passageway and eventually made their way out of the ship, passing on the fast-food options available for something more substantial. Claire drove them into downtown Wilmington to the Riverwalk and the waterfront restaurants there, deciding the momentous day needed a little extra splurge.

  They chose a waterfront restaurant and lucked into a shaded table.

  “Claire? Is that you?”

&nbs
p; Claire turned at the sound of her name and spotted Marsali Jones Beck, easily recognizable with her gorgeous curly hair. “Oh! Hi, Marsali. Yeah, it’s me.”

  The woman hurried toward Claire and Claire and Tommy both stood.

  “Oh, my goodness! It’s so good to run into you,” Marsali said, giving Claire a warm hug.

  Claire was aware of the large, imposing man nearby and remembered him as the bodyguard from the shoot the other day. “Marsali, this is my son, Tommy,” Claire said, inordinately proud of her son when he remembered his manners.

  “Nice to meet you,” Tommy said.

  “And you. So handsome,” Marsali said to Claire. “So, tell me. Are you going to be in town long?”

  “Actually,” Claire said, “we’re celebrating. Tommy and I have officially decided to move back. I still have to sell our house in Virginia, but Carolina Cove is going to be home again soon.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful! Your father is probably over the moon. I was so sorry to hear about your mom and…your husband. Claire…”

  “Thank you,” she said, wrapping her arm around Tommy’s narrow waist. “We’re doing okay. Right, bub?”

  Tommy nodded.

  “Here, take my number,” Marsali said, pulling a card from her purse. “We need to get together. You, me, Eliza… She won’t be free until after Mac and V’s wedding, but maybe we can get together next week?”

  “I’d like that. And if there’s anything I can do to help, count me in. I’ve always loved weddings.”

  “I’ll tell Eliza,” Marsali said. “She may take you up on that.”

  “I’d be happy to help.”

  “Mom, I’ll be back,” Tommy said, excusing himself.

  Claire watched as he made his way toward the restrooms.

  “So…you know Denz,” Marsali said.

  Claire blinked at the sudden change in topic and nodded. “I do,” Claire said. “He’s renting my father’s apartment while he’s on medical leave.”

  “And bringing you to the wedding.”

  Claire felt her face heat. “He didn’t want to go alone.”

  “Oliver said you two had some major chemistry during filming.”

  Claire shook her head. “We are just friends.”

  Marsali looked disappointed. “Too bad. Denz is a good guy. Hardworking, dedicated.”

  “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 to think about 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’d finally agreed 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.

  “Please don’t think it’s a sign that you shouldn’t,” Marsali said.

  “The guy’s in custody,” Oliver told Denz, bringing them back to the seriousness of the moment. “The police say he appears to be alone, but they’re giving everything a thorough check.”

  “Where was Bruce?” Denz asked.

  “He’d walked over with us and was waiting downstairs,” Marsali said. “We screamed and he came running but—”

  “The guy made a grab for Marsali and Claire shoved him away,” Amelia said, her arms tightening around Lincoln’s waist.

  “She was so brave,” Marsali said tearfully. “Claire, I can’t thank you enough.”

  “I’m glad I was able to help,” Claire said.

  “Attic, closets, and storage areas are clear,” a voice said over the radios worn by the officers.

  “Second floor clear,” stated another voice.

  “Where are M
ac and V?” Denz asked. “Piper?”

  “Mac had already left to take V home,” Lincoln said. “He’s probably trying to get back and wondering what’s happening.”

  “I’ll call him,” Carter said, pulling out his cell. “And Piper’s asleep at Linc’s with the baby,” he said in response to Denz’s question about his daughter. “Breanne and Brendan are with them. They’re locked up tight with a cop watching the doors.”

  “Tomorrow is going to be a looong day,” Marsali murmured. “There’s no sleeping after all of this.”

  “I’m so glad we made V go home early,” Eliza said. “Maybe she won’t find out until the morning. I don’t think any of us will be able to shut our eyes.”

  Oliver kissed his wife’s head and squeezed her against him.

  “Denz, I’d like to talk to you first thing in the morning if you’re free.”

  Denz nodded. “You got it. I’ll help any way I can.”

  “Be thinking of ways to lock everything down. The street will be gated full-time from now on,” Oliver said. “We’ve been leaving it up during the day for the construction crews as they work on the house and only closing it at night.”

  The house Oliver referred to was actually three homes at the end of the street, which were being redesigned and connected into one large one complete with a guest house, massive garage, housekeeping quarters, and all the bells and whistles. Oliver and Marsali had purchased the homes in order to be close to her brother and the friends, and the work was in the final stages of completion.

  “I’m thinking the gate should be guarded, not just keyed, but that still leaves the water side accessible. The police found a boat, but they’re still trying to confirm if it belongs to the guy and his motive.”

  “Someone patrolling and keeping an eye on things twenty-four seven wouldn’t be a bad idea,” Denz said, nodding. “Maybe another dog or two as well, even if they’re just pets.”

  “Piper will be happy about that,” Carter said. “She’s wanted a dog ever since she met Ginger,” he said, referring to Marsali’s foster.

  “Maybe while you’re here in town you could help me get things sorted out? Come up with something comprehensive?” Oliver asked Denz.