Page 28 of By The Book
Denz left his PT appointment and celebrated the fact he could lose the sling for good when his cell buzzed. “Denz,” he said after looking at the face and seeing Eliza’s business listed.
“Hi, it’s Eliza Hayes. I just wanted to double-check that you are planning to attend Mac and V’s wedding?”
“Yes.”
“And do you have a plus-one?”
“I do.”
“Oooh, the woman you mentioned?” she asked.
“Yes. Claire Simmons.”
“Hmm. Doesn’t ring a bell. Oh, and nice going the other day when you kept changing the subject whenever Marsali tried to steer you back to dating.”
Denz paused outside the SUV he’d rented for his stay. “Thanks. Do you and Marsali know everyone on the island?” he asked with some amusement.
“Pretty much. Hey, it’s a fairly small town when you boil it down, and we grew up here. Did your date?”
“Yeah. And she knows Marsali.”
“Really? Well, I should know her then.”
“Her father is Tom Blanchette.”
“Oh, my gosh, you mean it’sClairey Blanchette! I haven’t seen her since high school!”
Denz held the phone away from his ear at Eliza’s excited squeal.
“Wait until I tell Marsali. Does she know?”
“Uh, I don’t think so since you just made the connection.”
“Hang on, I’m putting you on speaker so I can text her right now. Oh, it’ll be good to see Claire. Is she as pretty as ever?”
Denz unlocked the door and tossed his gym bag inside before he got in, leaving the door open to combat the growing heat of the day. “She is,” he said, picturing Claire as she’d been this morning, sitting on the porch swing with her laptop and a concentrated frown on her delicate face as she’d worked on whatever it was on her screen.
“What’s she doing these days?”
“She’s at the location shoot with her father in craft service. I’m actually heading over there. Oliver gave me a pass to get by security.”
“Ha! Like you’d need a pass. I bet you could get on past security if you set your mind to it, couldn’t you?”
He smiled but didn’t answer. Trade secrets were secrets, after all. “Want me to give Claire a message?”
“Yes, tell her we can’twaitto see her.”
“I’ll be sure to tell her.”
“Denz?”
“Yeah?”
“That comment you made at dinner about your relationships being brief?”
“What about it?”
“Claire’s sweet. Be nice, okay?”
