Page 40 of By The Book
Before his dad’s death.
Tommy went into the house with a bang of the door, and Denz stayed where he was, just off the porch.
“I should go shower, too. Have a good evening, Claire.”
One minute she was on the swing, the next she was up and rushing toward him in a repeat of the movie scene on the beach.
Denz heard her and turned in time to catch her against him, and she lifted her arms to pull his head low, lifting her face, her lips, to kiss him.
This kiss was different. Freer. With no one around and no cameras rolling, she pressed her lips to his and put every ounce of thankfulness and warmth she felt into the embrace. Lingering over the caress.
Denz wrapped one arm around her waist and lifted her up, carrying her until her feet hit the steps and she found her footing. She smiled against his lips, realizing he’d leveled their heights.
The kissing continued until a light flicked on in the darkened house behind them, and she pulled away, biting her lower lip as she stared at him.
Denz tilted his head, gaze narrowed on her. Tall and strong and silent. Sexy.
“What was that for?” he asked softly.
“F-for helping Tommy.”
“He’s a good kid.”
“He is. I haven’t seen him that happy and carefree in…ages.”
“Claire?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“That’s the best thank you I’ve ever gotten.”
She couldn’t stop the smile from forming. “I, um, should get inside and get something ready for Tommy. Do you have food? Would you like to join us?”
That was the polite thing to do, wasn’t it? Invite someone for dinner? Even though technically dinner usually came first, then the kissing. She would think about the consequences of what she’d done later, but for now, she was okay with it. After all, what harm was a thank-you kiss when they’d already shared one on the set?
“I need a shower.”
“Of course.”
“Ten minutes?”
Realizing he’d just accepted her invitation, she nodded. “Yeah.”
“I’ll be in soon.”
She watched him turn and go, his long strides carrying him rapidly across the lawn to the stairs leading up to the apartment.
She turned and placed her hand on the screen door to open it but paused when the awareness of what she’d done kicked in.
She’d kissed Denz. As a thank-you and because she’d wanted to. And it had felt good.
But what happened now?
Chapter 17
