Page 47 of By The Book
“We have all we need,” the cop said. “If not, I’ll be in touch. And if you think of anything else, you call us.”
Denz reluctantly released her when Claire moved to accept the card the cop handed her and nodded at the man. “I will. Thank you.”
The officers moved toward the front of the house to leave, and Marsali, Eliza, and Amelia surrounded Claire in a group hug.
Goodbyes were said, and Claire sniffled.
“Let’s get you home.” Denz shook hands with Oliver and walked Claire to his rental. He helped her inside, but when she sat just there and stared at the multitude of flashing lights that had now been joined by camera crews, he tugged the seat belt into place and latched it over her.
He got them turned around and heading in the right direction, and once the police lights were behind them, he gently tugged on her forearm and lifted her hand to his lips. Her fingers were icy, and he held them to his chest to warm.
The summer traffic plucked his last nerve, but finally Denz pulled into Tom’s and cut the engine, reluctant to let go of Claire long enough to round the vehicle. “Come on, let’s get you inside. Where are your keys?”
Claire fumbled in her purse and produced a set of shiny keys he took from her trembling hand. The house was mostly dark, but Tom had left a light on in the living room.
Denz watched as Claire stumbled her way to the couch and dropped down to sit like she couldn’t take another step. He set the keys on the coffee table before lowering himself to the surface to remove her shoes. “I don’t know how you don’t break an ankle in these.”
She didn’t speak. One shoe dropped and then he worked his fingers over the straps of the other and it dropped as well. “Claire?”
“I c-can’t stop shaking,” she said. “Why c-can’t I s-stop shaking?”
He shifted off the coffee table onto the couch beside her and pulled her against him. “It’s the adrenaline. Fight or flight. And probably more than a little shock.”
Denz ran his hand up and down her back, softly, slowly, hoping it soothed her.
She turned her face into his chest and he kissed her head. “It’ll stop soon. You’re okay, Claire.”
“He was going to hurt her. He saw us and started yelling, and then he zeroed in on Marsali and… You should’ve seen his eyes. The l-look he h-had.”
Denz knew exactly what she referred to. Certain men—dangerous men—tended to have the same crazed look. Dark, beady, wild. Whatever the descriptive, their eyes were terrifying, and Denz hated that Claire now had them seared into her memory because of the night. “But he didn’t. You stopped him.”
“But…Tommy. All I could think of was Tommy. He’s lost his d-dad. And if the man… If he’d… IfI… Tommy would’ve been alone. What would he d-do?”
“Everyone is safe,” he whispered. “Tommy is safe.Youare safe,” he said, stressing each word.
She slid her arms around him and her head stayed buried against him.
“Don’t let go.”
Denz closed his eyes, barely able to breathe because of the anger coursing through him that someone had scared Claire so badly that she was reduced to the quivering woman he held. “I won’t.”
“I m-mean it,” she whispered again, her breath hot on his chest through his shirt. “Please d-don’t let go.”
He squeezed her tighter and then shifted and turned her so that she sat on his lap with him cuddling her, head tucked and body curled around him so tightly her knees dug into his ribs. “I’m right here. I won’t let go.”
At least…not until he was forced to.
Chapter 19
Claire opened her eyes and blinked, confused by everything. The bright light streaming through the window sheers blinded her, and it took a moment for her to remember she wasn’t in Virginia but in Carolina Cove. At her father’s. In the living room curled up on…Denz?
Claire gasped and the noise must have woken Denz, because his arms tightened around her and his mahogany gaze locked on to hers.
Claire felt her heart tug at the sleep-sexy smile that formed on his lips.
“Morning, beautiful. How do you feel?”
How did she feel? Stupid. She tensed at the memories flooding back. Marsali and the girls, the man…the screaming and fear and chaos. “I can’t believe you… You should’ve left me here a-and gone to bed.”
