Page 5 of By The Book
He watched as she squinted up at him, her blue eyes the color of a dark sky. “I had to cancel on him a few weeks ago but told him we’d be coming soon. It’s fine. We’ll make it work.”
“The offer stands,” he said, indicating the bags.
Her full pink lips twisted in a semblance of a smile.
“Fine. But nothing with your bad arm. I don’t want to be held responsible if you reinjure it.”
“Roger that.”
Claire froze in the act of pulling a duffle from the back of the Wrangler. “You’re military?”
“Used to be.”
“So you were medically discharged after being shot?”
Her gaze dropped to his shoulder and the sling he now wore. “I left the military five years ago.”
“Oh. I-I… You’re a cop?”
“Bodyguard.” He reached out and grabbed the duffle, sliding it to his good shoulder. “You planning on staying a while?” If she wanted answers, maybe she ought to answer a few questions herself.
Claire side-eyed him as she grabbed another bag.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
He grabbed another bag.
“No, leave that. It’s Tommy’s. He can unload his own.”
He frowned, noting the tote bag full of gaming equipment she held. “But that’s yours?” he asked, indicating the tote.
“For now. Tommy’s grounded,” she said, “and gaming is off-limits. But since we weren’t sure how long we’re staying, he asked if he could bring it just in case.”
“Smart kid.”
“Yeah, well, it stays with me.”
Denz followed her to the back door of the house and inside.
“Tommy, go get your stuff,” she called.
“Grandpa said I had to help him,” Tommy said from somewhere in the house.
Denz paused behind Claire as she stalled just inside a bedroom, watching as the kid tried to place a fitted sheet on the mattress only to discover it was too short.
A four-letter word escaped his mouth and earned a gasp from Claire. “Scott Thomas.”
“It slipped.”
“Not acceptable,” she said, shifting toward the left to drop the bags beside the wall opposite the bed.
“I can’t even keep it in my room?” the kid asked, eyeing the bag with the game system.
“What do you think?”
The kid grumbled, yanking the sheet so hard Denz waited for it to rip.
“Here we go,” Tom said, coming into the small bedroom behind Denz. The man eyed Denz and the bags he carried before tossing the additional linens on the bed. “Try those. I think the ones you have are for your bed in the other room.”
