Page 8 of By The Book
“Why would he lie?”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe because he committed a crime? Is in a gang or a cartel?”
Her father’s chuckles filled the small bedroom she’d used from her birth until she was seventeen and snuck out the window to run away with Scott.
“You’ve got quite the imagination.”
“It’s not such a leap these days, especially when you say you’re always watching the news. Drug running, human trafficking… People get shot all the time. It’s very possible. People lie.”Even husbands.
Not that she’d admit that to her father.
“I got a copy of his license and a business card for the company he works for, and before you ask, yes, I called it. He’s legit.”
The air left her lungs in a rapid exhalation as relief poured in. She still didn’t like the man’s chosen profession—or any profession equating to danger—but at least her father didn’t have a fugitive in the garage.
Bed made, she straightened and looked at the array of bags lining the wall and atop the chair. She should unpack before things got too wrinkled, but more than anything, she wanted some sand between her toes and salt air in her lungs. “I think I’m going to check on Tommy and go take a walk on the beach before I tackle those. I’ll help with dinner when I get back. Or would you rather order something? Go out to eat?”
“I’ll make something.”
Her father loved to cook, which was why his food service business did so well. She might be a little biased, but she thought he made the best shrimp tacos on the East Coast.
Claire moved toward the door only to stop when her father cleared his throat.
She met his gaze and waited.
“Never mind.”
“What did you want to say?”
“Nothing that can’t wait. Go check on your boy and make sure he’s not up to no good. I need to know if I need to nail his windows shut like I should have yours.”
Claire lifted her chin, a hot rush of tears prickling her eyes to the point heavy blinking almost didn’t do the trick. “I’m sorry for the embarrassment I caused you with my teenage pregnancy, but had it not happened, I wouldn’t have Tommy and I’mnotsorry about that, so if you think I should be…shame on you.”
Chapter 5
Denz walked into Reels, a restaurant and bar near the marina, and quickly spied the group he’d come to meet.
“Denz!” Marsali Beck cried, her sweet voice full of welcome and a smile on her face.
“Hey, Mrs. B, how are you?”
“Are you ever going to call me Marsali?” she asked.
Denz shared a look with her movie star husband and shook his head. “No, ma’am. Mr. Beck, it’s good to see you.”
“You, too, Denz,” Oliver said, shaking Denz’s hand.
The table was filled with Marsali and Oliver’s friends, including Marsali’s brother and Reels’ owner, Mac, and his beautiful new fiancée—a former ballet dancer from New York City turned ballet teacher and business owner here on the island last he’d heard.
“Sit, sit!” Marsali said. “It’s weird to see you in an unofficial capacity. A good weird, though. You’ve been with us so much you’re practically family.”
He chuckled along with the rest of the group at Marsali’s attempt to soften the weirdness comment. “I appreciate that. And I understand. When I ran into Mr. Beck on the street a few days ago, it seemed a little odd.” He’d been exploring downtown Wilmington, walking along the sidewalk outside the Cotton Exchange building, when he’d stumbled onto a movie set.
He’d watched along with the crowd gathered while Oliver had sat in the director’s chair and the actors did their thing. Once finished, Denz had grinned when Oliver did a double take on spotting him in the crowd.
After motioning him to come behind the barriers, Oliver had chatted him up and invited him to tonight’s dinner.
“How’s the shoulder?” Carter asked.
