Moses and the burning bush? No. She’d taught that one recently.
David and Goliath? The kids already knew that one.
Solomon’s wisdom? Maybe. She could use somewisdom these days. The kids probably wouldn’t understand the story about the two mothers arguing over one baby.
Obedience? She smiled, remembering the ending of the book of Jonah. The kids would get a kick out of Jonah’s reluctant obedience, and it would show them that even adults struggle to do things they don’t want to do.
Her skin cooled as she stepped out of the scorching spray of the shower, and she reached for the towel hanging on a hook. When her body was dry, she wrapped the towel around herself, holding it securely at her chest, before leaving the steamy bathroom.
She took one step into the hallway before she collided with something warm—something that grabbed her bare arms.
Lauren clutched at the towel bunched to her chest with both hands, and her elbows tucked to her sides. A shrill yelp rushed past her throat as Zach breathed a curse.
The realization that it was Zach she’d bumped into half-naked fueled her racing heart. In fact, a searing heat crawled up her chest to her face and ears as she stared at him with wide eyes.
Too close. Way too close.
Zach jerked his hands from her arms and stepped away until his back hit the wall. “What are you doing?”
What was with the tone? He spat the question at her as if she’d thrown herself at him on purpose. Shenodded at the door to her bedroom on Zach’s left side. “I was walking across the hall to get my clothes!”
Zach covered his eyes with his hand. “Can’t you do that when I’m not around?”
“I didn’t know you were around! I just got home, and I went straight tomyshower. Sue me!”
Zach didn’t move from his rigid position against the wall. “Where have you been?” he asked loudly, still blinded by his hand.
He was going to stop by, unannounced and late, and questionherabout where she’d been? Not a chance. “Nowhere. Where were you?” she countered.
“You don’t trust me?” he asked, still talking louder than necessary for the small hallway they were wedged in.
“No.” The truth slipped from her lips without a warning. The raised voices and irritation clawing up her chest probably had something to do with the bite in her tone.
“Good,” he quipped, still covering his eyes like some legendary evil monster might turn him to stone if he peeked.
“You don’t trust me?” she asked, fueled by the adrenaline coursing through her veins and a firm grip on her towel.
Zach slowly dropped his hand and pinned his gaze on her, keeping his line of sight level with her eyes. “No. The only person I trust is me.”
The heat from earlier dissipated, leaving her cold and exposed. She still didn’t understand Zach, andwhile she’d been trying to put her best foot forward, she’d never been this vulnerable and close to him before. She was helpless and completely at the mercy of a man who could take full advantage of her at any moment.
He took a step forward, and she countered with her own step away from him. Her back hit the doorframe, and she pressed against it.
Zach stopped and looked her up and down, his gaze lighting a fire over her skin until he met her stare again. “There’s no honor among thieves, angel. Don’t forget that.”
He turned his body to squeeze through the open bathroom door behind her, closing it with a sharp thud that jolted her lungs back into working order.
She sucked in the chilled air as she darted into her bedroom. Her trembling hand fumbled for the lock on the door. She would not be afraid of Zach Wilson, at least not in front of him. Not after all she’d done to overcome the fear.
He hadn’t hurt her. He could have, but he didn’t. That had to count for something. Right? Whether or not she presented herself in a towel, he could hurt her anytime he wanted.
Or was he letting herthinkshe could trust him so he could pull off a really elaborate scheme later?
She fumbled through her drawers for pajamas and jerked them on. How could she think clearly without being fully clothed? When she had on her fuzzy pants and an old Yellowstone National Park hoodie, she saton the end of her bed and squeezed her wet hair out with the towel.
He couldn’t have seen anything. All the important parts had been covered. Shoulders and ankles weren’t scandalous anymore. Still, she found it difficult to breathe when she remembered his warm hands on her arms and the look in his eyes as he scanned her from head to toe.
She knew how it felt to be restrained by a man who wanted to force her to submit. She knew the strength in the grip and the urgency of every move meant to make her cower. Sure, Zach had gripped her arms when she bumped into him, and she’d quickly reacted, but he hadn’t put any power into the hold. He’d meant to steady both of them, not pin her down.
