“And you proposed to me at sunset.”
“On the beach?”
“Sounds great.”
“Where should I pick you up for our first outing as a married couple?”
“I’m staying in a vacation rental.” For how long was yet to be determined, since she’d booked the place last-minute after learning about the job interview. And she only booked a few days out.
He pushed his phone across the desk to her. “Enter your contact and give me the address.”
She took the phone and entered the information. When she passed it back to him, he reached out and their fingers brushed.
His hand was just as warm and rough as Matt’s…and yet different.
She flashed a look at his face and found him staring at her. To cover the moment, she issued a little laugh. “I guess we’d better get used to touching.”
“Yeah.” He pulled his hand back and placed it in his lap. “I’ll let you know what time to be ready.”
Feeling dismissed, she stood. “Okay. See you tomorrow.” She started to turn to the door, then swung back. “What should I wear?”
He dipped his gaze over her body, leaving her feeling off-balance. “Dress like you’d come to work.”
“Got it.” She took a step to leave.
“And Zee?”
She stopped and turned to him.
“Thanks for agreeing to this. I didn’t want to let the team down.”
She gave him a gentle smile. “Neither did I. Bye, Church.” She stepped into the hallway and pulled the door closed behind her.
Talking about Matt usually left her feeling like the ground had shifted under her feet.
But this evening, walking away from Church’s office, Zee felt steadier than she had in years.
And that surprised her more than the fake marriage ever could.
Chapter Three
Church stepped out of the truck and the noise hit him. Generators hummed and crew members of the movie set shouted to each other across the clearing. A young woman jogged by carrying a headset and a clipboard like they were both life support.
Yesterday the valley was quiet. Today it looked like a small city had landed in the middle of the mountains.
As he rounded the truck to join Zee, he scanned the area, taking in any changes to the landscape. The road was the same, the line of sight clear. Equipment trucks lined one side of the lot, creating a blind pocket someone could easily use for cover, but the only way in was through the woods, and the Malones cleared that. Apparently the landowner was one of the salt of the earth types that kept a tight rein on who accessed their land.
With that worry out of the way, he turned his attention to Zee. She was completely still, facing the mountains. Even though she wore a pair of big sunglasses, he knew she was staring at the view.
He stepped up next to her.
“It’s so beautiful,” she breathed.
The breeze caught a tendril of warm chestnut hair and sent it dancing around her jaw. She hooked it behind her ear and glanced at him, a soft smile playing around the corners of her lips.
For a second, the noise of the set faded.
“Not a bad place to spend the day.”
