That earned him a small smile. And any smile from Zee felt like a win.
Her phone chimed, and his gaze flicked down automatically.
She skimmed the message and straightened slightly. “Oh.”
“What is it?”
She darted a look around. “Maybe we shouldn’t discuss this here.”
He extended a hand for her to take. When she did, he pulled her from the chair and guided her some distance away from the crew.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“The owner of the Airbnb I messaged yesterday.” She looked at the screen again. “He says he had a cancellation. I can move in for a few days starting tomorrow.”
Her thumb hovered over the screen.
He frowned. “You’re going to just keep moving every few days?”
She shrugged. “It’s what I’ve been doing.”
“You’re already worried about security. Stay with me. You won’t have to set up cameras at all.”
She sputtered. “I can’t just move in with you, Church.”
His heart hitched, her words going straight to his head.
You can. You should.
He stopped before they reached his lips.
He liked having her there. More than that, he liked knowing she was safe.
“Church—”
“Stay on the ranch until you find an apartment in Willowbrook.”
She studied him for a beat. “You’re serious.”
He didn’t need to answer—his response was plain on his face.
Another pause stretched between them before she finally nodded. “Okay. Until I find a place.”
“Good.” He took her hand again, realizing how right it felt to touch her this way, even if it was only for show. As they walked back, a few people jogged past.
Once they reached her chair, he saw Nigel watching them. To keep up appearances, Church planted his hands on Zee’s chair and leaned over her. “Nigel is watching us,” he said, low.
“Well then we’d better look like we’re married.” She smiled into his eyes, and his heart hitched again.
She smelled like sun-warmed skin and shampoo. And he ached to see if she tasted as good as she smelled.
His stare hovered on her lips for a beat too long. Before he could do anything rash, like kiss her, he pushed away.
Filming resumed shortly afterward, and the set returned to its normal activity. Church took up his position near the trailers, constantly on watch as the crew moved through their shots.
By the time lunch rolled around, Zee seemed more restless than she had earlier. She picked at the edge of the sandwich he’d brought her before she finally met his gaze.
“Church?”
