“I’m not sure how that works. We’ll be learning the ropes together.”
He stared into her eyes for a beat that lasted so long her insides began to heat. Out of the corner of her eye, shesaw Shiloh bump elbows with Layne and both women glanced between her and Church.
She wondered if they saw the desire plain on her face or the way she couldn’t tear her gaze away from him.
After their meal, they announced she was holding yoga at sunrise, and she was so pleased to see a bunch of the men nodding.
Willow added that rain was in the forecast over the weekend. That brought a lot of chatter about whether the fall festivities could continue that weekend as planned.
Willow jumped on a chair and waved her arms to get everyone’s attention. Many of the guys laughed at her antics, and Zee could see why the woman was so loved and respected by everyone.
“Don’t worry—if it rains this weekend, we push the festivities back a weekend or two. There will still be bonfires and pumpkin pies!”
That earned her a cheer, and Willow waved her hands to urge a louder response.
When it died down a little, Church offered her a hand to help her off the chair. She jumped down, laughing.
When Zee and Church walked out of the lodge with Willow and some of the others, the wall of dark clouds was visible on the horizon. The breeze teased at their hair and clothes, thick with the taste of coming rain.
Willow wrapped her arms around herself. “Well, I guess the festival is postponed.”
Rhae cradled Navy to her. “Maybe by the time we reschedule, the guys will be home to join us.” She pressed a kiss to her daughter’s head as if she could shower affection on Denver’s daughter in his place.
Zee and Church broke away from the others, strolling slowly. As they walked, their bodies seemed drawn together like two magnets, and their arms bumped with a soft rustle of fabric.
“Do you think those guys will really come to my class?” she asked.
“I do. You’d be surprised how many of them participate in classes you’d never think fit them. Like Honor’s art class and Juliette’s music performances.”
They found a spot where the lights of the lodge didn’t reach. Above them the stars popped out all over the deep blue canvas of the sky. One. Then ten. Then hundreds.
They stopped at the small stretch of fence that felt like their spot and leaned against it. Zee tipped her head back, drinking in the sight.
“It’s incredible.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it.” Church’s body heat felt like a soft stroke along her side. When she looked at him, she saw he wasn’t staring at the sky—he was staring at her.
Even though she had a lot of reasons to hide herself away, and a new worry waiting for her on that coffee table back in the loft, she pushed those things aside and let herself live, for once, in the present.
At the expression in his eyes, her chest gave a tight squeeze. She turned to him and slipped her arms around his neck. He groaned as she pressed her body against his, as though he’d been waiting for this moment all day.
Their lips met in a seeking kiss and broke off endless minutes later, both of them panting for more.
“A girl could get used to this,” she said softly, nuzzling him.
His gaze locked on hers as he rumbled, “Get used to it.”
Chapter Ten
Church woke throbbing hard, restless and already aware of Zee.
She lay in a pool of shadows, one bare shoulder beckoning his lips even after he spent most of the night worshipping her body. They’d fallen into each other’s arms the instant they stepped through the door of the loft suite and hadn’t surfaced from the haze of passion until she was crying out his name.
Twice.
He ached at the memory of her liquid heat gripping him so damn tight, and for a second it dragged him right back under.
He swung his legs out of bed and turned his head toward the open bedroom door. His gaze landed on the coffee table.
