Crew rubbed the back of his neck. “She says she is.”
He cocked a brow. “You don’t think so?”
“I think any relationship takes work. I’ll have odd hours until we get into a routine. She’s busy with the last of the fall business in the greenhouse, and she’s cleaning up people’s gardens in preparation for winter in her side business.”
Church didn’t have to worry about him and Zee crossing that path, but their relationship would face other challenges.
He shifted his weight. “I need to talk to Gabe. Catch you tomorrow, Crew.”
They bumped knuckles together, and he started toward the building. The walk wasn’t far, but he took time to enjoy the sun and the crispness in the air. After all he and Zee endured with Lucian, he was ready for peace.
Learning that Lucian killed Matt had changed Church’s life. While some of the responsibility was lifted from his shoulders, a new one took up residence there.
This one wouldn’t keep him awake at night—at least not in a bad way. Now he had Zee, and he’d never let anything get between them again.
Just as he reached for the door, his phone buzzed. He stopped and pulled it out, brows creasing as he scanned the unknown number.
He brought it to his ear. “Upchurch.”
As soon as he heard the voice on the other end, he knew it was someone from the movie set. It had the same energy he’d learned to associate with film people.
“Hi, Upchurch. This is Marissa from the director’s team. I know you’re finished with your contract, but we had a question about the footage from the explosion day.”
He stopped and stared into space. “What question?”
The woman continued. “Well, some of the cameras were already rolling when everything happened. Our producer reviewed it and…” She paused. “It’s actually perfect. Better than we hoped for, honestly. The timing of the blasts, the reactions, the end of the scene. It all reads stronger than we storyboarded. We can clean it up and tighten it, but we wanted to ask permission before moving forward.”
“My permission?”
“Yes. We checked the footage carefully. You and your wife aren’t in any of the frames, but since the scene happened under your direction—”
He barked out an astonished laugh. As if any of that had been planned. Brilliant on Zee’s part, but no. Not planned at all.
He looked out across the land, his mind playing through that night.
Marissa was still talking, rambling about legalities and the sequence looking cinematic in a way nobody could’ve planned.
“We can add you to the credits for the scene,” Marissa added as if that would be the topping on the sundae.
“Leave my wife and me off the credits.” His voice roughened on the word wife. “We don’t need accolades. And you’re welcome to use the footage as long as we’re not in it.”
A whoosh of air filled the line as if she had been holding her breath. “Great news! The director will be so pleased. Thank you for your time.”
He ended the call and was shaking his head over the insanity of it as he walked into the building. Automatically, he turned his head toward Zee’s office. She’d been hard at work for the past few days, refusing to take off more than the bare minimum after being kidnapped.
And tied up. And terrified.
His hands balled into fists but he forced himself to unfurl them. The important part was that she was here and Lucian was in prison, awaiting trial for his crimes.
Church walked into the office kitchen and grabbed a container from the fridge, along with a bottled water. With these in hand, he took a few steps to Zee’s office.
Poking his head in the door, he found her seated behind the desk, dressed in a neat blouse and trousers, her hair pulled back in a low ponytail.
She looked up to see him standing there. Her lips twisted at one corner. “What’s that look for?”
“I was thinking how perfect you are.”
Her lips parted and a flush crept into her cheeks to complement her pleased expression.
