Chapter Nine
Church hadn’t slept much better than he did on the couch. He was too aware of Zee’s every breath, every soft sigh in her sleep.
She slept close to him but not touching, her head slightly turned on the pillow and her hair spilling across the sheets. The early gray of dawn hadn’t reached the room yet, but he could see enough. The rise and fall of her chest. The way her hand rested loosely near where he’d been.
A knot tightened in his chest.
He hadn’t planned for this part—the sweet quiet after.
The way she looked like she belonged in his bed.
He dragged a hand down his face and eased out of bed carefully, not wanting to wake her. He pulled on jeans and a shirt, moving silently through the room.
Everything about starting his day with a woman in his space changed his routine, but having Zee in his bed felt…different.
He wasn’t a man who acted without knowing the risk. And he sure as hell didn’t regret a single moment spent with her.
Glancing at her one more time before edging out of the room, an idea formed in his mind. He wanted to give her a great wake-up surprise.
Before he left the suite, he caught sight of the package from the corner of his eye and stopped. He took out his phone and snapped a photo of it to send to Theo later. Right now, he had other matters to see to.
He grabbed the few items he needed to execute the plan and placed them in the Black Heart Security truck he’d borrowed. Then he went back to his room and stared down at Zee. Part of him didn’t want to wake her, but this was too good not to.
With a hand on her shoulder, he gave her a light shake. Her eyes fluttered before she peeled them open. Through a haze of sleep, she blinked at him.
“Church.”
His lips tugged at her calling him that, after she’d switched to his Christian name in the throes of passion. He didn’t mind being both, not to her.
“What time is it?” she rasped.
“The sun isn’t up yet. Get dressed. I want to show you something.”
Within minutes she was seated beside him in the truck, smelling of the mint toothpaste she’d hastily used and with her hair endearingly tousled from sleep.
But it was seeing her in one of his jackets that made his pulse drum off-beat.
She shot him a look as he turned onto the road. “This better be good to drag me out of bed.” Her voice was rough with sleep, and damn if it wasn’t a sound he wanted to listen to over and over again.
Every day of his life.
“Tomorrow I’m starting sunrise yoga with the guys. This was one of my last chances to sleep in.”
He huffed out a breath. “It’ll be worth it.”
“I hope.” She narrowed her eyes at him, but there was no real attitude in the expression.
They rode in comfortable silence for a while longer. The road curved ahead, the mountains shadowed against the faint light beginning to stretch along the horizon.
“Why are we going to the movie set?”
He didn’t answer, just drove on, and Zee didn’t push. When he reached their destination, he slowed. The same bend in the road where the valley opened up.
The place Zee made him stop before so she could admire the view.
He pulled the truck off to the side of the road and angled it just right before killing the engine.
Zee looked around. “Why are we—”
Church pushed open the door and climbed out, already moving to the back of the truck. He dropped the tailgate. The blanket was already spread out on the bed, along with a small box and a thermos.
Zee climbed out too, curiosity replacing the last of her sleepiness. “What are you— Oh!” Then she saw their real reason for being here—the first glimmer of the sun breaking over the mountains.
She came to lean against his side, and he was so touched by the gesture that a cord in his heart tugged. He brought an arm around her and led her to the bed of the truck.
She gasped again when she saw the surprise. “Grant! You did this for me?”
He smiled and settled his hands on her waist, leaning down to brush a kiss between her brows before lifting her onto the tailgate.
She scooted back on the blanket, legs tucked up to her chest and his coat swimming around her smaller body. He sat close to share his body heat with her and cracked open the thermos.
She caught the scent and jerked her head to look at him. “Coffee!”
He let out a chuckle and poured the dark brew into the little cap that became a cup then handed it to her. For a moment, she just closed her fingers around his and looked up into his eyes.
He couldn’t stop himself then. He kissed her, a soft brush of his lips across hers. When they pulled apart, her long lashes dipped over her cheeks as she glanced down, smiling into the cup as she drew it to her lips.
Light spilled into the valley in slow, golden waves, highlighting the tall grass and glinting on the creek that wound through the land. As they shared the coffee, the deep blue of night faded to soft azure. That gave way to amber and gold, lighting up the mountain peaks one by one.
Zee didn’t speak. Neither did he.
He watched her more than the beautiful view. The way her expression changed from alertness to awe. Her shoulders eased as she relaxed, sagging against his side.
“What’s in the box?” she asked after a while.
He popped open the lid to reveal four fat donuts, dripping with fresh sugary glaze.
Her eyes widened. “Gimme one of those!”
He laughed and held out the box. She took out a donut and bit into it with a groan. He polished off his in a few bites and went for the second.
After licking off his fingers, he moved closer putting his arms around her. “So how was your first sunrise in Wyoming?”
Her eyes were shiny when she met his gaze. “This was so worth it.”
A new warmth stole through his chest at her words, bottling his own response in his throat. He wanted to tell her that this was the best moment he could remember. That he had been falling for her since the moment she showed up.
And that he wanted to give her a new sunrise every day from now on.
“Yeah.” It was all he could manage.
She pressed closer to his side and tugged the blanket around her legs as she sipped more coffee and finished her first donut.
“These are delicious. I think you’re going to have to introduce me to this famous chef in the therapy lodge.” She popped the last bite into her mouth and chewed.
“I’ll introduce you at dinner tonight.” He couldn’t tear his stare off her captivating face—the small upturn of her nose, her full lips and wide eyes. All created a beauty that stalled a man’s heart.
Stalled his heart.
She picked up the second donut. “Are you trying to make me fat? Because it is working. I don’t eat like this.”
He slid his hand down her side. “I know.”
Zee studied him for a heartbeat longer. She dropped her gaze. “You’re worried about me.”
He exhaled. “Yeah.” No point denying it.
She turned her attention back to the valley. “I’ve been a…mess.”
“You’ve been dealing with a lot.”
“That’s one way to put it.”
He brushed a kiss over her temple. “You don’t have to carry it by yourself anymore.”
She sighed.
“You’re safe. With me. On the ranch.” The certainty in his voice wasn’t for show. It was a promise.
She looked at him then—really looked at him—and warmth crossed her expression the way the sun was rising in the sky. Pure trust radiated in the depths of her hazel eyes.
He kissed her again, lingering and sweet from the taste of donut glaze. When they pulled away, she let out a little sigh and rested her head on his shoulder. Church held her as they watched the sun climb higher over the mountains.
They didn’t know who was behind the break-ins. Zee had spent three long years trying to piece her life back together after Matt’s death, while Church had spent those same years carrying the responsibility of losing one of his men.
But right now…this moment felt steady.
She sat there bundled in his jacket, the morning light spilling across her hair and turning it to copper, and one thought formed deep in his chest.
He would do anything in his power to keep that fear from ever returning to her eyes.
* * * * *
Zee yawned for about the tenth time in as many minutes.
Even though she could have used those extra few hours of sleep, she wouldn’t change a thing about her sunrise date with Church.
The memory of it lingered like warm honey in her chest. She’d never forget how the first rays of light spilled across the mountains or the solid strength of the man who gave her that gift.
She sat in her usual chair outside the star’s trailer, watching the activity of the set, but today her eyelids had a mind of their own.
They felt heavy enough to drop shut. The early morning coffee she’d shared with Church had long since worn off, and so had the tea he’d brought her when they first arrived on set.
She stared into space but didn’t even see Church approaching until he stopped right in front of her.
“You’re fading.” He leaned down, bracing his hands on the arms of the chair and hemming her in.
She issued a low laugh. “Am not.”
Just as she said it, another jaw-popping yawn betrayed her.
He slipped his rough hand into hers and gave it a small tug. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
He didn’t answer, just guided her toward Miss Collins’s trailer.
She dug her heels in. “We can’t just go in there!”
“She’ll be in front of the cameras all day.”
“But what if she breaks another heel and has to lie down?”
He shot her a crooked grin and tugged on her hand again. When they slipped into the trailer, she drew a breath of the calming scent that filled the space.
“It smells like a luxury hotel in here. Not that I’ve ever been to one.”
He searched her eyes for a heartbeat and then brushed his lips over hers. The soft caress sent shivers of pleasure through her whole body, but she was too tired to act on them.
He gave her a little nudge toward a cozy armchair with a footstool big enough to curl up on for an afternoon nap.
As soon as she sank into the depths, she felt exhaustion claim her. Church looked down at her, concern pinching his brows.