She caught Lily’s quick lash raise-would have missed it if she’d blinked. The window behind Lily mirrored the ghost of movement, a shift from dark to light and light to dark again.

“Hey, James,” Charley said.

His fingers dug into her shoulders, stretched and pulled muscles she’d worked to relax. She sighed in complete and utter pleasure.

“How was the first day, Charley? Or should I say Mira?”

“Fantastic.” She closed her eyes as he continued to knead.

A little more weight into her shoulder, a whiff of his cologne, and she found James’s head just above the same spot he worked.

“And did you see him?”

“I most certainly did.”

“And?” His fingers continued their discovery into muscles across her arms and pulled her spine tight. She’d made her change earlier that morning, so he knew where she’d still be sore.

“Handsome. Strong. Kind. Conscientious. Nervous.” With each descriptor, Charley let her head shift from one side to the other. The stretch gave her a moment to consider.

“Still can’t believe you’re taking your vacation for this.” Cael’s groggy voice added to his slouched form as he shuffled into the kitchen.

“Mornin’, Cael.” James’s hands left her shoulders and sent a light punch which almost toppled the six-foot-seven Cael.

“Unh.” One hand shot out for balance. “Not mornin’.”

Charley couldn’t help the smile. “You guys truly are brothers.” The quick squeeze from above told her James heard her soft comment.

Cael stumbled his way to the fridge.

A knife-wielding Lily reappeared. “Get outta there! I’ve got dinner coming!”

Cael ignored her in favor of grapes and cheese. Mouth full and tray in hand, he turned to Charley. “You look the part, by the way.” He popped another of the green fruits.

“Thank you.” Charley planted her forearms flat on the counter.