Always & Forever Page 8

  She shrugged in an off-hand manner and sat in a La-Z-Boy situated next to oak bookshelves. “I just wanted to know more about Lilly. I know you wanted a decoy, but I saw you with her. You like her, don’t you?”

  Zach’s mouth became dry. Sarah had a way of forcing him to confront things he’d rather ignore. “What makes you say that?”

  “It’s obvious. When I saw you guys sitting together, her in your arms. Oh, and the way you defended her to Julia? Come on, Zachie, admit it. You’re falling for her.”

  Zach sighed. He knew Sarah was right, but what if Lilly wanted Crandall? “It might not matter how I feel. Relationships only work if both people want the same thing.”

  Sarah rolled her eyes and waved her hand through the air. “Of course she wants the same thing. I saw her, too.”

  “Should I ask her to dinner at Mother’s tonight?” Zach’s heart beat quickly. It surprised him how excited he became at the prospect of spending another day with Lilly.

  Sarah nodded. “Exactly what I was thinking. In fact, I already asked Mom about it. She wasn’t happy, but I talked her into it. Lilly’s welcome to come. I really think you should invite her. Besides, I’ll need some relief.”

  “Relief? From what?”

  “Oh, you know how I feel about Tommy getting engaged...again. I’m so tired of introducing Savannah to a new woman every time we see him. I talked to him this morning. Apparently, Savannah is to call the new fiancée ‘Aunt Bridget.’” Sarah wrinkled her nose. “When I told her, Savannah got all excited and asked if Aunt Lilly was coming too. At least I have more hope that Lilly will stick around.”

  He hadn’t built up his courage enough to call Lilly yet today. Inviting her to a family dinner would be a good reason. He would have already called her, if she hadn’t given him such a lukewarm farewell last night. “I’m afraid she’ll say no.”

  “So what? Are you going to let fear get in your way?” Sarah leaned back in her chair. “You did mess things up a bit, and now you’ll have to work twice as hard to win her over. I’m sure she likes you, but I wish you and Grandma hadn’t gone about things the way you did.”

  Zach swiveled from side to side. “Me too. I don’t think clearly, not when it comes to women. I’m bound to make mistakes.”

  “Grandma should have known better.”

  “She tried to stop me from offering Lilly money. It wasn’t part of her plan.” He shrugged. “I thought it seemed like the fair thing to do. I was afraid Lilly would say no if there wasn’t anything in it for her.”

  Sarah pursed her lips. “I understand why you’re nervous. You haven’t had the best luck with women.”

  “Just call me dating-impaired.” He grinned.

  Sarah’s brow furrowed and she shook her head. “I’ve been worried about you. I thought you’d given up on finding love. Seeing you so happy with Lilly last night, for the first time in far too long, it was wonderful. She seems good for you.”

  “I’m afraid she doesn’t feel anything for me, sis.” Zach ran his fingers through his hair. The motion made him think of the heat he’d seen in Lilly’s eyes when she told him his messy hair was sexy. “She practically slammed her door in my face last night.”

  “She seemed interested to me.” Sarah stood and paced the area between them. “I think your judgment is off, and it’s all Victoria’s fault.”

  Zach burned with shame. “Why didn’t I see what Victoria really was?”

  Sarah expression softened and she rushed to his chair, putting her arms around his neck. “Zachie, she was the one at fault, not you. If she had lived through the boating accident, you’d still be trapped with her.”

  “I can’t believe she slept with Crandall, of all people. My best friend!” Zach pulled out of Sarah’s embrace. “And that creep made a pass at Lilly last night.”

  “Did he really?” Her expressionless face told Zach she wasn’t surprised. “What did she do?”

  “Honestly, she flirted with him.”

  Sarah shook her head. “She probably didn’t want to cause a scene and embarrass you.”

  “She was with him again later when I sent you for medicine. He told me it was only a matter of time before Lilly dumped me and went for him.”

  “You can’t possibly believe that. You know how Crandall is. I’m sure Lilly was being polite, and he was being the disgusting jerk that he is.”

  Zach really hoped Sarah was right. However, Lilly still couldn’t get away from him fast enough last night. Maybe it had something to do with the conversation she had with Crandall. “He said they talked about Victoria. Should I worry about that?”

  Sarah tipped her head to the side. “Depends what he told her. I can see Lilly wanting to know more about Victoria. A woman likes to know about her competition, after all.”

  “Victoria is not competition.”

  “How should Lilly know? Ghosts can be the hardest competition there is. If you want any type of relationship with her, you need to tell her the truth about your marriage.” She flipped her cell phone out to check the time. “I have to get going. I promised Savannah we’d go swimming this afternoon.”

  Zach followed Sarah through the house to the front door. She paused there to give him another hug. “Promise me you’ll call her. You owe yourself a chance for happiness. I saw the way she looked at you. She likes you, not Crandall.”

  “I’ll make the call. If she turns me down, I’m blaming you for getting my hopes up.”

  “I can handle that.” She smiled and skipped down the stairs.

  Zach watched as Sarah’s car disappeared behind the trees before he entered his new home. He flopped onto the couch and stared at his phone.

  What if Lilly didn’t want to see him again? What if she already made plans with Crandall? Zach ground his teeth together and closed his eyes. He’d never know if he didn’t try. If she refused to go out with him, he’d just beg harder. He’d make her understand that he wanted to date her for real.

  He dialed her number.

  Her soft voice, such sexy music to his ears, answered after the third ring. “Hello?”

  Tingles of pleasure raced down his spine. Zach struggled to say something coherent as his body tightened. Just her gentle breath coming across the line made him hard. His imagination happily supplied an image of her lounging against her couch in a black teddy, fiery curls resting on top of lace that barely concealed her breasts.

  “Lilly? It’s Zach. I’ve been thinking about you all day.” He’d convince her somehow. And tonight, he’d make sure he got a goodnight kiss.

  Chapter Ten

  Lilly sat in her living room and absently drummed her fingers against the frayed fabric of the couch. She stared at the mystery book in her other hand, sighed, and set it on the coffee table. Even though she’d steadily turned pages, Lilly hadn’t comprehended any of the words.

  She glanced at the clock, and her stomach twisted. Zach would arrive any minute. She took a deep breath to settle her nerves.

  Her mind raced as she second-guessed her decision to accompany him tonight. She had a hard time containing her excitement when he first invited her. She couldn’t believe he had asked her out again. But really, should she be at a family dinner? Also, she wasn’t sure if she accompanied him as a real date or a decoy. She couldn’t find the courage to ask.

  She heard him knock, which caused her heart to skitter in her chest. Lilly opened the door and her breath caught in her throat. Zach looked sexy in a buttoned dress shirt and black jeans. The urge to hop into his arms and wrap her legs around his waist hadn’t diminished overnight. The passion she’d felt for Charles was a tepid stream next to the raging river of emotion Zach called forth.

  “Something smells great,” he said, leaning against the doorframe.

  “I made a cake.” Lilly looked down as warmth filled her cheeks. Would that impress him?

  “You like to bake?”

  “I bake and cook. It’s sort of a hobby.” She shrugged and met his eyes again, trying to
gage his reaction. “It relaxes me.”

  Zach inhaled and licked his lips. “Maybe no one would notice if we just stayed here.”

  Pleasure flowed through her, but she shook her head. “Everyone is waiting for us at your parents’ house.”

  Some of the enthusiasm left his eyes. “I suppose we do have to go. Sarah and Savannah are both anxious to see you again.” He gave her a sideways look. “All I can do is heat up soup and microwave a frozen dinner.”

  She was unable to stop the grin that spread across her face. Obviously, he was impressed. “I’ve been cooking as long as I can remember. I love it.”

  “Wait a minute, I know.” He grinned and it crinkled the corners of his eyes. “We should take the cake with us. Then everyone could try it. Do you mind? Let’s go pack it up.” He stepped into the house and closed the door.

  Lilly shook her head. “I’m sure your mother wouldn’t appreciate my bringing food over.”

  “Come on, please.” He caressed her cheek with gentle fingers.

  Lilly closed her eyes, shivering as she leaned into his touch. “I guess it’ll be okay.”

  Zach took her hand in his. Lilly looked up and his devastating smile flashed across his face, ratcheting her pulse up another notch.

  “I knew you wouldn’t deny me my pleasure,” he said.

  Warmth flooded through her, as she thought of the double meaning to his words. Lilly led the way to the kitchen, and rummaged around in the drawer beneath the stove. She found the lid to the cake pan and snapped it into place.

  “Maybe some night you could come out to my place and make me a real dinner?” The hopeful look on his face melted her heart. He picked up the cake. “I just moved to a new house. We could eat out on the deck. The view of the lake is beautiful—a perfect setting for you.”

  How would that convince his mother...did Zach plan to tell Patricia about it? Maybe he really wanted to spend time with her, not only use her as a decoy for his mother. Lilly wished she knew for sure.

  “It would be nice to cook for someone.” Lilly’s heart beat rapidly but her voice wasn’t too shaky. “You’ll have to let me know when you have a free night.”

  He winked. “Got any plans tomorrow?”

  Lilly suppressed a smile. He seemed eager to spend time with her, and last night he had acted as though they were really dating. Until she was sure of what Zach wanted, she needed to be very careful around him and keep her hormones in check. “You have writing to get done,” she reminded him.

  He shrugged, following as she led the way to the door. “I still have to eat.”

  Lilly locked the door behind them, and Zach held her arm as they walked to his car. He helped her slide into the passenger seat and placed the cake in her lap.

  Zach didn’t close her car door, but stood looking at her with raised eyebrows. “So...is it a date?”

  She fiddled with her seatbelt. It certainly sounded like he meant a real date. She tried to control her excitement as she looked up at him. “Tomorrow will be fine. I can come over after work.” She wouldn’t have time for anything fancy, but maybe she could barbeque something. “Do you have a grill?”

  He waggled his eyebrows up and down suggestively. “And a hot tub,” he replied and gently shut the door.

  Lilly considered that statement while Zach got in the driver’s seat and started the car. The engine leapt to life and he backed out of the driveway. Zach’s hand brushed casually against her arm when he reached behind her seat to look out the back window. The light contact sent a shockwave through her system.

  She stared at his mouth as he drove. What would kissing him be like? She’d tried to push that thought away all afternoon but now here he was, asking her to spend more time with him. It had to be okay for her to fantasize a little.

  Zach glanced over at her. “What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”

  Lilly averted her gaze from his mouth and looked steadily out the front windshield. “I was just thinking...” What could she tell him? I was just thinking about kissing you. Yeah right, that’d be great. Inspiration struck and she rushed to finish her sentence. “I don’t have a swimsuit.”

  He laughed. “That’s okay. I never wear one.”

  That statement made her warm all over.

  It was time to get away from this dangerous conversation. He likely had a lot of experience with women, but Lilly had only been with Charles. She knew Zach teased her, but she didn’t know how to respond.

  “Do you like steak?” she asked, returning to thoughts of barbeque.

  “That’s like asking if I need water to live.”

  “Well, I have this great steak rub that I make. I could grill red potatoes with rosemary. Put a nice salad with it.” Lilly glanced at him, trying to determine his thoughts. She felt self-conscious planning the menu when she had no idea what would please him. She wanted him impressed, at least a little.

  Zach nodded, but didn’t respond one way or another.

  Perhaps that wasn’t the kind of food he liked. She cleared her throat and plucked at the edge of her blouse. “I could make spaghetti instead. Or if you prefer we could do grilled chicken or a casserole?”

  Zach grinned slightly, but kept his eyes on the road, still not saying anything.

  Perhaps his amusement stemmed from the fact that she suggested meals almost anyone could make and he regretted asking her to cook for him.

  “I could do Beef Bourguignon or Chicken Marsala if you want something fancier,” she rushed on. “I can’t make those on a Monday because they take too much time. We would need to wait for a weekend to eat that.”

  She took a few deep breaths. She sounded ridiculous. Did he know how nervous she was? The thought of being alone with him, looking out on the romantic view of the lake, wanting him as badly as she did...it was too much.

  He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Whatever you make will be wonderful.”

  They pulled into the sweeping driveway at his parent’s house. Zach parked the car and turned the engine off. Once again, he caressed her face with gentle fingers, and she lost herself in his smoldering eyes.

  She struggled to find her voice. “I haven’t planned meals for someone else in a long time. I want you to be satisfied.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you can satisfy me.”

  Lilly felt herself blush as Zach captured her hand and raised it to his mouth. He kissed each of her fingertips slowly and then rested her palm against his cheek.

  Every nerve ending in her body came alive. An excitement ran through her that she once thought people exaggerated about when they talked about new relationships. Her breath came out in short gasps and she stroked her fingers across his face.

  “I love steak,” Zach said. A look of satisfaction shined in his eyes. “That will be terrific tomorrow. But since you’ve taken the trouble to plan so many dishes, I’d like to point out I do eat dinner every night.”

  ***

  Zach feared he moved too fast for Lilly. She seemed like the kind of woman who took things slowly, but he couldn’t wait much longer. He might go insane trying to unravel the mystery of her rejection last night. Maybe kissing her fingers in a blatant attempt to excite her went too far, but her shallow breathing and lidded eyes suggested she’d enjoyed herself. She hadn’t slapped him and demanded to go home. That had to mean something.

  She walked sedately next to him. He was aware of the slight sway to her body when she moved, and he clutched the cake pan to keep himself from touching her again. He didn’t want to scare her off and lose the chance to be with her tomorrow.

  Holding Lilly in his arms last night affected him in a way he hadn’t anticipated. Sarah was right; he and Grandma went about things all wrong. His primal attraction to Lilly had hit him full force while they were alone on the upper floor of the yacht. He’d underestimated how much he would actually want to move things beyond a business arrangement with her.

  He’d had one lover since Victoria’s death, but it had been a casual frie
ndship, with benefits. Lilly was so shy, so private. She wouldn’t agree to a sexual relationship without some level of commitment. She wasn’t a one-night stand type of woman. Besides, one night with her wouldn’t be enough.

  “We’re here,” Zach called out as they stepped onto the marble tiles in the foyer. “Let’s put the cake in the kitchen. Everyone’s probably out in the dining room.”

  “Aunt Lilly!” Savannah’s delighted shriek carried through the room. The brown-haired beauty barreled into the foyer from the hallway, running toward Lilly.

  “No, Savannah, don’t.” Zach lunged forward to catch her but the cake pan made him clumsy, and Savannah neatly dodged under his arm.

  Zach watched in horror as Savannah tackled Lilly around her thighs. Lilly took an awkward step back, trying to absorb the impact. Her leg crumbled beneath her and the pair tumbled to the floor.

  “Lilly, are you alright?” he asked.

  A hiss of pain escaped Lilly’s mouth. She was flat on her back, but lifted her head, ignoring him to check on Savannah. “You surprised me. Are you okay?”

  Savannah untangled herself from Lilly’s legs and jumped to her feet. Her lower lip trembled and a single tear tracked down her cheek. “I’m sorry. I hurt you. Does this mean you won’t play dollies later?”

  Zach stepped forward. “Here, let me help you up.”

  Lilly rubbed her head and waved Zach away. She sat up slowly, her attention focused solely on Savannah. “You didn’t hurt me, honey. My leg’s a little weak, so I don’t always keep my balance, that’s all.”

  “I didn’t know, Aunt Lilly.” Savannah’s lower lip continued trembling as she moved toward Lilly. She stopped a few inches from Lilly’s shoulder, her little body tense, as if she was afraid she’d hurt Lilly again if she touched her. “I promise I’ll be more carefuller from now on.”

  Lilly gently wiped the tear off Savannah’s cheek and gathered the child in her arms. “It’s okay, munchkin. I’m fine and so are you. No harm done. Of course we’ll play dollies later.”

  Savannah threw her arms around Lilly’s neck and squeezed her tight, once again the cheerful little sprite Zach was used to seeing.