Always & Forever

by Chantel Rhondeau

  Sarah reached across the top of her daughter’s head and patted Lilly’s shoulder. “Looks like you’re stuck with us now, Lil. Grandma speaks!”

  How wonderful...she was part of the family—an illusion that would last until they learned the truth. She forced herself to return Sarah’s smile.

  Patricia stared at Lilly with an air of contemplation and Lilly squirmed under the attention. “Can you make lasagna?” she finally asked.

  Where did that come from? Lilly shifted in her seat. “Well...um...yes.”

  A satisfied smile graced Patricia’s lips. “Vegetarian as well as meat?”

  “I can do both.” Lilly raised an eyebrow at her. “Why?”

  “We’re having an engagement party for Tommy and Bridget next Saturday.” She smiled sweetly. “It would be great if you made the main course. We can make the party more personal and intimate.”

  Lilly looked down at the table. Was this some sort of trap? Perhaps it tickled Patricia to lower Lilly to servant status by having her do the cooking while the rest of the family partied. Maybe it was her way of reminding Zach Lilly wasn’t good enough for him.

  “I don’t know if I’m free next weekend. Perhaps you should hire someone,” she replied.

  “Nonsense.” Patty’s hand fluttered through the air as if to erase Lilly’s words. “Get free. Everyone helps at times like these. It would be a great favor to me.”

  “Honey,” James said, a note of warning in his voice, “she isn’t beholden to this family because she’s dated Zach a few times.”

  “You’re not helping, dear.” Patricia returned her attention to Lilly. “I’m sure whatever you have going on can be rescheduled.”

  “Come on, please.” Zach rubbed her leg beneath the table and flashed his sexy smile. “I could take the leftovers. I know how to use the microwave.”

  Instant desire blossomed at the points of his fingers. She returned his smile and nodded, ready to agree to anything if he would only keep touching her.

  Across the table, Bridget looked mutinous, but didn’t say anything.

  Maybe that was why Patricia made this plan, in hopes of bothering Bridget. It was obvious Bridget didn’t want to eat Lilly’s cooking. Patricia probably hated all the women her sons brought home and did her best to scare them away.

  Lilly tried to remember who might recognize her from Bridget’s family. She knew she’d once met Bridget’s mother, but didn’t ever actually visit with the woman.

  “I’ll do it,” she said in a weak voice. Yeah, sure, it’d be easy. All she had to do was lie to Zach for the next week about her true identity.

  “Excellent.” Patricia sat back with a pleased air. “Send over a list of ingredients you need. Dinner’s at six o’clock. What time should I expect you?”

  “I’ll be here by one,” Lilly promised.

  Margaret caught Lilly’s eye, and a small smile graced her employer’s lips. Was this Margaret’s plan all along when she goaded Patricia about not being able to cook? Why did Margaret seem obsessed with making Lilly a part of this family?

  Bridget leaned forward in her chair. “Katherine...excuse me, Lilly, my mother’s a strict vegetarian. Do be careful when you make the food.”

  “Sweetie, of course she’ll be careful,” Tommy said. “I think she understands the meaning of vegetarian.” He smiled shyly at Lilly and shrugged his shoulders as if to apologize.

  Not even married yet, and Tommy already played the role of the henpecked husband. Bridget had him right where she wanted him.

  Savannah grasped Lilly’s hand and tugged on it. “Aunt Lilly, can we go play dollies now? We’ve been sitting here for-ev-er.” She rolled her eyes.

  “Of course, munchkin.” She inclined her head to the others. “If you’ll please excuse us.”

  “Have fun,” Sarah said.

  Savannah hopped up. “We will, Mommy.”

  Zach stood as Lilly and Savannah left the table. The smile he wore warmed her heart, while simultaneously crushing it. How could she keep her secret for an entire week? Now that Bridget had brought it up, everything Lilly told him was a lie, rather than just an omission of truth.

  She followed Savannah to the playroom. Maybe Patricia sincerely wanted to be pleasant, as pleasant as Patricia could be, anyway. Even if she was using Lilly to annoy Bridget, it felt good to have a little approval.

  Lilly knew this positive attitude toward her would come crashing down when Zach’s family learned the truth. She had to keep things quiet until after the party.

  ***

  Zach drove Lilly home an hour later. “So, that was an interesting night.”

  She shifted slightly in her seat. “What do you mean?”

  In the near-darkness of the car, Zach could barely make out her features as she stared out the windshield.

  “Savannah really likes you,” Zach said. It was best to stay on neutral topics. He still wanted a kiss, after all.

  “She’s a sweet girl.” Lilly turned her head away from him to look out the passenger window.

  Zach navigated the BMW through the darkened streets, trying to think up a new conversation piece. “Tommy seems really happy with Bridget. I’m glad for him.”

  “I really like Tommy, and I guess Bridget’s nice enough.” Lilly faced him and in the light of a street lamp, he saw her quirked eyebrow. “A bit chatty though.”

  Did she want to talk about this? Zach needed a handbook on handling women. “Her story was bizarre. Crazy that she thought you were Katherine. Maybe it’s like Sarah said and you have a killer cousin out there somewhere.” He laughed, trying to lighten her mood.

  “Funny.” She didn’t laugh.

  They pulled up in front of her house and Zach parked the car. He studied her face in the soft glow of moonlight. Her full lips still held a trace of shimmery lipstick. They looked so kissable.

  “I’m sorry you had to put up with all of that tonight.” He reached out and stroked her hair. He loved the feel of her silky tresses. “It must have been awkward, but you handled the situation admirably. I’m not sure what was with Bridget. She just couldn’t let it go.”

  Lilly shrugged. She grabbed his hand from her head and held it against her cheek, rubbing it along her face. “It’s okay. Please don’t think about it anymore.”

  Well, that seemed promising. “What time will you be over tomorrow night?” He trailed his finger across her bottom lip, itching to close the distance between them and take her mouth in his own.

  She kissed his fingers and then pulled back, dropping his hand. “I’ll have to stop at the store after work. Six, six-thirty maybe?”

  He leaned into her, testing her limits. She didn’t back away. “I could go to the store. What do you need?”

  She smiled at him—the first time since dinner. “All you need is an appetite. I’ll do the shopping. I’m not sure you’d know what to buy to make salad.”

  “Hey.” He grasped her hand and put it over his heart. “Words hurt, you know?”

  “I think you’re tough enough to handle it.” She leaned into him and placed a quick peck on his cheek. Her soft hair brushed across his face, swirling her scent around him.

  That wouldn’t do it for him. He needed more. Zach leaned toward her.

  She opened her door and slipped out of the car. “Goodnight, Zach. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He sat, stunned, watching as she closed the door and walked toward her house. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to happen. Not twice in a row.

  Zach jumped out of the car and ran up the walk, intercepting her on the porch as she unlocked the front door. “Invite me in for a nightcap?” He grasped her hand, praying she wouldn’t disappear into the house again.

  Several emotions flitted across the surface of her face before she shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I have work tomorrow.”

  “Come on, pumpkin.” He grinned and pulled her gently toward him, inhaling her sweet fragrance when she moved. “It’s not that late.”r />
  “Yes, cupcake, but you have a busy day of writing ahead of you.” She pulled her hand free from his.

  “It is our second date. Haven’t you thought about this at all?” he tried again, stepping into her personal space. “I’ve been dreaming of it every night since I met you.”

  He closed the remaining distance between them, placing his palm across her back and pulling her body into his. He loved the feel of her small breasts pressing snuggly against him, the fabric of her shirt moving in and out as her breath quickened.

  Zach framed her face in his hands and tilted her head upward, loosing himself in the sparkling depths of her eyes. He ran his fingers through her soft, waterfall of hair, and stroked her gently arched back.

  “Zach?” Her voice quavered and she touched his lips with the tip of her finger. “What are you doing?”

  He closed his eyes, savoring the feel of her hesitant touch. “Isn’t it obvious?” he asked, when she moved her hand away.

  He brushed his mouth against hers. As their lips touched, a delicious shudder went through Lilly’s body. He sensed her fragility, knew he had to move slowly. He didn’t want to scare her. A light, closed-mouthed kiss was all she could handle. Satisfied she did feel something for him, Zach pulled away.

  Lilly’s arms snaked around him, pulling him back to her, and her lips pressed against his with more purpose. She opened her mouth, and her tongue flicked out to touch his lips. A groan ripped from him. He needed no further encouragement to deepen the kiss.

  He ran his hand against her side and gently palmed her breast. Her nipple tightened under the light silk as his thumb grazed across it. Lilly made a soft noise of feminine desire that drove him wild.

  The intoxicating smell of lavender filled his nostrils and blotted out any other scent. That flowery fragrance was all Lilly, and she smelled so sweet. He was unable to hide his arousal as her lithe body brushed against him.

  Her hand strayed from his neck and came agonizingly close to his beltline before she ran it up his shirt.

  He slid his mouth off hers to find the sweet, sensitive skin below her earlobe. She uttered a small, urgent moan as he kissed the area, sucking lightly, not quite hard enough to mark her.

  Lilly’s hot kisses brushed across his neck, and her hands found their way under his shirt. She stroked his abs with a gentle touch, breaking down the control Zach tried to maintain.

  “Let’s take this inside.” His voice sounded ragged in his own ears.

  The movement of her hands stilled. As though his words broke the spell, she stepped away from him. “What am I thinking?” She shook her head frantically. “This can’t happen. Not now.”

  Zach lowered his arms stiffly to his sides and took deep, even breaths while silently cursing himself. How could he forget how jumpy she was about being touched? This was definitely more than she could handle right now.

  “I’m sorry for leading you on.” Her voice cracked in a sob. “I can’t do this right now.”

  “It’s my fault.” Zach stepped further away from her and ran a hand through his hair. He tried to slow his heart rate and calm the testosterone raging through his body. “I shouldn’t have pushed so hard.”

  Gradually, the sexual tension dissipated from his body. How could he be so stupid? Lilly probably hadn’t been involved with anyone since her fiancé died. Yet here he stood, forcing his tongue into her mouth and trying to make her commit in a way her heart wasn’t ready to consider. It didn’t matter that her body seemed more than willing.

  “I didn’t mean to pressure you. It’s okay that you’re not ready to go any further.” He hugged her stiffly before stepping back again. “Things just feel right for me with you, Lil. It feels like I know you so well.”

  “You don’t know me at all,” Lilly whispered. She opened the front door and stepped inside the house, but turned back to face him. “If you had all the facts, you wouldn’t even want to be business associates. I need to think tonight, but I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  “You’re still coming over?” He didn’t know what she meant about him having the facts, but at least he would have another chance with her.

  “I’ll cook dinner, but I can’t promise anything after that.” She talked in a flat tone. She sounded defeated.

  She probably needed time to sort out her feelings for her dead fiancé. Zach understood that. Maybe he still had a chance.

  It certainly didn’t seem like his kisses had turned her off. At least, he hoped that wasn’t the reason she stopped him.

  No, it couldn’t be. She acted as desperate for him as he did for her. It had to be the dead fiancé thing—unless she decided she wanted Curtis Crandall.

  Zach crushed that thought before it could fully form.

  “I understand.” He reached out and rubbed her shoulder. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”

  “Goodnight, Zach.”

  Lilly gently shut the door, followed by the unmistakable sound of the deadbolt sliding firmly into place.

  Chapter Twelve

  “I looked Katherine Price up on the Internet last night.” Sarah’s voice sounded troubled over the phone line. “It’s uncanny, Zach. The woman does look exactly like Lilly. I thought Bridget was crazy last night, but I can see why she said those things now.”

  “Lilly’s not the same person as Katherine,” Zach assured his sister. “She wouldn’t lie to me like that.”

  “Well, of course she’s not the same person,” Sarah replied. “It’s just creepy, that’s all.”

  “I’m thinking maybe Katherine really is her cousin, like you suggested before.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I think that’s why Lilly seemed upset by Bridget’s accusations. I wouldn’t want anyone to know if I were related to someone like that.”

  “No, neither would I.”

  “That’s not what I called for.” Once again, he thought about Lilly shutting him out of her life last night. “I don’t want to discuss old gossip. I have real problems here.”

  “Alright, Mr. Grumpy Bottom.” She laughed. “Why did you call?”

  “Sorry, I’m not trying to be grumpy. It’s just that...well, I kissed Lilly last night,” he blurted.

  “That’s not a problem. Well, unless it was horrible. Was it?”

  That was Sarah, always up for the juicy details.

  “It was really nice,” he admitted. No way would he tell Sarah all the details. He wouldn’t tell her how he couldn’t stop replaying it in his mind. Nor would he mention the electricity he’d felt when caressing Lilly’s body.

  Zach thought all day about repeating the experience. How to go about it, that was the question. He needed to be careful so as not to scare Lilly away.

  Sarah sighed. “Only nice?”

  He laughed. “Don’t sound so disappointed. It was better than nice. But Lilly broke it off and sent me on my way before it became much more than that.”

  “Hmm...that could be a problem.”

  “Thanks. I feel much better now, sis. Glad I called you.”

  “Didn’t you say she was still mourning her fiancé?” Sarah asked. “Maybe she needs things to go a little slower.”

  “I’m afraid you’re right, and I think I blew it.”

  “You’ll have to convince her to go out with you again and prove you can be a gentleman,” she said.

  Zach smiled. “Actually, she’s coming to cook dinner for me tonight. That’s the other reason I called you.”

  “Oh! That sounds promising. What do you need me for?”

  “I want your opinion.” He paused and looked down at the roses sitting on the counter next to him. “Should I decorate the deck, play soft music, set out roses? Should I make this romantic, or give her some space? If she’s pushing me away because she’s not ready for something, I don’t want to send her running for the hills.”

  “Oh, boy,” Sarah replied. “You know I’m a sucker for romance. If she’s cooking for you, she must be interested. Women don’t go through that sort of trouble for me
n they don’t want to be around. I say be sweet, but let her take the initiative.”

  ***

  Lilly left the grocery store shortly after six the next evening. She looked into the car’s vanity mirror. After running around with Margaret all day, she didn’t present a very attractive image. Maybe she should stop by her place to freshen up.

  Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled it out, checking the caller ID. “Hello, Zach.”

  “Good evening, beautiful.” His voice oozed over the line in a husky growl. “Are you on your way?”

  Memories of his lips on hers and the feel of his clever tongue against her neck kicked her pulse up a few notches. Get a grip, woman. When he finds out the truth, he’ll never kiss you again.

  At that sobering thought, Lilly realized it didn’t matter how she looked. At the end of the week, her fantasy about having a relationship with him would end. She had to hold in her secret until after the party, but then Zach deserved the truth. She hoped he cared for her even the tiniest bit, and wouldn’t spread her story around town.

  Lilly flipped the mirror closed. “I’m on my way. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

  She tossed her cell phone into her purse and pulled out of the parking spot.

  Guilt surged through her when she thought about how happy Margaret seemed. It would crush her to learn of Lilly’s deception. All day today, Margaret begged for details about the boat party. She was convinced Zach and Lilly were soul mates and already talked about planning a wedding.

  Lilly pulled up to Zach’s house and parked behind his BMW. She opened the door and climbed out of the car, looking at the cottage. A swing hung from hooks on the porch, and Lilly imagined how nice it would be to sit there with Zach and watch the sunrise come up over the trees lining either side of the road.

  A fleeting fantasy of living in a house like this gripped her. The perfect size for an extremely happy couple and their one child, a child who would know her parents loved her.