Always & Forever (2 page)

Unfortunately, soon after hospital discharge she found herself facing charges of conspiracy in Charles’ murder. Then again, anything was worth escaping life with him.

She took a deep breath and met Margaret’s eyes. “I had an accident, and I’m still recovering. I really need this opportunity, Mrs. Woodbridge. I promise I can do the job. I’m used to entertaining guests because of the work I did with my father, I love reading, and I’ll learn to play card games with you. I know I can do this, if you’ll just give me a chance to prove it.”

Margaret squinted and pursed her lips. “Let’s have a trial period. I’ll give you an opportunity to show me the truth of that statement.”

A smile spread across Lilly’s face, and she couldn’t help but feel triumphant. She finally obtained her first job.

“But,” Margaret continued, tapping her fingers against her pale lips, “if at any point we have a problem, it will result in your immediate termination.”

Lilly swallowed hard past the sudden lump of fear in her throat. “I promise you won’t regret it, Mrs. Woodbridge.”

“I’m sure I won’t.” Margaret tilted her head to the side and half grinned. “I can’t wait for you to meet my grandson. I think you’ll get along famously.”

Lilly struggled to keep her face perfectly straight, uncertain why Margaret would say something like that to an employee. “I’m sure that will be lovely,” Lilly agreed. Even if it wasn’t lovely, she would pretend to anything in order to keep this job.

Margaret threw her head back and laughed. “I can almost see what you are thinking, child, but I know you are going to love him—he’s an author.”

Zach Woodbridge glanced at his watch and looked out the window. Were those rain clouds? The drive to Seattle from Serenity would be agonizingly long if it rained. Still, he didn’t want to cut the visit with Grandma short. She spent so much of the year without family around, and he hadn’t seen her in over two months.

Zach’s father had designed Woodbridge Manor, and it was the premiere nursing home in the country. Grandma’s rich contemporaries lived in the other suites. Zach knew she didn’t lack for company, but nothing replaced family.

Margaret Woodbridge was the heart and soul of their family. Zach missed living in the same town as her, missed visiting her several times a week. It was good to be in Serenity for a visit, even if it was a short one.

“When are you coming here to stay for the summer?” Margaret asked, perched across from him in her favorite rocking chair. “Your parents and Sarah’s family plan to arrive next month.”

As was tradition, the Woodbridge clan met every summer in Serenity. The cluster of houses huddled against the western shore of the small lake in northeastern Oregon belonged to Woodbridge, Inc. Along with the other buildings in town they owned, the rental houses brought in a small fortune every year as tourists flocked to spend their summers living on the lake.

“I won’t be down to stay until August, Grandma. I have too many obligations right now.”

“That’s three months away.” She wrinkled her nose at him. “You’re a thirty-year-old heir to a fortune. You can put off some of those so-called obligations to spend time with your family.”

Zach’s gaze softened as he looked into her watery blue eyes. “I know how important that is, and I promise I’ll come down as often as I can on the weekends. It’s only a five-hour drive from Seattle, and I do want to spend time with everyone. August will be here before you know it.”

“You know, your mother will have to rent out the little house she redid if you don’t come sooner.”

Zach shrugged and tried not to laugh at her subtle threat. “I can stay in mine and Victoria’s if I have too.”

Margaret shook her head. “I don’t mean to speak ill of the dead, boy, but your wife had deplorable taste when it came to interior decorating. Your cottage needs a makeover.”

Zach thought of the red and black colors Victoria had insisted on using and shuddered. “I can’t argue there, but you know everyone else loves what she did.”

Grandma never did approve of Victoria. It would be diplomatic to change the topic, or she’d grumble about his late wife the rest of the visit. One subject was sure to distract her.

“Tommy’s not coming until August.” Zach grinned at the thought of his baby brother’s excitement the last time they talked. “He found some lady in New York he’s set on marrying, and they’re spending the first half of the summer with her family.”

“Oh, I know all about that little rascal.” An indulgent smile graced Margaret’s lips. “I hope this is finally the right girl. He’s been engaged so many times.”

“At least he hasn’t married any of the others. He falls in love easily, but he’s cautious.” Unlike Zach had been with Victoria.

“Speaking of marriage,” Margaret patted ineffectually at her perfectly-coiffed, silver hair, “what are you doing about
your
single status?”

Zach groaned. “You too, Grandma? Mother’s been harping about that for months now.”

“Darling, you know how I hate to agree with that woman about anything, but in this case, she’s right.” Margaret gave him a firm look. “You haven’t brought anyone home to meet the family. Have you dated at all?”

“Not for a long while,” he admitted.

Zach avoided his grandmother’s eyes, staring across the room to the picture window facing the lake. Victoria had been dead for three years now. His farce of a marriage had been far from perfect, and Zach really didn’t want to try again. Victoria’s motivation had never been love. From the second she allowed him to seduce her to the moment they said, “I do,” she only wanted his money and the prestige of becoming a Woodbridge.

“Grandma?” He met her eyes. “Do you really think I want to go through that with another woman?”

“You’re not scared of marriage, boy. You’re scared of being hurt. You just have to find the right lady.” Margaret rocked back and forth in her floral-patterned chair. “Your sister and Steven are happily married. Tommy’s engaged. You need some good news of your own this year.”

“You’re the one who matched Sarah up with Steven.” Zach chuckled. “I don’t suppose you’re working on finding me the perfect woman.”

Margaret lowered her eyes. Zach could almost see the cogwheels turn in her brain.

“I did hire a new assistant last week. Her name is Lilly Price, and she’s quite charming. Only twenty-seven years old, perfect age to start a family.”

Zach ran his hands through his hair and prayed for patience. “It was a joke, Grandma. I don’t have time for a relationship. I want to write a mystery novel next, instead of more non-fiction books. I’m much too busy for dating.”

Margaret bared her teeth at him and growled, but Zach could see the sparkle of humor in her eyes. “Why do you insist on working for a living?”

“Maybe it’s because my grandparents were such great role models.”

“We were hard workers, weren’t we?” Margaret asked, a proud lift to her chin.

“Grandpa worked six days a week until the day he died,” Zach agreed.

Tears misted her eyes. “Oh, I miss William so much.”

“We all do.” Zach stood and kissed her wrinkled cheek. “I’ll come back soon, okay?”

“You’re leaving?” She clutched his hand. “But Lilly will be back from the library soon. Why don’t you stay a few more minutes? I really want you to meet her. Such a cute little thing. I know you’re going to like her.”

Zach sighed. “You never give up, do you?”

“Woodbridges aren’t quitters.”

He grinned. “It’s a long drive back to Seattle. I’ll meet her next time.”

A light knock sounded on the door to the suite and it cracked open. “Mrs. Woodbridge? I’m sorry to bother you. I stopped by the nurses’ station before coming up. It’s time for your medication.”

Margaret shot a triumphant look at Zach and released his hand. “Come on in, Lilly. You’re no bother at all. I want you to meet my grandson.”

A redheaded young woman opened the door the rest of the way and entered the room slowly. She limped across the plush carpet and balanced a tray laden with sparkling water and a plastic cup full of pills. A book rested on the corner of the tray; some sort of romance novel, Grandma’s favorite.

He watched Lilly make her way toward them.
What happened to her leg?
He wanted to offer to take the tray from her, but that might sound as though he didn’t think she could handle carrying it.

She smiled at him, meeting his eyes directly in a manner that spoke nothing of servitude. Her attitude wasn’t that of a normal staff member faced with the boss. A tingle of excitement passed through him as he returned her smile.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Woodbridge. Your grandmother has talked about you,” merriment sparkled in her deep blue eyes, “extensively.”

He laughed. “That doesn’t surprise me. I’ve been hearing all about you this afternoon.”

Lilly lowered her eyes and turned a charming shade of red.

Grandma was right. This woman aroused Zach’s curiosity, and her beauty would turn any man’s head. Her silk blouse outlined her slim body, hugging her small breasts in a way that drew his eye. She walked past him, and the top of her head barely reached his chin. He’d never been with such a petite woman—the thought intrigued him.

She bent down to hand Margaret her pills and water. Zach’s eyes focused on Lilly’s rounded derriere. Perfectly shaped, just like the rest of her. It had been a full eleven months since his last relationship, a long time to be on his own.

Zach tore his gaze away from her rear. Maybe his family had a point. He
did
need a woman. He was here with his grandmother for crying out loud. Definitely not the time to dwell on Lilly’s finer qualities, though he knew he’d think about them on the drive home.

His grandmother caught his gaze and raised her eyebrows in silent inquiry.

“You’re always right, aren’t you, Grandma?”

Margaret smiled. “Of course I am.”

Lilly straightened and turned to face him while Margaret downed the pills. “I get the feeling I interrupted a private conversation.”

Stray strands of red hair fluttered around Lilly’s face, escaping the bun behind her head and drawing attention to her high cheekbones. What would that hair look like, loose around her slim shoulders? He could plunge his hands into it and—

Damn it, man. Stop right there.

He took a steadying breath. “You’re fine, Ms. Price, no interruption at all. In fact, I need to head home now. It’s getting late.”

“It was nice to meet you, Mr. Woodbridge.” Lilly stretched out her hand.

For a second, a ridiculous urge gripped him to take the proffered hand and kiss it. He gently grasped it in a soft shake instead.

“Please, call me Zach,” he managed to say, “and the pleasure was all mine.”

Margaret grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. “Can I assume we’ll be seeing you soon?”

“Very soon, Grandma,” he agreed, “maybe even next weekend.”

Margaret’s hoot of laughter reached the hallway as Zach closed the door.

Lilly smoothed down the front of her white summer dress as she looked over the food cart, trying to determine whether she forgot anything Margaret or Zach might want. Activity whirled around her as the kitchen staff scrambled to prepare the dinner meal.

Though overpriced, Woodbridge Manor was the leading place to send inconvenient loved ones who required too much care to stay in their own homes. Lilly counted herself lucky to have found a position working for the woman who owned the entire establishment. While Margaret had her little quirks, it was easy to like the lady.

It was even easier to like her grandson.

Zach frequently visited, and Margaret seemed to encourage a connection between her grandson and Lilly. Lilly couldn’t understand why Margaret would push Zach to foster a relationship with a penniless employee, but she enjoyed the interactions with him over the last three months.

This would be the first meal Zach ever stayed to eat with Margaret while Lilly was present. As per usual, Margaret ordered Lilly to bring the meal up to her suite. Her employer had been very mysterious about things this week. Margaret seemed overly excited about the visit, and she kept talking about parties and how Lilly’s luck was about to take a turn for the better.

No matter how many times Lilly questioned her, the older woman simply smiled and said Zach would explain when he arrived.

Lilly set silver domes on top of the food trays and placed wine and water glasses on the bottom rack. She wheeled the cart through the double swinging doors into the hallway. Rich blues and teals set a soothing background for the expensive artwork hung along the walls, and finely detailed statues adorned every intersection.

Plush carpet muffled her footsteps and caught at the wheels of the cart, making her task difficult as she walked to the elevator. Her left leg was in agony before she had gone ten steps but Lilly plastered a smile on her face, nodding at the residents who passed her on their way to the dining room.

She exited the elevator on the top floor and knocked on Mrs. Woodbridge’s door before opening it. Lilly carefully backed into the suite, dragging the food cart with her.

“Lilly, you should have had one of the orderlies bring that up.” Zach’s voice filled the room all at once and sent a shiver down her spine.