Always & Forever (6 page)

“But my mother will—”

“Mothers don’t know sexy, at least not in their own sons.” She ran her fingers through his thick hair, spiking it back up. Even if she could never really be with Zach, the feel of his soft hair against her skin would add additional fodder for her dreams. “There. You look perfect.”

“I guess Mother can deal with it.” He grinned as he backed the car out of the driveway. “You do realize I’ll blame it all on you when she complains?”

Lilly clasped her hands together. “I’m worried about meeting your family.”

“Don’t be. Grandma is crazy about you. That’s what will matter to them.”

“Zach, I’m the hired help. I really don’t think your scheme is going to work.”

“It’s no longer a scheme, since you wouldn’t go along with that,” he pointed out.

Why did he keep saying things like that? It made her want to hope this was something more than a ruse to fool his family, even though she knew better.

She sighed. “Scheme between us or not, your family won’t be happy about this.”

Zach glanced at her before turning his attention back to the road. “Has anyone told you about my sister’s husband?”

Lilly shook her head.

“Before Grandma set him up with Sarah, Steven worked as Grandma’s accountant. Now, he’s head of accounting at Woodbridge, Inc.”

“So Margaret likes to set you all up with people who work for her?” Lilly asked, shocked.

He reached over and patted her arm. “Stop worrying.
That
was the point of my story.”

They drove in silence. Lilly watched as faded paint and damaged shingles gave way to brand-new siding and metal roofs. Houses became bigger and newer with every block they advanced toward the lake.

Despite Zach’s reassurances, Lilly’s anxiety built as they neared their destination. She was only a fake date. It didn’t really matter what his family thought of her, but she wanted them to like her.

In her life before Charles, she would have been more than acceptable to his family. But now...now she was a suspected murderess and a girl who worked for a living. Even without knowing Lilly’s past, Zach’s mother would probably hate her on sight because she worked for Margaret.

The sun dipped low in the sky, turning the clouds into a brilliant show of crimson and gold as they pulled into the driveway of the biggest house on the lake. The large porch wrapped around either side of the home and boasted thick columns. The house was a bright shade of white with the exception of the red front door. Enormous windows peered at the arriving guests like watchful eyes.

Lilly’s stomach clenched. “I think we should go to your house so you can fix your hair,” she blurted, desperate to put off meeting his family a little bit longer.

“No way. You said it was better this way. I’m keeping it.” Zach maneuvered the BMW into a spot on the large driveway, shut off the car, and hopped out. He opened Lilly’s door and helped her to her feet. “I don’t want you leaving me tonight for a man with messier hair,” he whispered into her ear.

His breath against her cheek made her shivery all over, but wasn’t enough to distract her. “Really, Zach, your mother—”

“Doesn’t know sexy.”

She shook her head and allowed him to take her arm as they walked to the house. It seemed some barrier had been broken when she agreed to date Zach. The feel of him against her, touching her, no longer induced little fissions of fear along with excitement. Now all she felt was excitement.

When they entered the foyer, Lilly barely dodged out of the way of a man in a waiter’s uniform who trudged past them carrying a large crate.

Zach led Lilly into the living room where two women in elegant dresses stood talking.

A young child looked up as they entered and shot across the room, her dark hair streaming behind her. She jumped as she reached Zach with all faith he would catch her. “Uncle Zach!” she shrieked. “Uncle Zach is here!”

“And how is Princess Savannah doing today?” Zach hitched the girl up on his hip and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

“I’m playing all night,” she told him with delight. “I get to stay with the babysitter and not go to your boring party.”

“That sounds wonderful, Princess.” He placed the girl gently back on the floor. “I want you to meet my good friend, Lilly.”

Savannah regarded Lilly warily and tried to hide behind Zach’s leg.

Lilly smiled at the child and lowered herself into a crouching position. She ignored the way her leg bickered as the muscles stretched. “It is very nice to meet you, Savannah.” Lilly extended her hand.

She had never been around children much, and hoped Savannah wouldn’t be afraid of her. She concentrated on the girl’s eyes, attempting to soften her own gaze. The only thing she knew about kids were things she learned from television, watching one of those reality nanny shows.

Savannah stared at Lilly for several long seconds and then smiled. She launched herself into the open space between Lilly’s arm and body to hug her. The force knocked Lilly off balance and she began to tip. Before her heart could do more than pound a bit, Zach’s strong hands gripped her shoulders and held her steady.

“You look real pretty,” Savannah said. “I love your dress. Mommy
always
wears blue or purple.” Savannah released Lilly to dart back to the other side of the room and resume playing with the toys she dropped.

“Why did you get down like that?” Zach pulled Lilly to her feet. “You’ll hurt all night now.”

Lilly shrugged and smiled up at him. “I saw on a TV show you’re supposed to get on a child’s level.”

“Looks like you picked a great date, Zach.” The younger woman crossed the room. Her lavender skirt swirled around her legs as she moved. “Savannah doesn’t like anyone when she first meets them. You must have a natural talent with children.”

Lilly let that pass without comment. These people would think she was crazy if she told them she’d never been around kids before and they actually terrified her. “You must be Zach’s sister.”

The angular features that looked so harsh on Zach’s face were much more suited to a female. Her face tapered down to a beautiful heart shape and red painted her lips. She had the same penetrating, green eyes as Zach. The resemblance was unmistakable.

She smiled warmly. “Yes, I’m Sarah. It’s so nice to meet you. I can’t tell you how excited I was when Zach told me you were coming. You’re the first date he’s sounded excited about since...” Sarah’s cheeks reddened and she looked away from Lilly.

Since his wife, of course. Lilly felt sorry for Sarah and her obvious discomfort. It must be confusing to know how to act around Lilly when she fell far below the standards the family expected.

“And this is my mother, Patricia,” Zach said quickly.

Patricia’s features were rounded and softer, but it was apparent where her children inherited their eye color. She crossed the room, each step graceful and regal. Her gown was a gauzy confection of fluttery pastel layers; her blonde hair a stylish up-do. A crown was all she needed to complete the fairy queen image conjured in Lilly’s mind.

Patricia shook Lilly’s hand. “We’re so glad you could make it, Lilly. I’m afraid it put my party arrangements in disarray but I figured it out.”

Sarah made a little sound of disapproval in the back of her throat. “Mother...”

It surprised Lilly that Patricia mentioned that. It couldn’t have been terribly hard to fit Lilly on the boat. Unless this was Patricia’s way of voicing her displeasure that Zach brought his own date.

“I’m sorry for any inconvenience.”

Patricia sighed and waved her hand in the air, dismissing Lilly’s apology. “It isn’t your fault, dear. Margaret Woodbridge is a force to be reckoned with. We mere mortals take cover whenever the great Maggie speaks.”

“Come on, Mother.” Zach laughed. “Grandma really isn’t that bad. You two just don’t see eye to eye about things.”

“About anything,” Sarah chimed in.

Patricia ignored her children’s comments. “It’ll be time to leave soon.” She looked at Zach and shook her head, frowning. “Zach, fix your hair. I swear, you always do that. Maybe you can get him to stop, Lilly. Victoria sure kept him looking tidy when she was around.”

A strangled gasp issued into the silence that followed that statement, and Sarah’s mouth worked silently for a moment before she was able to form words. “Mother, we are not talking about her tonight.”

Patricia gave Sarah a sharp look, opening her mouth apparently to argue further.

Zach cut her off, shaking his head. “I’m not fixing my hair, Mother.” He put his arm around Lilly’s waist. “I have it on good authority this is a great look for me.”

Patricia’s eyes shifted between Zach and Lilly. She frowned. “If your date doesn’t mind you looking frumpy,
I
can hardly complain.”

It might be a strategic time to appease Patricia. There was no sense battling Zach’s mother. Perhaps if she weren’t a decoy date, Lilly would press the issue. As things stood, it made more sense to get along with Zach’s family if she could.

Besides, it was obvious how much they all cared for Victoria. A party like this must make them wish she were still alive. They probably compared any woman Zach dated to his late wife. Unfortunately, Lilly knew she couldn’t compete.

She bumped Zach gently with her hip to get his attention. “I think you should listen to your mother.”

“Oh no.” He squeezed her waist gently. “Ain’t gonna happen.”

Sarah’s eyes twinkled with suppressed laughter, but Patricia’s frown deepened. Lilly wished she could run back to the car and avoid the whole thing.

Reprieve came as an older man entered the room and approached them. “Shake a leg, people. Boat leaves in ten minutes.” He kissed Patricia’s cheek. “Honey, I know you’re stressed and I’m sorry about the caterer, but our guests are waiting.”

“Dad, this is Lilly,” Zach said.

Zach’s father turned toward her. It was like looking into a mirror of the future. Zach was the very image of his father with one exception—Margaret’s blue eyes gleamed from beneath his father’s thick lashes.

He took Lilly’s hand and kissed the top of it. “It’s so nice to meet you finally. I’m James.” He released her hand and gave a broad smile. “Mother constantly raves about you, and I’ve been anxious for an introduction.”

Lilly smiled back at him to cover her confusion. She hadn’t expected such a warm welcome. Patricia’s reaction was the only one she understood. “I thought you didn’t want to meet the help,” she blurted. “Margaret always sends me away when you visit.”

James laughed and shook his silver-streaked head. “Mother fancies herself as a matchmaker. When she heard my wife’s plans about helping Zach find a new relationship, she searched out her own candidate.” He patted Lilly’s shoulder. “Mother refused to let us meet you. She wants us to think of you as Zach’s date, and not her employee, so we had to wait.”

Lilly knew the chances of that happening were slim to none, but at least Margaret had tried.

James glanced at his watch. “All right everyone. Let’s get moving before the boat leaves the hosts.”

Savannah ran up to the group to give everyone hugs and kisses. Lilly was shocked when the girl included her, but dutifully bent down to kiss Savannah’s cheek and give her a quick hug.

“Maybe next time you can play dollies with me,” Savannah said.

“Um, we’ll have to see,” Lilly replied.

Savannah seemed satisfied with that and dashed up the stairway where her babysitter waited. James herded the group down the hall to a doorway that let out onto a path behind the house.

Small ground lamps lit the pathway to a yacht. It surprised Lilly the Woodbridges brought a craft so large here. The lake was several miles across but much more appropriate for a speedboat. She figured this must be solely a party boat.

The sparkling white monstrosity had three levels. Chinese lamps swayed in the breeze on the outer deck on bottom. Light shone from the windows on the lower level and people stood inside. Above the waterline in the waning light, Lilly could barely make out where it said “Woodbridge, Inc.”

She leaned heavily onto Zach’s arm as they made their way up the dock. It felt nice to have a man by her side. She really had to stop thinking of this as a date, but it certainly felt like one. It was easy to slip into the fantasy when she was all dressed up and Zach behaved like such a gentleman.

“Do you like it?” Zach looked down at her. “My father designed it. My younger brother, Tommy, is mostly in charge of the company now, but Dad likes to put his hand in once in a while.”

“It’s beautiful,” Lilly breathed.

“They opened the bottom level to the guests. The band is set up on that deck in back for dancing.” He pointed to the rear of the boat.

“Bedrooms and the whole nine yards on the top levels?”

“Yep.” He grinned. “Maybe we can borrow it sometime and spend a weekend on the water.”

What did he mean by that? He kept talking as though they were actually dating. Lilly wished she could read his mind and know the appropriate response.

Patricia stopped and turned to them, saving Lilly from having to come up with a reply. “Zach, I know this is going to make you unhappy, but I had to invite another man this morning when you told me you were bringing Lilly.”