Always & Forever (14 page)

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.

“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 men 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.

Lilly banished the image from her head. It wasn’t as if she even wanted kids. She’d make a dreadful mother. She knew nothing about children.

Maybe Savannah calling her ‘Aunt Lilly’ and the feel of the young girl’s arms wrapped around her neck brought up these thoughts. Maybe it was the wonder of playing dollies and provoking gales of laughter from the child.

Whatever the reason, last night, once her heart stopped racing and she had room for any thought besides the feel of Zach’s hands on her body, a different image kept her up for a long time. Lilly spent the night picturing what his children would look like, what
their
children would look like.

The screen door banged shut, drawing her attention. Zach strode across the lawn toward her.

“I was out back and didn’t hear you pull up,” he called.

Lilly’s breath caught in her throat as she watched him approach. He had on a black cotton T-shirt that clung to his muscled frame. Tight-fitting Levi’s finished off the look, and Lilly worried she might drool. She couldn’t wait to follow him into the house. If anything, he looked even sexier in plain clothes than he had in a tuxedo or the dress shirt and slacks he usually wore.

She opened the trunk and picked up the grocery bags with salad fixings. “Could you please grab the little cooler for me?”

Zach brushed past her, sliding his fingertips along her forearm as he went. “I’ll grab anything you want me to,” he said in the same husky voice he’d used on the phone.

Too bad this night wouldn’t end with them in the hot tub, but she couldn’t take that step. Last night’s searing kiss had put to rest all thoughts of keeping her secret. Zach had to know the truth. It would be difficult to maintain the deception until Saturday.

Zach lifted up the small cooler and closed the trunk, turning to lead the way into the house. “Kitchen’s on the right,” he said as she made her way painfully up the stairs onto the porch. “We can drop the stuff off there. Then, I’ll give you the grand tour and show you where the grill is.”

She walked to the kitchen and set her groceries down. Zach’s arms flexed slightly when he lifted the cooler up on the other counter, captivating all of Lilly’s attention.

She'd really have to watch herself tonight and not let her attraction to him distract her. She couldn’t allow things to progress further until he heard her story. After that, things would be up to him, but Lilly didn’t hold out hope for the future.

“I prepared everything this morning except the salad.” She struggled to keep her mind on a safe topic. “We need to get the grill going. Is it gas or charcoal?”

Zach speared his fingers through his already-messy hair. “Sorry. I’ve never looked.”

She laughed. “I forgot. You’re hopeless about anything dealing with cooking. Lead on.”

He grabbed her arm and made a flourishing gesture with his other hand. “This is the kitchen.” He pointed to a little alcove filled with windows. “That’s the dining room.”

He hurried her off the tiled floor and onto the carpeted front room. “This is the living room. I think I covered everything you need to know.”

She laughed. “Very comprehensive tour, Mr. Woodbridge. Have you considered a job as a museum curator? I’m sure you’d be fantastic.”

“Well, Ms. Price, as every good tour guide knows, the public only wants to see things that are interesting.” He led her to the door at the back of the living room. “Wouldn’t you rather see where we’ll spend our time tonight?”

“I certainly would. Bring on the interesting!”

He grinned and opened the door.

Lilly stopped abruptly. “Zach, this
isn’t
your deck.”

A huge bed dominated the room. Lilly looked quickly away. It was too easy to imagine how it would look, sheets rumpled after a night of passion.

“Are you sure, Ms. Price?” Zach turned around in a circle. “Hmmm, perhaps I took a wrong turn somewhere.”

“Stop teasing me.” She glared up at him and tried to calm her jangled nerves. “What are we doing in here?”

Zach sighed. “See that sliding door over there?”

Lilly followed his finger with her eyes and nodded.

“That’s where the deck is.” He grinned at her. “You’re safe with me. I won’t try to seduce you...at least, not unless you want me to.”

Lilly swatted his shoulder and pushed past him. She didn’t look at the bed as she rushed past it to the deck beyond.

The lake sparkled in the evening sun and a cool breeze blew off the water, ruffling her hair. A few boats cruised through the depths, the faint whine of their engines reaching shore. Tall trees outlined either side of the deck, which cut off any potential for a neighbor to spy on them. The deck had a secluded, intimate feeling.

A table sat in the center and Lilly walked toward it, noting the unlit candles and the vase containing a single red rose. Silver-rimed China plates sat next to cloth napkins and crystal glasses. An uncorked bottle of red Bordeaux rested near the rose, a label she knew to be quite expensive. Soft classical music emitted through a stereo system, and white twinkling lights ran along the edges of the deck and through the trees.

“This is beautiful.” She looked over her shoulder and gave him an approving smile.

He walked up behind her and put his arms around her, resting them lightly on her waist. “Suitably romantic?”

“Very romantic.” She leaned back into him for a moment, thrilled with the nearness of him. The heat of his arms seduced her the same way his voice did, drowning out her fear. She pulled away, clutching the fraying strands of her resolve to keep him at a distance.

Lilly spotted the infamous hot tub across the deck and blushed as she recalled Zach’s comments about not wearing swimsuits. It would be best to avoid that area of the deck, especially since the temptation to hop in overwhelmed her.