Always & Forever (21 page)

Lilly shivered. “But why would he be after me again? I don’t have any money.”

“Maybe he doesn’t know that.” Also, Zach realized the person after Lilly now might be whoever Charles hired to help him fake his death. Assuming, of course, that was what happened. “Let’s call your detective in the morning and see if he can help us.”

She snuggled closer into him. “Detective Spalding hates me, but I’ll do whatever you think is best.”

At least they had a plan now. Hopefully that would calm her enough she could rest tonight. Exhaustion set in for Zach after the emotional turmoil of the past few hours; he could only imagine how Lilly must feel. She always tried to be strong, but everyone had limits.

“You should sleep. It’s been a long night.” He attempted to slide from underneath her body.

“You’re leaving?” Lilly grasped his arm. “I don’t need to sleep yet. Stay with me. Please!”

He didn’t like the edge of panic in her voice. At least he wouldn’t have to convince her to let him stay. “I’m just going to check the house. I’ll be right back.”

Her frightened eyes searched his face, as though judging whether he told the truth. “You’re not going home?”

He tipped her head back and kissed her softly. “I promise I’m not leaving you.”

She returned the kiss and held his arm a moment longer. A tear slipped down her cheek. “Hurry.”

“Where are your house keys?”

Lilly sat up in the bed. “Why?”

“I told you, I’m going to check the house. I want to make sure that bastard isn’t lurking around out there.”

“You’re going outside?” She scrambled across the bed and threw herself into him. She molded her body to his. “You can’t go out there. What if he’s waiting? What if he hurts you?”

He brushed a light kiss across her mouth. “If you won’t let me call the cops, I’ve got to make sure you’re safe. I can’t sleep unless I know he’s gone.”

She swallowed audibly. “I’ll come with you.”

Zach pushed her gently away from him. “No, honey. You stay here.” He handed her his cell phone. “If I’m not back inside in five minutes, call the police. I need you to do that for me, okay?”

Her eyes were wide and scared, but she clutched the phone and nodded. “The keys are in my purse on the kitchen counter.”

Zach rushed through the house and grabbed the keys. Maybe Lilly
was
borderline hysterical, but somebody frightened her tonight. He wouldn’t take a chance that person could get them while they slept. He still thought they should call the police, but if he went behind her back, Lilly would probably never speak to him again.

He searched around for a weapon. Her cane might work, but he couldn’t see taking something so important to her without her permission. Perhaps he had something in his vehicle.

Zach left through the front door, locked it behind him, and rushed to his car. He popped the trunk and grabbed the tire iron, hefting its weight experimentally. That’d work. He grabbed a large flashlight from his emergency kit and shut the trunk quietly.

Zach crept into the back yard, hardly daring to breathe. There was no sign of anyone against the house. He turned on the flashlight, sweeping the beam across the area—no one. After checking each door and window, Zach rushed back to the front of the house, mindful of the five-minute timeframe he’d given Lilly, knowing even one minute must feel like an eternity to her.

He fit the key into the lock. A rustling sound started behind him. Heart in his throat, Zach whirled around, gripping the tire iron at the ready. “Who’s out here?”

The rustling continued, and Zach held the iron bar above his head, ready to swing at whoever might jump out. He swung his light in an arc across the yard as his heart pounded nearly out of his chest.

Zach’s flashlight hit something in the yard, dark and small. The form jumped up, yowled at him, and bounded away. He collapsed against the doorframe. A damn cat.

The pine trees across the street caught his eye. He shone the light deep into the boughs of pine, but saw no indication of movement. No one was out there. The caller must have left when Zach returned.

He opened the door and stepped back into the house. “Everything’s fine,” he called. “Nobody’s out there.”

Lilly stepped out of the hallway, tears streaming down her face. “I was so worried about you. I was about to call the police when I heard the key in the door.”

After locking the door, he crossed over to her. “You don’t need to worry anymore. Everything’s going to be okay.”

She hugged him tightly. “I wish I could believe that,” she whispered and turned toward the bedroom.

Zach followed behind her and watched as she climbed into bed. She was so fragile. He would protect her, no matter the cost.

“Are you getting in bed?” she asked.

Zach nodded. He stripped down to his boxers and placed the tire iron on the floor within easy reach, just in case.

He climbed into the bed, and Lilly returned to his embrace when he reached for her. As though he’d been designed to hold her, Lilly’s feminine curves fit perfectly against him.

Her breathing quieted as they lay there, and her body relaxed. Every sound the house made set Zach on alert, but having Lilly curled up against him was worth the fear.

So much time passed while Zach drifted, enjoying being with her, he thought she’d fallen asleep.

“Do you think it’s Charles out there?” she asked quietly, startling him. “It didn’t sound like him, but the voice was really low. Do you think he’s the person who attacked me all along?”

Zach stilled his pounding heart and thought about her question. “I don’t think it’s him. If Charles faked his own death and took that money, he probably left the country. Why risk returning?” Perhaps Charles had come back for Lilly. Maybe he wanted her back in his control. Zach squeezed Lilly closer against him. He would
never
let that happen. “It might have been a prank,” he said, trying to think of a way to ease her fears, “but I don’t think we should take any chances.”

“Who would pull a prank that horrible?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted, kissing her forehead. “But the person left when I got here, so maybe they weren’t serious and were just trying to scare you.”

“It sounded a lot like the voice I remember from the night I was attacked.” She stroked his hair as she talked. “What if that man is coming back to kill me?”

The feel of her against him, her gentle hand touching him, was the best thing Zach ever experienced. Things would be perfect if he could somehow ease her fears, make her feel secure.

“I won’t let anyone near you.” He returned her tentative caresses. “Maybe the voice sounded familiar to you because of your fear, but it really wasn’t. Maybe it got all mixed up in your mind.”

She sighed. “Well, that’s terrific.” Her leg slipped over his and she threw her arm around his chest. She laughed a little and shook her head. “I’m becoming whiny
and
paranoid. I hope I don’t scare you off.”

Zach smiled in the darkness. It was an exquisite kind of torture, to be this close to her and refrain from doing anything more than hold her, but a torture he gladly endured.

He dropped a kiss onto her forehead. “You’d never scare me off. I like the feel of this too much. I might become addicted.”

She laughed. “I can deal with an addict.”

Zach stayed awake for a long time after Lilly fell asleep. The sound of her deep, even breaths and occasional soft snore lulled him closer to sleep but he forced himself awake. He cradled her tighter against him. Zach didn’t want to go to his own home and sleep alone tomorrow. He never wanted to be in bed without her again.

Lilly woke slowly Wednesday morning to the sound of the shower turning on. She could get used to Zach being around the house. A smile crossed her face, but then she remembered the reason Zach was there.

What would today bring? She was half-afraid to leave her house and go to work. What if the caller waited for an opportunity to get her alone? Maybe Zach would follow her and watch until she made it safely inside Woodbridge Manor.

She stretched and opened her eyes. The room was much lighter than it should be. What time was it? She looked at her clock.

Nine o’clock?
She was late for work.

Lilly rolled out of bed and hurried into the hallway. She pounded on the bathroom door. “Zach! I really need to get in there.”

“So come on in,” he called over the sound of the water.

She yanked the door open, making a beeline for the medicine cabinet to brush her teeth. Then, Lilly fumbled through the drawer before remembering her hairbrush sat on the nightstand.

The water in the shower turned off and Lilly hurried into the hallway, closing the door behind her. She dressed in record time and ripped the brush through her hair to force the tangles out. Static crackled around her and the curls turned into a puffy mess around her face.

Surely Margaret would call any minute. Lilly had never been late before. She hoped Zach hurried; she needed to get back in the bathroom.

Zach strolled in a few minutes later, his shirt unbuttoned. “Do you have an extra toothbrush by chance?”

“There’s a whole pack in the hall closet,” she answered and tried to push past him.

He caught her around the waist and kissed her cheek. “What’s the hurry?”

“What’s the hurry? I’m supposed to be at work. Why didn’t you wake me?”

“Wake you? I turned the alarm off. You needed the sleep.”

This is your fantasy man, Lilly. You spent the night in his arms. Be nice.
“What I need is to make it to work on time.”

He squeezed her waist. “Relax, you’re not late. I called Grandma before I got in the shower.”

“Oh, well, that’s okay...I guess.” At least she had time to get ready.

Zach released her and went to the hall closet. He found the package of toothbrushes from the dollar store and returned to the bathroom with a green one in his hand.

She followed him and watched in bemusement as he opened the medicine chest and helped himself to her toothpaste.

Once finished, he turned to her. “Now, I can give you a real kiss good morning.”

Lilly’s delighted laugh changed to a small moan as his clever tongue went to work inside her mouth. Zach kissed her as if they were lovers, reunited after a long separation.

“Good morning to you, too,” she said when he released her.

Zach grinned. “Why don’t you get ready and we’ll figure out what we’re doing today.”

“Well, I don’t know what
you’re
doing, but I need to get my hiney to work.”

“Personally, I love your hiney,” he said, “but it doesn’t have to go to work until Monday. I thought we’d drive up to Portland and get you—”

“What do you mean
Monday
?” she interrupted.

“Oh, right. I forgot to tell you. I told Grandma you wouldn’t be in ‘til Monday.”

Lilly sputtered for a moment, unable to think of anything to say. “Why would you do that?” she managed to ask.

“We have a lot to get done.” He shrugged. “Grandma’s fine with it. She said she’d see you Saturday at the party.”

Lilly chewed on the inside of her lip, trying not to explode at his high-handed manner. Zach thought he was being helpful.

He continued to speak, unaware of her mounting anger. “After we call that detective in New York, let’s head for Portland.”

Lilly counted slowly to ten in her head, breathing deeply. “What are we doing in Portland?”

“You said you didn’t have any more dresses. You’ll need one for Saturday, right?” He grinned. “I thought we’d go shopping.”

“But I don’t want to go shopping.”

“Don’t worry.” He patted her shoulder. “I’m buying.”

Lilly’s hand balled into a fist. Of all the arrogant, cocky, stupid things to say. He
knew
how she felt about that.

“Zach, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.” Her tone must have alerted him, because Zach finally looked apprehensive.

“Did we have a conversation last night that I don’t remember?”

“I don’t think so,” Zach said slowly.

“I don’t think so either.” She folded her arms across her chest. “So where’d you get the idea I’m looking for a man to manage my life?”

Zach’s mouth hung open for a second. “Come on, Lilly. That’s not what I’m doing.”

“Oh, really? You decided I don’t need to work. Apparently, according to you, I need a shopping spree. You are going to pay. This will happen after I do the other things you said to do.” She glared at him. “Do I get to pick out my own dress or are
you
choosing that too?”

Zach threw his arms in the air and backed out of the bathroom. “I’m going down to get some coffee and donuts. We’ll talk about this after we’ve both calmed down.”

Seconds later, the front door slammed shut. Lilly sagged against the counter, holding back tears. She wondered if he would return. Part of her wanted to believe Zach only tried to help, that he didn’t want to control her like Charles had. The other part of her was afraid all men were the same.