Always & Forever Read Free Page B

same posture when he wanted to impress potential investors.
    Lilly resolutely banished thoughts of her father. She didn’t have time to brood right now. She grabbed the silver-covered dining trays off the cart. Careful not to put weight on her injured leg, she pivoted back toward the table and set the food down.
    “Everything worked out,” Zach replied as he and Margaret made their way to the table. “Always a few little snafus in the editing process. I’ll have to go back and do book signings at a few stores in early January, but I plan on staying here for an extended period until then.”
    He lowered his grandmother into a chair. Zach passed very close behind Lilly, fitting himself in the space between her and the food cart. His hand ran lightly across the small of her back, and Lilly tried to suppress the shudder of pleasure mixed with fear flowing through her.
    Zach paid attention to Lilly whenever he came to town. She knew he really visited Margaret, but he spoke with Lilly too, never treating her like an employee but more like a friend.
    It wasn’t the first time he found a way to touch her. She had mixed reactions about that. She enjoyed his flirting, even enjoyed the feelings that flooded through her when he touched her. The problem was Charles. When Zach touched her, it gave a basis to her deepest fantasy. Unfortunately, often she came right back down to earth with a memory of Charles and his dark side.
    No doubt, Zach flirted with many women, and Lilly shouldn’t read anything into his antics. Regardless of how many times she told herself that, her hormones didn’t listen to her brain.
    Zach pulled out his own chair and Lilly returned to her task, keeping her mind firmly on the food. She pulled the domes off the trays to reveal the five-star chef’s current masterpiece. The plates were a study in color. An orange sauce covered the salmon and although Lilly didn’t eat fish, it smelled delicious. The dainty salad was a work of art—dark beets lay in a bed of leafy Romaine lettuce mixed with little wedges of oranges. Rolls and a raspberry sorbet completed the meal.
    Probably more food than Margaret could finish, but Lilly was glad she’d brought two servings of fish for Zach.
    Lilly turned back to the tray, pulling a bottle of white wine out of the ice bucket. She carefully filled two crystal glasses, lifted them off the tray, and pivoted back to the table.
    “Let me help you with those.” Zach stood right next to her.
    Lilly gasped and stepped back, heart pounding. She hadn’t heard him get up. Pain lanced down her left leg as she tried to put her full weight on the faulty limb. Lilly felt it crumple beneath her, and she whimpered as her body fell backward.
    Strong hands gripped her wrists and pulled her upright, steadying her, but it was too late. Wine sloshed out of the unbalanced glasses and doused the front of her dress. Some even splashed Zach’s suit jacket. He gripped her about the waist with one large hand to steady her further.
    “I’m so sorry.” He released her and stepped back, running a hand through his mass of thick, black hair. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
    “Your jacket,” she gasped, seeing her perfect job going up in flames. Margaret would likely fire her now. The conversation about Margaret’s fears the injury would hinder her abilities flashed through Lilly’s mind. Now, the first time Margaret had a dinner guest with Lilly in attendance, Lilly caused embarrassment.
    No wonder Margaret sent her to run errands any time other family members came to visit. Her employer had probably been sure all along something like this would happen.
    Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away. If she cried, it would only make the situation worse.
    “Forget the suit.” Zach waved his hand dismissively. “I’m more worried about your dress. I’ll find you a towel.”
    Lilly looked at herself as Zach walked into the other room. Warmth flooded her cheeks and