Always & Forever

Read Always & Forever for Free Online

Book: Read Always & Forever for Free Online
Authors: Chantel Rhondeau
Tags: romantic suspense
awkward socially.”
    A woman like Lilly could certainly keep him on his toes. Smart, funny, and she already had Grandma’s approval.
    “Perhaps you should forgive me and agree to go out with me,” he said. “I’m sure I would pick up a few social graces hanging out with you.”
    Moisture gleamed in her beautiful eyes and Lilly blinked rapidly.
    “What did I say wrong now?” He had a hard time keeping up with her volatile moods. Unable to stop himself, he reached out and caressed her shoulder. “I’m really not trying to upset you again.”
    She pulled away from him and wrapped her arms around herself. “It would have been nice to believe you found me attractive and actually wanted to date me,” she whispered.
    “What? Wait, you must know you’re gorgeous.” This wasn’t going as planned. It had been a mistake to touch her. Zach scooted back along the counter, putting more space between them. “I’m not ready to date yet. I’m not sure I want a relationship after the one I had with Victoria.”
    Zach pushed away the little whisper of thought pressing against his mind, insisting he had proven himself a liar. If Lilly wanted him, he might be ready. If only he could be sure she truly was different from his wife, that her kindness wasn’t an act that would disappear when she received what she wanted.
    Lilly looked at him, the expression on her face softer. “You must miss your wife a lot.”
    He didn’t want to talk about Victoria, not to Lilly. He pushed memories of his marriage away and shook his head. “I really want you to go to the party, Lilly. It would mean a lot to me. I’ll give you whatever you need, help you any way I can. Just, please, name your price and be my date.”
    “You’ve got to be kidding. Do women usually respond to that kind of offer from you?” Lilly snatched the flowers off the counter. She limped over to the food bar and slammed them against it. Water sloshed out and trickled down the side of the vase. She ignored it and sat on one of the stools.
    Damn, damn, damn! Zach grabbed a hand towel hanging on the stove handle and cleaned up the little puddle of water.
    Every woman he’d ever dated wanted something from him—money, clothes, a tropical vacation. None of them wanted only to spend time with him. Was that all Lilly asked for?
    He hung the towel back up and sat on the stool next to her. “I’m sorry. Usually that’s what the women I date expect from me.”
    “Perhaps you’re choosing the wrong type of women.” She rubbed at her leg, wincing slightly.
    Zach glanced down, for the first time noticing the scars. The outer left thigh was a mutilated mass of pink and purple marks, which started somewhere above her shorts and ended at her knee. It looked terrible. The initial injury must have been extremely painful.
    She looked at him and sighed. “I know it’s not pretty. I don’t like people seeing it.” She grimaced, and Zach saw the pain in her expression before she dropped her eyes from his. “I never get uninvited company.”
    “I should’ve called before I came over, but I figured you’d refuse to see me.” He searched her face for some indication of whether she was about to throw him out. “Not that I’m doing a particularly good job at getting you to forgive me.” Maybe if he went for a touch of the dramatic. “No doubt you’re so upset with me, we can’t even be friends now.”
    Lilly smiled briefly and shook her head. “Shouldn’t a mighty Woodbridge be a little more suave? Who would’ve guessed you’d be just as awkward as the next guy? You certainly brag about yourself enough.”
    “Hey, I wouldn’t have to brag if someone would stroke my ego for me a little bit now and then.”
    “I don’t think you need anything stroked,” she said, her eyes hidden beneath downcast lashes.
    “You really don’t think so?” Zach strived for an innocent expression on his face.
    She laughed, a real laugh, and things once again felt normal between

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