“Mother!” Zach’s voice held shock. “The things you say.”
Margaret cleared her throat. “My William
loved
my cooking. Pity for my son you never learned the art, Patty.”
James sputtered, coughing around what sounded suspiciously like a snicker.
Patricia folded her arms across her chest, glaring at her husband.
He avoided her angry gaze, taking a drink of coffee.
Margaret continued to speak, as if the small exchange hadn’t happened. “Looks like Zach hit the jackpot with you, Lilly. He hates employing a cook and, I swear, that boy burns water.”
Congenial laughter greeted that statement, along with a collective sigh of relief. The awkward moment had passed. A flood of compliments washed over Lilly. Savannah claimed the cake was ‘the bestest,’ and everyone agreed.
Everyone except Bridget.
She pushed her uneaten portion of cake away from her. Lilly looked up to see the younger woman cock her head sideways and purse her lips together.
“I’ve heard Katherine was reportedly a terrific cook,” Bridget said loudly. “I always wondered why she didn’t poison her fiancé with his favorite meal instead of hiring someone to go after him in such a gruesome manner.”
Lilly’s last bite of cake turned to sawdust in her mouth, refusing to pass into her throat. She grasped her cup, taking a large gulp of coffee in an effort to force the food down. The liquid splashed and the cup jittered, rattling against her teeth. She set it down and a little sloshed over the edge onto the pristine tablecloth.
“Katherine who?” James asked.
“No one important, son.” Everyone looked at Margaret as she blotted the corner of her mouth with her napkin. “Really, Bridget, I’m ashamed of your poor manners. I don’t care what they gossip about where you come from, but that is
not
polite dinner conversation.”
Steven, Patricia, and James all looked confused. They couldn’t be as confused as Lilly. Did Margaret know something about Katherine? No one had said another word about it when they joined the family at the table.
Sarah had gone out to fetch Margaret when she arrived; perhaps she filled her in on Bridget’s accusations. Great, even more reason Lilly would have to tell Margaret the truth. Her life here was over.
“Grandmother!” Tommy’s cheeks flushed. “Don’t talk to Bridget that way. She’s my future wife and part of this family.”
“That’s fine,” Margaret replied, “but Lilly is every bit as much a part of the family now that she’s with Zach. Ridiculous business, comparing her to a murderer.” She slapped her hand against the table. “I won’t stand for it.”
Lilly held her breath and waited for someone to say something. Bridget pouted while everyone else seemed to be waiting for her to apologize. Lilly knew her type; Bridget would never do it.
Sarah reached across the top of her daughter’s head and patted Lilly’s shoulder. “Looks like you’re stuck with us now, Lil. Grandma speaks!”
How wonderful...she was part of the family—an illusion that would last until they learned the truth. She forced herself to return Sarah’s smile.
Patricia stared at Lilly with an air of contemplation and Lilly squirmed under the attention. “Can you make lasagna?” she finally asked.
Where did that come from?
Lilly shifted in her seat. “Well...um...yes.”
A satisfied smile graced Patricia’s lips. “Vegetarian as well as meat?”
“I can do both.” Lilly raised an eyebrow at her. “Why?”
“We’re having an engagement party for Tommy and Bridget next Saturday.” She smiled sweetly. “It would be great if you made the main course. We can make the party more personal and intimate.”
Lilly looked down at the table. Was this some sort of trap? Perhaps it tickled Patricia to lower Lilly to servant status by having her do the cooking while the rest of the family partied. Maybe it was her way of reminding Zach Lilly wasn’t good enough for him.
“I don’t know if I’m free next weekend. Perhaps you should hire someone,” she replied.
“Nonsense.” Patty’s hand fluttered through the air as if to erase Lilly’s words. “Get free. Everyone helps at times like these. It would be a great favor to me.”
“Honey,” James said, a note of warning in his voice, “she isn’t beholden to this family because she’s dated Zach a few times.”
“You’re not helping, dear.” Patricia returned her attention to Lilly. “I’m sure whatever you have going on can be rescheduled.”
“Come on, please.” Zach rubbed her leg beneath the table and flashed his sexy smile. “I could take the leftovers. I know how to use the microwave.”
Instant desire blossomed at the points of his fingers. She returned his smile and nodded, ready to agree to anything if he would only keep touching her.
Across the table, Bridget looked mutinous, but didn’t say anything.
Maybe that was why Patricia made this plan, in hopes of bothering Bridget. It was obvious Bridget didn’t want to eat Lilly’s cooking. Patricia probably hated all the women her sons brought home and did her best to scare them away.
Lilly tried to remember who might recognize her from Bridget’s family. She knew she’d once met Bridget’s mother, but didn’t ever actually visit with the woman.
“I’ll do it,” she said in a weak voice. Yeah, sure, it’d be easy. All she had to do was lie to Zach for the next week about her true identity.
“Excellent.” Patricia sat back with a pleased air. “Send over a list of ingredients you need. Dinner’s at six o’clock. What time should I expect you?”
“I’ll be here by one,” Lilly promised.
Margaret caught Lilly’s eye, and a small smile graced her employer’s lips. Was this Margaret’s plan all along when she goaded Patricia about not being able to cook? Why did Margaret seem obsessed with making Lilly a part of this family?
Bridget leaned forward in her chair. “Katherine...excuse me,
Lilly
, my mother’s a strict vegetarian. Do be careful when you make the food.”
“Sweetie, of course she’ll be careful,” Tommy said. “I think she understands the meaning of vegetarian.” He smiled shyly at Lilly and shrugged his shoulders as if to apologize.
Not even married yet, and Tommy already played the role of the henpecked husband. Bridget had him right where she wanted him.
Savannah grasped Lilly’s hand and tugged on it. “Aunt Lilly, can we go play dollies now? We’ve been sitting here
for-ev-er
.” She rolled her eyes.
“Of course, munchkin.” She inclined her head to the others. “If you’ll please excuse us.”
“Have fun,” Sarah said.
Savannah hopped up. “We will, Mommy.”
Zach stood as Lilly and Savannah left the table. The smile he wore warmed her heart, while simultaneously crushing it. How could she keep her secret for an entire week? Now that Bridget had brought it up, everything Lilly told him was a lie, rather than just an omission of truth.
She followed Savannah to the playroom. Maybe Patricia sincerely wanted to be pleasant, as pleasant as Patricia could be, anyway. Even if she was using Lilly to annoy Bridget, it felt good to have a little approval.
Lilly knew this positive attitude toward her would come crashing down when Zach’s family learned the truth. She had to keep things quiet until after the party.
***
Zach drove Lilly home an hour later. “So, that was an interesting night.”
She shifted slightly in her seat. “What do you mean?”
In the near-darkness of the car, Zach could barely make out her features as she stared out the windshield.
“Savannah really likes you,” Zach said. It was best to stay on neutral topics. He still wanted a kiss, after all.
“She’s a sweet girl.” Lilly turned her head away from him to look out the passenger window.
Zach navigated the BMW through the darkened streets, trying to think up a new conversation piece. “Tommy seems really happy with Bridget. I’m glad for him.”
“I really like Tommy, and I guess Bridget’s nice enough.” Lilly faced him and in the light of a street lamp, he saw her quirked eyebrow. “A bit chatty though.”
Did she want to talk about this? Zach needed a handbook on handling women. “Her story was bizarre. Crazy that she thought you were Katherine. Maybe it’s like Sarah said and you have a killer cousin out there somewhere.” He laughed, trying to lighten her mood.
“Funny.” She didn’t laugh.
They pulled up in front of her house and Zach parked the car. He studied her face in the soft glow of moonlight. Her full lips still held a trace of shimmery lipstick. They looked so kissable.
“I’m sorry you had to put up with all of that tonight.” He reached out and stroked her hair. He loved the feel of her silky tresses. “It must have been awkward, but you handled the situation admirably. I’m not sure what was with Bridget. She just couldn’t let it go.”
Lilly shrugged. She grabbed his hand from her head and held it against her cheek, rubbing it along her face. “It’s okay. Please don’t think about it anymore.”
Well, that seemed promising. “What time will you be over tomorrow night?” He trailed his finger across her bottom lip, itching to close the distance between them and take her mouth in his own.
She kissed his fingers and then pulled back, dropping his hand. “I’ll have to stop at the store after work. Six, six-thirty maybe?”
He leaned into her, testing her limits. She didn’t back away. “I could go to the store. What do you need?”
She smiled at him—the first time since dinner. “All you need is an appetite. I’ll do the shopping. I’m not sure you’d know what to buy to make salad.”
“Hey.” He grasped her hand and put it over his heart. “Words hurt, you know?”
“I think you’re tough enough to handle it.” She leaned into him and placed a quick peck on his cheek. Her soft hair brushed across his face, swirling her scent around him.
That wouldn’t do it for him. He needed more. Zach leaned toward her.
She opened her door and slipped out of the car. “Goodnight, Zach. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He sat, stunned, watching as she closed the door and walked toward her house. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to happen. Not twice in a row.
Zach jumped out of the car and ran up the walk, intercepting her on the porch as she unlocked the front door. “Invite me in for a nightcap?” He grasped her hand, praying she wouldn’t disappear into the house again.
Several emotions flitted across the surface of her face before she shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I have work tomorrow.”
“Come on,
pumpkin
.” He grinned and pulled her gently toward him, inhaling her sweet fragrance when she moved. “It’s not that late.”
“Yes,
cupcake
, but you have a busy day of writing ahead of you.” She pulled her hand free from his.
“It is our second date. Haven’t you thought about this at all?” he tried again, stepping into her personal space. “I’ve been dreaming of it every night since I met you.”
He closed the remaining distance between them, placing his palm across her back and pulling her body into his. He loved the feel of her small breasts pressing snuggly against him, the fabric of her shirt moving in and out as her breath quickened.
Zach framed her face in his hands and tilted her head upward, loosing himself in the sparkling depths of her eyes. He ran his fingers through her soft, waterfall of hair, and stroked her gently arched back.
“Zach?” Her voice quavered and she touched his lips with the tip of her finger. “What are you doing?”
He closed his eyes, savoring the feel of her hesitant touch. “Isn’t it obvious?” he asked, when she moved her hand away.
He brushed his mouth against hers. As their lips touched, a delicious shudder went through Lilly’s body. He sensed her fragility, knew he had to move slowly. He didn’t want to scare her. A light, closed-mouthed kiss was all she could handle. Satisfied she did feel something for him, Zach pulled away.
Lilly’s arms snaked around him, pulling him back to her, and her lips pressed against his with more purpose. She opened her mouth, and her tongue flicked out to touch his lips. A groan ripped from him. He needed no further encouragement to deepen the kiss.
He ran his hand against her side and gently palmed her breast. Her nipple tightened under the light silk as his thumb grazed across it. Lilly made a soft noise of feminine desire that drove him wild.
The intoxicating smell of lavender filled his nostrils and blotted out any other scent. That flowery fragrance was all Lilly, and she smelled so sweet. He was unable to hide his arousal as her lithe body brushed against him.
Her hand strayed from his neck and came agonizingly close to his beltline before she ran it up his shirt.
He slid his mouth off hers to find the sweet, sensitive skin below her earlobe. She uttered a small, urgent moan as he kissed the area, sucking lightly, not quite hard enough to mark her.
Lilly’s hot kisses brushed across his neck, and her hands found their way under his shirt. She stroked his abs with a gentle touch, breaking down the control Zach tried to maintain.
“Let’s take this inside.” His voice sounded ragged in his own ears.