Always & Forever by Chantel Rhondeau

lamps swayed in the breeze on the outer deck on bottom. Light shone from the windows on the lower level and people stood inside. Above the waterline in the waning light, Lilly could barely make out where it said “Woodbridge, Inc.”
    She leaned heavily onto Zach’s arm as they made their way up the dock. It felt nice to have a man by her side. She really had to stop thinking of this as a date, but it certainly felt like one. It was easy to slip into the fantasy when she was all dressed up and Zach behaved like such a gentleman.
    “Do you like it?” Zach looked down at her. “My father designed it. My younger brother, Tommy, is mostly in charge of the company now, but Dad likes to put his hand in once in a while.”
    “It’s beautiful,” Lilly breathed.
    “They opened the bottom level to the guests. The band is set up on that deck in back for dancing.” He pointed to the rear of the boat.
    “Bedrooms and the whole nine yards on the top levels?”
    “Yep.” He grinned. “Maybe we can borrow it sometime and spend a weekend on the water.”
    What did he mean by that? He kept talking as though they were actually dating. Lilly wished she could read his mind and know the appropriate response.
    Patricia stopped and turned to them, saving Lilly from having to come up with a reply. “Zach, I know this is going to make you unhappy, but I had to invite another man this morning when you told me you were bringing Lilly.”
    “Yes, of course,” Zach said with a shrug. “Can’t let one of your women go without a dancing partner, especially since they’re not getting me.”
    Patricia’s eyes tightened and she looked at Lilly, shaking her head. “No, not since you insisted on bringing a date when I had perfectly respectable ladies already picked out.”
    If Patricia smacked her across the face, Lilly wouldn’t have been more stunned. She’d forgotten how things worked in the so-called polite world.
    “Mother,” Zach protested. “There’s no call to be rude to Lilly. She’s done nothing wrong.”
    Patricia sighed. “Forgive me. That’s not what’s important here.”
    Lilly shook her head and reminded herself she wouldn’t start a war with Zach’s mother.
    Zach tilted his head to the side. “Well?”
    “I could only find one person who could come on such short notice.”
    Zach’s eyes narrowed and his arm tensed under Lilly’s hand.
    “It’s only one party,” Patricia said. “Surely you can get along with him for three hours.”
    Zach marched up the boarding ramp to the boat. He towed Lilly in his wake and brushed past Patricia. “I promise not to throw him overboard, Mother.”

Chapter Seven
    Lilly allowed Zach to drag her along as he stormed into the cabin of the yacht. He passed guests without even glancing at them. Lilly saw a blur of blue couches and teal wallpaper, reminiscent of Woodbridge Manor.
    Zach made a beeline for the darkened stairway on the other side of the cabin and yanked Lilly along behind him. He had a death grip on her arm, and she struggled to keep up.
    He marched up a set of stairs. Lilly made it three steps before her leg gave out. As she tumbled down, her arm yanked from Zach’s grasp. Her hip struck the last step and the impact knocked the wind out of her. At least in the darkness of the stairwell, the other guests couldn’t see her.
    Of course, there was only one person on the boat she’d like to impress, and his anger and impatience caused her fall in the first place. She hated that he had once again seen her weakness.
    Hard-soled shoes clomped down a few steps and vibrated against Lilly’s ear. She felt Zach’s warm hand move against her face and hair.
    “Damn it. I wasn’t thinking.” His hand moved across her head, as though checking for injuries. “Can you stand? Did I hurt you?”
    “I’m fine.”
    “You’re sure?” His hand moved down to caress her shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”
    “I’m really okay.” She struggled to get up, and he pulled her to her