Free Always & Forever by Chantel Rhondeau Page A

don’t know what you’re missing, Zach Woodbridge, but if you want a commoner over a real woman, you’re welcome to her.” She turned and fled through the crowd.
    Zach clenched his teeth together. How dare she say those things? Lilly had integrity that woman could never hope to master.
    He felt a little guilty, knowing how it would crush his mother that he’d ruined her plans. The party had been a failed idea to begin with—he just hadn’t been able to convince her of that fact. At least he was unlikely to have to put up with any more unwanted attention from the women at the party.
    His immediate anger that Julia dared insult Lilly had him a little worried. She goaded him into proclaiming the fact that he and Lilly were a couple and he was off the dating market, which was what people were supposed to think. The part that scared him was he meant it. Every word.
    But Lilly had flirted with Crandall. Besides, she never expressed an interest in dating Zach, only annoyance he didn’t ask her out properly. Nothing she’d done led him to believe she actually wanted to date him.
    Zach shook his head at his own foolishness and continued working his way through the crowd. What had he gotten himself into, and how could he fix it?
    He spotted Sarah and Steven moving through the crowd and made his way over to them. “Hey, sis. Got anything Lilly can take for pain?”
    Sarah ignored the question and favored him with a disapproving glare. “I overheard Julia Frank telling somebody you were rude to her.”
    “I kind of was,” he admitted. “She called Lilly street trash. I lost my patience and told her she didn’t stand a chance in hell with me.” At Sarah’s shocked looked he clarified, “I was a bit nicer than that.”
    “She called Lilly street trash?” Sarah’s eyes narrowed. “What possessed Julia to talk about her that way? People don’t even know Lilly. Why judge her?”
    Steven shook his head at his wife. “Darling, you know Julia expected to dazzle Zach tonight and convince him to date her, same as all the other women here. They don’t have to know Lilly to dislike her.”
    “But Lilly’s so sweet,” Sarah said.
    Zach shrugged. “She works for Grandma, so that prompted a little more venom on Julia’s part.”
    “That’s ridiculous.” Sarah’s mouth tightened. “Steven works for Grandma, too. Are they saying horrible things about my husband behind our backs?”
    Steven laughed and kissed her cheek. “Of course they are. Try not to get yourself worked up.”
    “The medicine?” Zach asked.
    “Oh, yes, of course. My purse is upstairs. I’ll go get it.”
    “I’m going to grab drinks. Lilly’s sitting outside.” Zach motioned to the back of the boat. “Meet us there?”
    “Sure,” Sarah agreed. “Steven and I were headed out for a quick spin around the dance floor ourselves. We haven’t gotten a chance yet, and the boat will be heading back soon.”
    Sarah and Steven walked off to the stairway while Zach headed for the bar. He grabbed iced tea for Lilly and water for himself.
    When he stepped back onto the deck, Lilly wasn’t where he left her. He couldn’t imagine her traipsing around. She had obviously been in a lot of pain.
    He searched the dance floor. The thought that she might be out there with Crandall clenched his heart with a tumble of emotions, and Zach frantically circled the dancing couples. Relief flowed through him when he didn’t spot her.
    Maybe she did go for a walk. He looked down port side of the yacht and didn’t spot anyone along it. Heading to starboard, Zach saw two figures standing halfway down the outer walkway—his worst fears confirmed.
     
    ***
     
    Lilly’s leg had stiffened so quickly, she knew she needed to walk and loosen the muscles. Besides, watching that woman wrap her arms around Zach put Lilly on edge. She’d needed to work off some frustration. A trip around the boat would help both problems.
    She made it halfway down the walkway when Crandall