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She wandered through the castle, her fingertips sliding over the back of the sofa Zack had kissed her there And here, in front of the hearth And in the kitchen And in her bedroo love to Zack wasShe shook her head There were siht her, the sense of belonging In a flash of insight, she suddenly understood the shared looks between her parents, the frequent half slanced at her watch It was almost four-thirty PM in California Was Zack still asleep? Was it too early to call? God bless cell phones and the ht as she punched in Zack’s number

Her heart skipped a beat when she heard his voice, thick with sleep

"Hey, Katy darlin’"

"Zack, Iokay there?"

"Yes I just needed to hear your voice"

"You sound good, too Listen, ht a tux Tell your dad to coot a suite at Harrah’s I’ll meet you there at sundown"

"Tohed, reht and vowed that once they were ain "I love you"

"I love you more Listen, Katy"

"I know I called you too early I’ible

"Callwhen she broke the connection He loved her She would see hiood

Chapter 40

Kaitlyn could hardly contain her exciteain She felt like dancing, singing, shouting froout at her sides, she pirouetted around the roo Hoould she contain her joy when she saw hiain, she wondered, but then, there was no need She wanted Zack and everyone else in the world to kno happy she was

She ran her hand over the garown and veil What would Zack think when he saw his bride? Picturing hiht a wars to mush The man looked drop-dead sexy in jeans and a T-shirt No doubt he would be lethal in a tux!

Grabbing her suitcase and her gown, she hurried down the stairs Her parents aiting for her

"Are you ready?" her father asked

"Yes! Let’s go!"

"Here," her , "let me carry that"

Her father picked up the suitcase at his feet, Kaitlyn tucked hers against her chest She stood between her ether, as her father transported the three of the swept blindly through tihtless, disoriented, almost as if her mind and body had split into two separate entities She wondered briefly ould happen if the two halves didn’t reunite One fanciful thought turned into another and she tried to iine what it would be like if her mind ended up in her mother’s body What a conundrum that would be!

It took Kaitlyn a ain When her vision cleared and her head stopped spinning, she glanced around, then looked at her father "Where are we?"

"In the rear of Harrah’s parking lot" Drake stroked Elena’s cheek "Are you all right?"

"A little shaky, but fine" Elena took Kaitlyn’s hand in hers and gave it a squeeze "Well, don’t just stand there, you two Let’s go find the groom"

Zack sensed Kaitlyn’s presence even before she entered the lobby of the hotel Though it had only been a few days, it seeain at how lovely she was Clad in a fuzzy pink sweater and a pair of white jeans, she looked good enough to eat Literally Heedless of the peoplearound, he hurried forward

Kaitlyn dropped the suitcase she was carrying when she saw Zack She ran toward hihed out loud when he swept her into his ar and hard And then he kissed her again, short and sweet "I rinned up at him when he set her on her feet "As much as I hated every second that ere apart, I think that welcoood to see you" Zack picked up Kaitlyn’s suitcase "Co her by the hand, "I’ll show you all to your room"

"We don’t need a room," Kaitlyn said "We can stay at my place"

"Nadiya knohere you live," Zack said "I’ it’s better if you all stay here"

"But"

"I think Zack is right," her father said "Nadiyayour house You’d be safe inside, but not coood thing"

"Safety in nurin

"Exactly," Elena said "It’ll be cozy"

Zack and Drake exchanged pained looks

"Cozy," Zack muttered

Kaitlyn’s shoulders slu ho alone with Zack

"I asked a couple ofaround will think we’re still there," Drake remarked