Page 111 of Bound By Blood

She glanced at her watch. It was almost four-thirty P.M. in California. Was Zack still asleep? Was it too early to call? God bless cell phones and the man who had invented them, she thought as she punched in Zack’s number.

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

“Hey, Katy darlin’.”

“Zack, I miss you so much!”

“Me, too, you. Everything okay there?”

“Yes. I just needed to hear your voice.”

“You sound good, too. Listen, my business is taken care of. I found a church. I bought a tux. Tell your dad to come tomorrow night. I’ve got a suite at Harrah’s. I’ll meet you there at sundown.”

“Tomorrow! You mean it? I can’t wait!”

“Me, either.”

She sighed, remembering how he had called last night and vowed that once they were married, they would never be parted again. “I love you.”

“I love you more. Listen, Katy …”

“I know. I called you too early. I’m sorry. Go back to sleep.”

He murmured something unintelligible.

“Call me when you wake up.”

“Will do.”

She was smiling when she broke the connection. He loved her. She would see him tomorrow night.

Life was good.

Chapter Forty

Kaitlyn could hardly contain her excitement as she packed a bag. Soon! Soon she would be with Zack again. She felt like dancing, singing, shouting from the rooftops that she was getting married to the most wonderful man on earth!

Arms flung out at her sides, she pirouetted around the room, then burst out laughing. How would she contain her joy when she saw him again, she wondered, but then, there was no need. She wanted Zack and everyone else in the world to know how happy she was.

She ran her hand over the garment bag that held her wedding gown and veil. What would Zack think when he saw his bride? Picturing him in a tuxedo brought a warm flush to her cheeks and turned her legs 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 were waiting for her.

“Are you ready?” her father asked.

“Yes! Let’s go!”

“Here,” her mother said, reaching for the garment bag, “let me carry that.”

Her father picked up the suitcase at his feet, Kaitlyn tucked hers against her chest. She stood between her mom and dad, their arms linked together, as her father transported the three of them to Lake Tahoe.

It was an odd sensation, being swept blindly through time and space. Kaitlyn felt weightless, disoriented, almost as if her mind and body had split into two separate entities. She wondered briefly what would happen if the two halves didn’t reunite. One fanciful thought turned into another and she tried to imagine 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 minute to realize she was standing on solid ground again. 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.”

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