Page 90 of Bound By Blood

“I know. She loves you, too.” It was easy to see why. He was tall and strong and handsome, loyal, willing to risk everything for the woman he loved.

“How do you feel about that?”

“I’m not sure,” Elena replied honestly. “Everything would be so much easier if she’d fallen in love with one of her own people. But I trust her judgment.”

Zack nodded. “Good night, Elena.”

“Good night.”

Elena stood there a moment, gazing down at her daughter. How quickly the years had gone by. Her little girl was all grown up. Once upon a time was past. She just hoped Kaitlyn would find her own happily-ever-after.

Kaitlyn woke in her own bed with no recollection of how she had gotten there. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep in Zack’s arms. She had hoped to wake up there—which probably wouldn’t have been very smart. No doubt her parents would go ballistic if they thought she was sleeping with Zack—an idea that grew more appealing with every passing day.

She glanced at the clock on the nightstand—five P.M. She was the only one in the family who didn’t know instinctively what time it was, though she was able to internally discern whether it was night or day.

Zack would be awake soon. She grinned, thinking how surprised he would be if she was in his bed when he awoke.

Pleased by the idea, she threw back the covers and went into the bathroom, where she took a quick shower and washed her hair. After drying off, she applied her makeup and a dash of perfume, then spent the next twenty minutes trying to decide what to wear. Although she had taken all her favorite clothes to California, her closet at Wolfram was nowhere near empty.

She decided on a pair of black skinny jeans and a cranberry-colored cashmere sweater. A nightgown would have been her first choice, but she didn’t have enough nerve to hop into his bed wearing something that blatantly said come-and-get-me.

Barefooted, she padded down the hallway to Zack’s room, opened the door, and peeked inside.

He was still asleep. She stood in the doorway, her gaze moving appreciatively over his broad shoulders and strong arms. A sheet covered him from the waist down; his bare feet poked out from under the covers. The thought that he might be naked under the sheet brought a rush of heat to her cheeks.

Her flush deepened when the man she thought was asleep said, “Are you coming in? Or are you going to stand there gawking at me all night?”

Kaitlyn closed the door behind her, then hurried across the room and slipped under the covers.

Zack’s arm went around her, drawing her close. “So, what brings you here?” he asked, a note of amusement in his voice.

“I can always leave.”

His arm tightened around her. “Wanna bet?”

“I never bet against a gambler,” she retorted, hiding her smile.

“Smart girl.” He brushed a kiss across her cheek. She smelled of lavender soap and toothpaste. And woman.

Kaitlyn grinned as the sheet suddenly tented above Zack’s groin.

“Sorry,” he muttered. “Some things just can’t be hidden. Or controlled.”

She laughed and blushed at the same time. “I guess you carried me back to my bed.”

He nodded. “Yeah. About that—”

She propped herself up on one elbow. “What about that?”

“Your mother caught me carrying you to your room just before dawn.”

Kaitlyn’s eyes widened in alarm. “Does my dad …?”

“No. Just your mom.”

Kaitlyn slumped back down on the bed, her head resting on Zack’s shoulder. Had her mother told her dad? She considered that a moment, then shook her head. Her mother hadn’t snitched on her the last time. Besides, if her father knew, she would have heard about it by now. Big time.

“Katy.”

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