Page 35 of Charmed by You

Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.

He didn’t remember telling the others, but as Simon racedtoward her, Jasper’s voice rang out that an ambulance was on the way. Simonyanked her out by the underarms, scraping her back on the tile coping but noteven caring. He laid her down flat and felt for a pulse. There wasn’t one.

Damn it, damn it, damn it. The curse rattledthrough his head at the same time that the instructions for CPR filled hismind. Compressions, breath, compressions, breath, and all the while hewas screaming and cursing. “Breathe, damn it, Frannie, breathe.”

Again, and again, and again and then—oh, thank God—shecoughed, turned her head to the side, and threw up a lake full of water.

“I’m here,” he said, taking her hand as he crouched besideher.

Her eyes fluttered open. “Aaron,” she said weakly. “Mydrink.”

“I know, baby,” he said as the chatter broke through hisearpiece. Trevor had intercepted Aaron in the house, and he and Leah had takenhim down. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“I knew … you’d come.” Her voice was weak. Thready. But shewas alive, and the ambulance was on its way, along with cops who’d detainAaron.

Then Aaron himself was there, struggling as Trevor and Leahled him, cuffed, onto the back porch.

“This is a mistake. I’d never hurt Frannie. I went into thehouse for a minute. Dammit, Frannie, with your history, you shouldn’t drink ina hot tub.”

“You son of a bitch,” Simon said. “You tried to kill her.You did kill Leslie and Pruitt.”

“What? What are you talking about? And no. Frannie wasdrunk. I must not have realized how drunk she was. I’m so sorry.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Trevor said, and then, in a move thathad Simon silently applauding, he gave the bastard a shove, and Aaron fell hardonto his knees. He’d have one hell of a limp as he maneuvered prison, and Simoncouldn’t help but smile.

He rode in the ambulance with Frannie, holding her hand allthe way, his pulse so fast he thought he would pass out from fear. She had tobe fine. She’d talked to him, she’d smiled at him. So she had to be fine, buthe couldn’t completely believe it, not until two different doctors had told himthat she was okay. She’d barely slipped under when he’d arrived. She hadn’tlost oxygen to the brain long enough to cause any damage.

He was crying when he was finally allowed to go to herbedside after she was admitted for observation overnight. “I’m staying withyou,” he said. “I’m staying right here all night.”

“Good,” she said. “Thank you.”

“You’re mine, Frannie. I’m not letting go of you. Not now,not ever. If you want out of this, out of whatever we have, you’re going tohave to fight your way out. Because I’m hanging on tight. You almost diedtonight, and it almost killed me, too. I’m in love with you. I am absolutelycertain of it. And this is going to last. It’s going to work.”

“Then I guess you better kiss me,” she said, her voice stillraw from choking on the water. “Don’t you know that’s how all the best storiesend?”

Epilogue

I stand on the platform with Matthew on one side of me andSimon on the other, my hand tight in his. We’ve already been past the step andrepeat, but still the cameras are flashing as the crowd of reporters andphotographers gather around us.

Matthew steps forward, holding the mic. “Thank you so muchfor coming to our wrap party for Spiraling. I loved this script fromthe first moment Frannie showed it to me, and I think it’s appropriate now thatI turn the stage over to her.”

I squeeze Simon’s hand, then look out at the crowd. Over theyears, I’ve come to recognize most members of the press, so their faces alllook familiar, and it’s easy to smile. Why not? This incredible film iswrapped, I’m alive, and Simon’s hand is warm and comforting in mine.

“I really just wanted to thank you for coming. I’m soexcited for this project. As you all know, there were some stumbling blocksafter Freeway Flix changed ownership, but I owe Matthew and HardlineEntertainment a debt of gratitude for keeping the project alive. I’m happy toanswer any questions about the film you might have, but I would like toreiterate that I won’t be talking about Aaron Kepner, Freeway Flix, or anythingrelated to Bright Eyes.”

Beside me, Simon tightens his grip, and I appreciate it. Ashe well knows, I’ve spent countless hours talking to the police and givinginterviews about my relationship with Carolyn and Aaron. Thankfully, my lawyerhas already made clear to the press that I can’t talk about his attempt to killme. But that doesn’t mean I can’t feel the topic bubbling in the air.

In front of me, a dozen hands shoot up, and I point to John,one of the reporters I’ve known for over a decade. “We understand you have somepersonal news. Care to give us an official statement?”

I glance sideways at Simon, who takes a step forward. “I’mpretty sure she asked for questions regarding the movie.”

“Oh, come on, Simon,” John says. “You both know what we’reall waiting for.”

“Fine, fine,” Simon says, then turns to me with thatgorgeous smile. “Go ahead, baby. The press wants a story, right?”

The reporters all laugh, and more cameras snap as I flash mymost camera-ready smile.

“Fair enough. I know you’re all expecting an engagementannouncement. I’m sorry to tell you there won’t be one.”