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Alan’s face, gravely serious, was centered on the screen. “I’ll be hosting the show alone today,” he told the viewers, “because last night Kaylie Melville was viciously attacked by a knife-wielding assailant. The suspect is in custody, his alleged crime nearly identical to his assault on Kaylie seven years ago.”
To Kaylie’s horror, she watched old footage of the premiere of Obsession. Of course the cameramen had been there for quick peeks of the rich and famous. Those cameramen, who had been interested in showing who was dating whom and what dress Kaylie wore to the first showing, hadn’t expected to capture a madman lunging at her on film. Nor had they intended for the terrifying drama to unfold in front of their lenses. But it had happened, and every heart-numbing second had been captured on film—from Kaylie’s bloodless face, to Zane’s heroic act that saved her life.
“Yes, history repeated itself last night at Kaylie Melville’s beachside home in Carmel. Fortunately, once again her ex-husband, Zane Flannery, was on the scene to save her from a man who has been obsessed with her for years….”
Alan went on and on, recalling the details of last night’s attack as well as bringing up the premier of Obsession again. He even publicly admitted that he and Kaylie were just friends, but very special friends, and he looked earnestly into the camera to wish her well.
“I think I’m gonna be sick.” Zane clicked off the set.
“It’s just his way,” Kaylie said lamely, but she could hardly defend Alan. For, though he appeared concerned for her well-being, the entire segment reeked of publicity-seeking and she couldn’t help but think that all his references to Obsession were to drum up public interest in the old film in the hopes that the viewers and fans, as well as the studio heads, would demand a sequel.
“Well, for all his supposed friendship, he sure doesn’t give a damn about exploiting you.”
She couldn’t argue with him and didn’t. The less she thought about last night’s attack, the better. She and Zane were together. Johnston was locked away. They were safe and in love. Nothing else mattered.
Zane was released just after noon, with strict orders to take care of himself and not strain the wound. “You’ve lost a lot of blood and you’re carrying around fifteen stitches, so don’t do anything foolish,” Dr. Ripley told Zane as he signed the release forms.
To Zane’s ultimate humiliation, Kaylie pushed him out of the hospital in a wheelchair and helped him into the passenger seat of his Jeep. Then she settled behind the steering wheel. The look she cast him should have tipped him off. Her green eyes danced with mischief as she headed east.
“Where’re we going?”
“Can’t you guess?”
He eyed her thoughtfully. “Don’t tell me, you’re kidnapping me to a certain mountain retreat….”
She laughed gaily. “I thought about it, but no, I’ve got something else in mind.”
“What?”
“Lake Tahoe,” she replied with an impish grin. “I know this great little place there. It’s called the ‘Chapel of No Return.’”
“No!”
“Scout’s honor.” She lifted one hand as if to pledge.
“So where’s Franklin?”
“Your neighbor—Mrs. Howatch—called while you were sleeping and offered to watch him for the weekend.” She grinned. “I hope she knows what she’s getting into.”
“Franklin likes her,” Zane replied.
“Oh, it’s just me he has problems with?” she teased.
“He’ll get used to you. I did. Now, lead on, Ms. Melville,” he suggested, settling back in his seat and staring at her as if he thought she might vanish and this entire fantasy give way to cruel reality.
Kaylie beamed. She felt as if she’d finally grown up enough to accept Zane as her husband. Yes, he’d been dominating and overzealous in his protection of her, but now she understood him better. She knew how frightened he must have been for her safety.
The few hours he’d been unconscious had been hell. She finally understood just what losing him would cost her. She didn’t doubt that she loved him, always had loved him and always would. She didn’t see that love as a curse any longer, but as a blessing. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, as his wife, as the mother of his children, as the lifelong partner with whom he would grow old.
And now, at twenty-seven, she felt secure and mature enough to handle him. No more temper tantrums—well, not too many. From here on in, they were partners.
She drove straight to Lakeside Chapel, and when Zane climbed out of the Jeep, stretched and grumbled that he wouldn’t be married in anything less than the “Chapel of No Return,” she offered to take him straight back to the city.
“I guess we’ll just have to forget this whole marriage thing,” she told him blithely.
At that he grabbed her roughly, spun her to him and growled in her ear, “Not on your life. I’ve waited too long for this.”
She lifted her shoulders and rounded her eyes innocently. “Whatever you say, honey.”
