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Chapter 4
Zach escorted Kendall through the casino with his hand resting on her back and brought her to the restaurant. "I had Edie set us up with the best table in the house. I hope that you don't mind." Kendall laughs and says "Zach anything is better than food in Styrofoam containers". The maitre d fusses over them and seats them at their best table overlooking the mountains. Kendall turns to look at the view and sighs "I forget sometimes how beautiful Pine Valley can be." Zach looks at the view and says "Well sometimes you just got to stop your busy schedule and breathe sometimes Kendall or you will miss the most breathtaking moments in your life."
The waiter walks over and takes their orders. Sipping their drinks Zach and Kendall sit in a comfortable silence once in a while glancing up at each other and shyly looking away ever time each one catches the other. Zach decides to break the silence and says "Kendall there is something that I have been meaning to ask you. I mean we always told each other that we would be honest with each other and there would be no lies between us and our marriage."
Kendall takes a deep breath and looks Zach squarely in the eye and says "Ask away." Zach then says "What makes you looking for love in all the wrong places?" Kendall contemplates the question for a minute and responds "When I found out that I was adopted I decided that I would look for my birth mother. So without even a glance or a thought for my adopted parents I left Florida for Pine Valley and managed to make every mistake possible. I didn't tell Erica the first time I met her that I was her daughter, accused my stepfather Dimitri of raping me and so forth. Then I met some very special people who made me understand that I have to see past my hate, Myrtle and Del. They were the only people in Pine Valley who ever trusted me or even gave me the time of day. I fell in love with Del and moved back when my adopted father died to be close to my adopted mother. I had all the love I needed in her and Del but I came back when I realized that life is too short to hold grudges and I wanted to clear things with Erica. Del couldn't understand why I had to come back and we fought about it constantly so we decided it would be best if we went our separate ways. I owe him a lot because he opened my heart again. It took me a long time to let go of my hate and finally accept Erica and now it's just different. My family grew and I have the best relationship with Binx and my beautiful Miranda. The thing that you have to understand about me Zach is that I always end up looking for love in all the wrong places and end up right back where I started. I love with my whole heart as well as my soul with each one that I "fall in love with" I always think that this is it this is the one who will help me break my destructive ways. Little did I know that they would just cause more damage."
Zach asks "What about Lavery?" Kendall says "Ryan and I were always a mistake from day one we both just didn't want to see it. We made so many mistakes when it came to our relationship that we had to do it twice, but I'm happy for Ryan and Greenlee. I know now that Greenlee could give him what I couldn't and that was my trust so now they are expecting their first child I can't wait to have another baby to spoil" Kendall laughs. "I thought that Ethan was the one so I fell for him hard and fast not listening to anyone because I finally was able to trust him with my whole heart. When I found out he lied to me I then realized that I didn't fall in love with Ethan I fell in love with what I wanted him to be. I'm looking for my knight in shining armor ready to rescue me from myself." Kendall fingers her napkin and says to Zach "Does that answer your question?"
Zach looks at this woman seated across from him who had her heart broken by every man that she has come across with including his brother and his son and is complete awe of her strength and her never ending faith in love. Zach gets up from his chair and extends his hand to her and asks her "Do you want to dance?" Kendall takes his hand and he leads her to the middle of the dance floor. He pulls her close to his body and embraces her tightly. They both stand in the middle of the room barely moving their bodies so close that it's hard to tell where they both end and where they both begin. They sway gently to the music. Their bodies ignite with hidden passion with each touch. The world melts away until it's just the two of them dancing alone. Zach looks into Kendall's eyes and slowly inches his face forward. Kendall closes her eyes and feels his breath on her face moves closer to meet his waiting kiss.
Erica pulls Kendall away from Zach's embrace and yells in a loud voice "Get your crummy Cambias hands off my daughter Zach!" Surprised to see her mother and stepfather at the casino Kendall turns to Erica and says "Mother what are you doing!" "Kendall I am saving you from this monster once and for all." Erica turns to Zach and says "Isn't it enough that your brother nearly destroyed my family now you are trying to destroy Kendall! I can assure you Zach hell will freeze over before I let you get your manipulative hands on my daughter. Now stay away from Kendall and while you are at it stay away from Bianca and Miranda!"
Zach turns Erica around and says "Listen Erica I am the only one in this town who is honest with Kendall and she knows that. I only think about what's best for her and not what's best for me. Sound familiar." Erica's eyes grow small and replies "How dare you imply that I don't have my daughter's best interest at heart. I have seen this girl destroy herself every time a handsome man promises her the moon and gives her nothing but broken promises and a broken heart. My God I will not let that happen again. Come on Kendall you are coming with us."
Kendall shakes free from her mother's grasps and says "I will not leave my husband. So you better tell me what the hell has happened for you start acting like this?" Jackson steps forwards and says "Kendall your mother and I heard about this lawsuit that Ethan has filed. We just want to protect you, your sister as well as Miranda. Please just come with us." Kendall looks confusingly at Jackson and Erica and exclaims "You don't understand Zach and I have taken care of this together." She reaches for Zach's hand and holds on tightly. "You don't have to worry about Ethan he won't win this time. Zach has filed his lawsuit to get gaining control of Cambias to protect us. Don't you see he will never let anything bad happen to me or any one else I care about." Erica grabs Kendall's hand and holds it close to her heart and says "Dearest I want to only help you please listen to me. Ethan has fired Jackson and in his rant he mentioned that you. He told Jackson to keep an eye on you because he feels that something bad is about to happen if Zach goes through with his lawsuit to take away Cambias. I've only found you Kendall I don't want to lose you again."
Kendall squeezes her mother tightly and says "Mother do you trust me?" Erica says quickly "With my own life." "Then please trust me I know what I am doing. I love you." Kendall hugs Erica and Jackson. Kendall turns to Jackson "Don't worry about me please. I want you to take care of Reggie, Lily, and my mother. Zach will never let anything bad happen to me and don't worry when we gain control of Cambias I'll give you your job back." Jackson pulls Kendall back into a hug and says "I don't care about the job Kendall I care about you." Jackson turns to Zach and says "You guard her with your life because so help me if anything happens to my step-daughter Ethan will be the least of your worries. Come on Erica let's go home to the kids." Erica squeezes Kendall's hand and turns to Zach and says "Mark my words Zach not one hair on her head is to be harmed."
Kendall turns to Zach and quietly says "I'm not really hungry anymore do you think you can take me home?" Zach silently nods and takes her hand. They are standing in the courtyard once again. Kendall turns towards her condo and says "Zach I'm sorry about my mother she just tends to worry a little too much." Zach turns to her and says "There's no need to apologize Kendall I understand." Kendall then says "Well good night." Zach starts walking towards his condo but stops midway and turns around. He walks back towards Kendall spins her around and pulls her towards him and kisses her passionately. Kendall is shocked at first but then finds her self responding. He pulls her closer to him and she wraps her arms around his neck. Zach places his forehead on hers and looks into her crystal eyes stroking her neck and says "I can see myself in your eyes." She pulls him close and kisses him again her hand running over his chest and around his waist. They cling to each other breathing hard unable to control this passion that has grown between them. Their marriage to protect them from love was turning into something else. Something neither could describe. Zach pushes a curl out her face and kisses her again. Kendall's knees weaken so she leans against the door. Zach body leans in towards her, he reaches down to stroke her bare leg and bringing her skirt up just a little as her hands are caressing his arms and chest. She looks deeply into his eyes and huskily says "I can see myself in your eyes too." Zach kisses her deeply, sweeps her off her feet, goes into her condo and kicks the door closed.