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waved a finger between the two of them. "Didn't you just get through explaining that to me?"
    "What I explained was that I do not remember the event. I am convinced, however, that it did indeed happen."
    Kelly made herself breathe. "Well, yeah, it happened but—you weren't you ."
    "Oh? Who was I then?"
    "You were hypnotized!"
    His jaw tightened. "The hypnosis could not force me to do anything against my will."
    "Please. Don't tell me those old men wanted to bark like dogs."
    "Pardon?"
    Kelly waved her hands. " You didn't want to marry me. You were under the influence of something—Troy's suggestions. You didn't intend to do it."
    On the floral chair, he went still. "A part of me did," he said softly.
    Kelly paused, digesting that. "A part of you?"
    The tops of his cheeks went pink. "A part of my mind . I knew what I was doing. I knew I was making a promise, and now I intend to fulfill it."
    He seemed utterly serious. But—he couldn't be. Shouldn't be. This whole thing was like the dog-barking. A joke.
    He heaved a deep sigh. "I'm the man who married you. I am."
    Kelly inhaled. "But—"
    "No 'but's. I am the man you met five days ago in Las Vegas, the one who did...everything I did. I simply don't remember it."
    Kelly frowned hard. "No."
    His gaze was crystal blue. "Yes."
    "No, no, no." She took a step back. "I know the man I met. He was—" She stopped and flapped a hand. "He wasn't you ."
    The Dean in front of her raised a pair of dubious brows.
    Kelly huffed a breath. "He was...fun, mellow. Personable. And he wouldn't be...doing what you're trying to do."
    Those supercilious brows dove downward. "He wouldn't be trying to honor his marriage vows?"
    "No! I mean—" Kelly stopped, frustrated. In fact, she had suspected just such craven behavior of 'her' Dean.
    The present Dean looked satisfied. "Consider that you knew me for less than forty-eight hours."
    "But—"
    "You were bound to discover I wasn't exactly the man you had imagined."
    "Well yes, but this is something else—"
    "The intensity of emotion that prompted us to the altar could not possibly have lasted." He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair. "Were you planning to give up on the marriage at that point?"
    Kelly found she had to look away from his questioning gaze. "This isn't the same thing at all."
    "Why not?"
    Kelly felt her heart pick up speed even though she knew there was a difference. "You. Were. Hypnotized. You don't even remember me. It's like—an accident. You said so yourself!"
    He paused, then spoke with careful enunciation. "I don't walk away from accidents."
    Kelly's heart beat faster. This was a crazy argument. Of course they weren't married, except in the most technical sense. And yet he sounded grimly earnest. "Divorce wouldn't be walking away. It would be...taking care of the accident."
    He gave a sharp shake of the head. "Divorce is a coward's way out. I've always thought so. Once a vow is made, it should be kept."
    Kelly's heart beat now at the rhythm of panic. These were words she might have spoken herself, a bare week ago. "This is different," she insisted, her voice hoarse.
    "A promise is a promise," he stated calmly.
    "You weren't yourself." To put it mildly.
    His lips thinned. "I wish I had the luxury of discussing this further but other matters press. I need to resolve this tonight."
    "Tonight!"
    He uncrossed his arms. "My flight home is at eight. You can be on it. My wife, with all the rights and privileges thereto."
    Kelly's mouth opened and closed. She started to laugh. "Tonight."
    "Don't worry about the time crunch." He shifted his attention to his briefcase, closing the lid. "You'll only need to pack for your immediate needs. With the exception of giving notice to your employer, my people can handle all the details at this end; closing your apartment, storing your things, et cetera, et cetera."
    She laughed harder. "You've got to be kidding."
    His gaze centered back on her. "Marriage. Fulfilling promises.