Luc was a fighter in every way. He wouldn’t let this memory loss keep him down. He’d claw his way back up from the abyss and then...
Yeah, that was the ultimate question. And then...what? Would he hate her? Would he fire her? Would he look at her with disdain?
A sick pit formed in the depths of her stomach. Would her parents lose their jobs? Surely her mom and dad would be disappointed in her for breaking the royal protocol.
This couldn’t go on. Luc had to remember. So far she hadn’t given Luc any extra information regarding his past, and she didn’t intend to because she didn’t want to make his issue worse. But there was only so long she could go on not telling him things. The man wanted to sleep with her.
How did she keep dodging that fact when she wanted it, too?
The way he’d looked at her, with affection, was so new and so tempting. And all built on lies.
Luc called out in his sleep. Kate straightened as she slowly moved closer. When he cried out again, she still couldn’t make out what he was saying. She set her phone on the nightstand and eased down on the edge of the bed. His bronze chest stared back at her and Kate had a hard time not touching him, not running her fingertips over the tip of the tattoo that slid perfectly over one shoulder.
The sheet had dipped low, low enough to show one hip and just the edge of his black boxer briefs. She’d felt those briefs against her skin last night. More impressively, she’d felt what was beneath them.
“Tell me,” he muttered, shifting once again. His eyes were squeezed tight, as if he was trying to fight whatever image had him twisting in the sheets.
Kate froze. Was he remembering something? Would his memory come back and play through his mind like a movie?
When his face scrunched even more and his chin started quivering, she knew he was fighting some demon, and she couldn’t just sit here and watch him suffer. She might not be able to fully disclose the truth, but she didn’t have to witness the man’s complete downfall, either.
“Luc.” She placed her hand on his shoulder and shook him gently. “Luc.”
Jerking awake, he stared up at her, blinking a few times as if to get his bearings. Kate pulled her hand back, needing to keep her touching at a minimum.
Raking a hand down his face, his day-old stubble rustling beneath his palm, he let out a sigh. “That was insane. I was dreaming about a baby,” he murmured, his gaze dipping to her midsection. “Are we having a baby, Kate?”
On this she could be absolutely honest. For once.
“No, we’re not.”
“Damn it.” He fell back against the pillows and stared up at the sheers gathered together at the ceiling. “I thought for sure I was having a breakthrough.”
Kate swallowed. He was remembering, but the memory was just a bit skewed. With the pregnancy lie from his ex still fresh, Kate figured it was only a matter of time before he had full recollection of the situation.
She didn’t know whether to be terrified or relieved. They still hadn’t slept together, so she prayed their relationship could be redeemed once the old Luc returned.
“It just seemed so real,” he went on. “My hand was on your stomach, and I was so excited to be a father. I had no clue what to do, but the idea thrilled me.”
Her heart swelled to near bursting at his reaction. The thought of having a baby with him made her giddy all over. But they were treading in dangerous territory. This was going to go downhill fast if she didn’t do something. She might not be able to feed him his memories, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t find other ways to trigger him.
“How about we take the Jet Skis out for a bit?” she suggested.
His eyes drifted from the ceiling to her. “I don’t want to go out right now.”
Wow. She’d never known him to turn down anything on the water. Especially his Jet Ski or his boat. She needed to get him out of the house, away from the temptation of the bed, the shower...anyplace that might set the scene for seduction.
“Do you want to just go relax on the beach and do absolutely nothing?”
Though the thought of them lying next to each other wearing only swimsuits didn’t seem like a great idea, now that she’d said it aloud. Granted, they’d seen each other that way before, but not with him thinking they were in love and planning holy matrimony...not to mention his promise to make love to her today.
A wide smile spread across his face. “I have an even better idea.”
That naughty look was something she definitely recognized. He had a plan, and she didn’t know if she should worry or just go along for the ride.
Six
Sweat poured off his head, his muscles burned and he was finally getting that rush he needed.
Kate grunted, sweat rolling off her, and he didn’t recall ever seeing her look more beautiful. Of course, he didn’t recall much, but right at this moment, she was positively stunning.
“I can’t do this anymore,” she panted, falling back against the wall.
Luc eased the sledgehammer down to rest, the wood handle falling against his leg. “We can take a break.”
“I kind of meant I can’t do this anymore...ever.”
Luc laughed. They’d just torn out the old vanity in the main bathroom off the hallway, and the scene was a disaster. The construction workers had left the majority of their smaller tools here, so he figured he’d do something useful while he waited for his memory to return. No, he’d never done any home projects before. He was a prince, for crying out loud. But he knew this bathroom would be gutted and replaced, so he was just blowing off some steam while helping the workers along at the same time.
“What are we going to do with all of this mess?” Kate asked as she glanced around the room.
They stood amid a pile of broken ceramic material, some huge hunks and some shards.
“Leave it,” he told her. “When the guys come back to finish this, they can haul it out.”
She dropped her hammer on top of the disaster and turned to stare at him. “So we’re just causing destruction and closing the door on our way out?”
Luc shrugged. “I’m not really known for my renovating skills. Am I?”
Kate laughed, swiping a hand across her forehead. “No. You’re royalty. I don’t know of too many blue bloods who go around remodeling.”
Stepping over the debris, he made his way to the door. Kate was right behind him. Extending his hand, he helped her over the rubble and out into the hallway.
“How about we take our tools to the kitchen?” he said, smiling when she rolled her eyes. “That room is hideous.”
“I’d rather go to the kitchen and make some lunch, because you only had coffee for breakfast and my toast wore off about my fifth swing into that vanity countertop.”
Her glistening forehead, the smudge of dirt streaked across one cheek, instantly had Luc recalling a little girl with a lopsided ponytail chasing a dog through a yard.
“You used to play with Booker,” he muttered, speaking before he fully finished assessing the image. “At my family’s vacation house in the US.”
Kate’s eyes widened. “That’s right. I did. Did you have a memory?”
Rubbing his forehead, Luc cursed beneath his breath when the flash was gone. “Yeah. I’ve known you a long time, then.”
Kate nodded, studying him. “I’ve known you since I was six.”
“I’m a lot older than you.”
A smile spread across her face. “Ten years.”
“How long have we been together?”
Kate glanced away, biting her lip and focusing on anything but him.
“I know the doctor said to let me remember on my own. But I want to know.”
Those doe eyes came back up to meet his gaze. “I started working for you a year ago.”
Shock registered first. “You work for me?”
He tried to remember, tried to think of her in a professional atmosphere. Nothing. He’d actually rather remember her in an intimate setting, because that was what crushed him the most. They were engaged, they were obviously in love and he couldn’t recall anything about the deep bond of their relationship.
“What do you do for me?” he asked. “Besides get me hot and make me want you. And how did we manage to get around the family rule about not mixing business with pleasure?”
Pink tinged her tanned face as she reached out, cupping her hand over his cheek. “I’m your assistant. I’m not telling you anything else. All right?”
Sliding his hand over hers, he squeezed it, then brought her palm to his mouth. “All right,” he said, kissing her. “But I can’t believe I let my fiancée work.”
Her lips quirked. “Let me? Oh, honey. You’ve never let me do anything.”
Laughing, he tugged her against him. “I have a feeling we do a lot of verbal sparring.”
A lopsided grin greeted him. “You have no idea.”
When he started to nuzzle the side of her neck, she eased back. “I’m sweaty and smelly, Luc. I don’t think you want to bury your nose anywhere near my skin right now.”
He slid his tongue along that delicate spot just below her ear. “I plan on having you sweaty later anyway, Kate.”
Her body trembled. He didn’t need to spell out how their day would end. Sleeping next to her last night had been sweet torture, but seeing her come apart at his touch had been so erotic, so sexy.