A Royal Amnesia Scandal(24)

Kate shoved her hair away from her face. A thin sleep mark ran down her cheek. It made her seem so vulnerable, and it was all he could do not to touch her again. “What will happen when you want to actually marry someone? Are you going to explain to your bride that your baby mama is living there, too?”

Luc laughed. “That’s a pretty crass way to put it.”

Kate shrugged, lacing her fingers together as she glanced out the window. “I’m not sugarcoating this situation and neither should you.”

Luc didn’t say anything else. He would sway her with his actions, not his words. She would come to see that living with him, ultimately marrying him, would be the best way to approach their predicament. And when they married, she would be sleeping in his bed again. He’d make sure of it.

Now he just needed to get his hormones under control, because he was physically aching for her. Being near her now that he’d had her was pure hell. The woman was made for him. Nobody had ever matched him in the bedroom—or shower—the way she did.

Yet Kate was so much more than a sex partner. He’d discovered an emptiness in him now that they were back to keeping things professional. No matter the circumstances surrounding the false engagement, Luc couldn’t help but think back and realize those days spent on the island were some of the happiest of his life.

* * *

Kate had been to many royal events over the past year as an official employee of the Silva family. Before that, she’d seen enough to know that royalty never did anything halfway, especially when it came to weddings.

The ceremony uniting Darcy and Mikos Alexander had taken place earlier in the day, and now only the couple’s closest family and guests, of which there appeared to be several hundred, remained for the reception.

No expense had been spared for the event taking place both in the ballroom and out in the courtyard at the palace on Galini Isle, off the coast of Greece. Every stationary item was draped with something crystal, shimmering or sheer.

As she watched the bride and groom dance, Kate couldn’t help but smile. Mikos had lost his first wife suddenly, leaving him to care for their infant daughter alone. Needing a break, he’d gone to Los Angeles to get away and think. He’d hired Darcy to be his daughter’s nanny, and before long the two had fallen in love...even though Mikos had slightly deceived Darcy, because she’d had no idea he was royalty. Of course, none of that had made it to the press, but Kate knew the whole story from Luc.

Luc and Mikos had been best friends forever. Kate was quite familiar with Mikos and his brother, Stefan, who was also in attendance, with his stunning wife, Victoria.

Even if the crystal chandeliers, flawless ice sculptures, millions of clear twinkling lights and yards upon yards of sheer draping hadn’t screamed elegance and beauty, the gorgeous people milling about certainly would have.

This was definitely one of those times she was thankful her mother was the royal seamstress. By the time Luc had sprung the trip on her, Kate hadn’t had time to go shopping. So her mom had taken an old gown and made enough modifications to transform it into something lovely and totally unique. What had once been a simple, fitted silver dress was now unrecognizable. The sleeves had been removed and the top had been cut into a sweetheart neckline to give the allure of sexiness with a slight show of cleavage. Her mother had then had the brilliant idea of taking strands of clear beads and sewing them so they would drape across Kate’s arms, as if her straps had fallen and settled just above her biceps.

Kate actually felt beautiful in this dress, and judging from the way Luc had stared at her without saying a word when he’d come to get her for the wedding, she had to assume he thought she looked nice, as well.

She still couldn’t get the image out of her mind of him waking her for the landing. He’d been so close, staring at her as if he wanted to touch her, kiss her. Their chemistry wasn’t in question, that was obvious, but he clearly battled whether or not to act on it.

Maybe their time apart would have him coming around, to see that she truly wasn’t aiming for the crown. She sure as hell wasn’t Alana.

Nervously glancing around the room, Kate toyed with the amethyst pendant that hung just above her breasts. She hadn’t worn the ring Luc had bought her; that would’ve just felt wrong. She’d actually placed it in his desk drawer days ago, though she had no clue if he’d found it.

Since Luc had started his best-man duties, she’d pretty much been on her own. That was fine, actually. The more she was around Luc, the harder she was finding it to face the reality that while she was having his baby, he’d never see her as more than a speech writer who happened to be giving him an heir.

Once the evening wound down, perhaps they could talk. She held out hope that he would remember the woman she was before his accident, not the liar she’d turned into for a few short days.

“Champagne, ma’am?”

The waiter, balancing a tray full of flutes of the bubbly drink, smiled at her. Kate shook her head.

“No, thank you.”

As soon as he moved on another man approached her. He’d been only a few feet away and she’d seen him a few times during the evening. The tall stranger with tanned skin and black hair was hard to miss, especially when she’d caught him eyeing her more than once. He’d been smiling her way for a while, and now he was closing the gap between them.

“You turned down champagne and you’re not dancing,” he said in lieu of hello. “One would think you’re not having a good time.”

Kate smiled, trying to place his accent. Not Greek. Mikos had friends and acquaintances all over the world, so who knew where he was from?

“I’m having a great time,” she told him. “It’s so beautiful, I’m just taking in all the scenery.”

“I’ve been taking in the scenery, too.”

His eyes held hers, and the implication was not lost on her. At one time that line may have worked on her, but she felt absolutely no tingling or giddiness in her stomach when this man approached, blatantly hitting on her. Good thing, because she was certain she didn’t have the strength to be tied up with more than one man.

“Would you care to dance?”

Kate glanced around. She hadn’t seen Luc for a while, and more than likely he was schmoozing with people he rarely got to see. Besides, it wasn’t as if he had a claim on her. He’d pretty much brought her here for one of two reasons: as a lame plan B or to keep an eye on her. Either way, he’d ignored her most of the evening, and she was entitled to some fun, too.

“I’d love to.”

Kate slid her hand through the stranger’s arm and held on to the crook of his elbow as he led her to the dance floor. When he found an opening, he spun her around until she was in his arms. Kate purposely kept her body from lining up against his as she placed her hand on his shoulder and curled her fingers around his outstretched hand.

“I’m Kate, by the way.”

A smile kicked up at the corner of his mouth. “I’m Lars.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” she said as he turned her in a wide circle. “You’re a great dancer.”

“I’m actually a professional ballroom dancer.” He laughed as he led her into a slower dance when the song changed. “Stick with me tonight and we’ll be the envy of all the other couples.”

Kate couldn’t help but laugh at his blatant ego. “I should tell you, I’m taken.”

Well, she wasn’t exactly taken, but she was having another man’s child, and she was in love with said man, even though he didn’t return the feelings. So she felt it necessary to let Lars know he stood no chance with her.

He leaned in closer to whisper into her ear. “Yet he’s not here and I am.” When he leaned back, his smile remained in place. “Don’t worry. I just wanted to dance with the most stunning woman in the room.”

“I think that honor goes to the bride,” Kate corrected.

Darcy had looked magnificent in a fitted ivory dress with an elegant lace overlay, complete with a lace train that would make any princess envious. Darcy had looked like a character from a fairy-tale romance, and her Prince Charming at the end of the aisle had had nothing but love on his face for his bride.

Would Kate ever find that? Would she ever find a man who looked at her as though there was nothing greater in the world than the fact she lived in it?

“Uh-oh. I’m going to start questioning my skills if you keep frowning.”

Kate shook the thoughts away. “Your dance skills are perfect, though I’m sure you already knew that. I think the jet lag is getting to me.”

Not to mention the pregnancy...which she and Luc still hadn’t discussed announcing. So for now, she was keeping it to herself. Granted, not many people knew who she was, but the same could not be said for Luc.

Lars opened his mouth to say something, but his eyes darted over Kate’s shoulder as he came to a stop.

“It’s time to go, Kate.”

Turning, she saw Luc standing less than a foot away.

“I’m dancing right now,” she commented, not letting go of her partner’s hand. “I can find my way back. You go on.”

Luc pasted on a deadly smile and glanced at Lars. “I’m sure he will understand. Won’t you, Lars?”