Kate rambled on. She knew she was talking fast, but she needed to get all this out, needed to get advice with Luc out of earshot.
“The doctor and Luc’s parents have no clue that Luc believes we’re engaged,” Kate went on. “That’s what I need your opinion on. What do I do, Mom? I don’t want to go against the doctor’s orders, but at the same time, I can’t have him thinking we’re a couple, but he doesn’t even recall I work for him. You know how this family feels about dating or having such personal relationships with their staff.”
“Oh, Katelyn.” Her mother sighed. “I would wait and see how tonight goes. If this is temporary, maybe Luc will wake up tomorrow and everything will be fine. You can’t go against the doctor’s wishes, but I wouldn’t let this lie go on too long. Luc may cross boundaries that you two shouldn’t cross if he thinks you’re his fiancée.”
Cross boundaries? Too late. The kiss they’d shared moments before his fall flashed through her mind.
“Thanks, Mom. Please don’t say anything. You’re the only one who knows Luc thinks we’re getting married. I don’t want to humiliate him any further or have anyone else worry. I just needed your advice.”
“I’m not sure I helped, but I’m definitely here for you. Please, keep me posted. I worry about you.”
Kate smiled, pushing herself off the railing and heading back toward the doors. “I know. I’ll call you tomorrow if the cell service is good. It’s pretty sketchy here.”
“Love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you, Mama.”
Kate disconnected the call as she grasped the doorknob. Closing her eyes, she pulled in a deep breath and blew it out slowly. She needed strength, wisdom and more self-control than ever.
And she needed to remember that Luc was healing. That he was confused. Whatever emotions she’d held on to after that kiss had no place here. Being this close to grasp onto her fantasy, yet not being allowed to take all she wanted was a level of agony she hadn’t even known existed.
* * *
Luc stood in the spacious bedroom. Apparently, his master suite and luxurious attached bath, with a most impressive shower that gave the illusion of being outdoors, had been at the top of his list for renovations. Fine with him, because this room was fit for romance, and his Kate had looked all sorts of sexy the way she’d worried over him, assuring him he would be okay.
When she’d said it, her sweet, yet confident words had sliced through the fear he’d accumulated. He’d seen the worry in her eyes, but she’d put up a strong front for him. Was it any wonder she was the one for him? Dread over the unknown kept creeping up, threatening to consume him, but Luc wasn’t giving up. Being unable to recall bits of his life was beyond weird and frustrating. He actually didn’t have the words to describe the emotions flooding him. All he knew was that his beautiful fiancée was here, and she was staying by his side, offering support and comfort.
His eyes drifted from his reflection in the glass patio doors back to the king-size bed dominating the middle of the room. Sheers draping down from the ceiling enclosed the bed, giving an impression of romance and seduction. There was a reason this bed was the focal point of the room, and he had to assume it all centered around Kate. He could already picture her laid out on those satin navy sheets, her black hair fanned out as they made love.
Damn it. Why couldn’t he remember making love to her? Why couldn’t he recall how she felt against him? How she tasted when he kissed her? Maybe their intimacy would help awaken some of those memories.
Luc cringed inwardly. No, he wasn’t using sex or Kate in that way. He wanted to remember their love on his own, but he definitely wanted her by his side tonight while he slept. He wanted to hold her next to him, to curl around her and lose himself to dreams. Maybe tomorrow he’d wake and all this would be a nightmare. His memory would be back and he and Kate could move forward.
There had to be something lying around, some clue that would spark his memory. Granted, he hadn’t really brought anything personal to the place, judging by the hideously dated furniture in the majority of the rooms, but surely there was something. Even if he looked through the clothes he’d brought, or maybe there was something in his wallet that would kick his mind back into the proper gear. Perhaps he’d packed something personal, like a picture, or maybe he should go through the contacts on his cell. Seeing a list of names might be just the trigger he needed.
Luc searched through his drawers, finding nothing of interest. It wasn’t as if his underwear drawer would reveal any hidden clues other than the fact that he liked black boxer briefs.
Slamming one drawer shut, he searched another. By the time he was done looking through the chest and hunting through his bathroom, he was alternating between being terrified and being furious. Nothing new popped up except a healthy dose of rage.
&
nbsp; There had to be something in his cell phone. He started out the bedroom door, only to collide chest to chest with Kate. Her eyes widened as she gripped his biceps in an attempt to steady herself.
“Sorry,” she said, stepping back. “I just got back with my things. I called your parents and gave them the rundown. They’re worried, but I assured them you would be fine and you’d call them yourself tomorrow. I also called my mother. I didn’t mean to be gone so long. Are you heading to bed?”
Was she shaking? Her eyes darted over his shoulder toward the bed, then back to meet his gaze. The fact she had been rambling and now kept chewing on her lip was proof she was nervous. About the amnesia?
“Are you all right?” he asked, reaching out to smooth her hair away from her forehead. He tipped her chin up, focusing on those luscious, unpainted lips. “You seem scared, more than you were just a few minutes ago.”
Kate reached up to take his hand in hers. “I guess all the events finally caught up with me. I’m tired and worried. Nothing more.”
“That’s more than you need to handle,” he told her, stroking his thumb over her bottom lip. “Let’s go to bed.”
That instant, holding Kate completely trumped finding his phone and seeking answers. There was a need inside him, an ache he had for this woman that was so primal he couldn’t even wrap his mind around it. His phone would be there when he woke up, and right now all he wanted was to lose himself in Kate. She looked dead on her feet, and she still hadn’t changed from her wet dress, which had now mostly dried. There was no way she was comfortable.
“Why don’t you grab a shower and meet me in bed?” he asked.
Her eyes widened. “Um...I’m not sure we should...”