A Royal Amnesia Scandal

Kate was all about it. When Booker had passed away, she had taken the news harder than Luc had. Of course, he’d had his women “friends” to occupy his time and keep his thoughts focused elsewhere.

Finding her discarded wrap in the sand where she’d dropped it, Kate scooped it up and quickly adjusted it around her torso. At the base of the steps leading up to Luc’s home, she rested her hands on her knees and pulled in a deep gulp of air. She was going in as professional Kate. Keeping her hands and mind off Luc was the only way to proceed. Flirty, dreamy Kate had no place here. They hadn’t made love yet, so she could still turn this around, and pray Luc wasn’t totally furious once he remembered what her role in his life actually was.

Seven

Luc’s phone bounced on the couch cushion when he tossed it aside. Useless. He recognized his parents’ names, his best friend, Mikos, and Kate. Other than that, nothing.

Raking a hand down his face, Luc got to his feet and crossed to the patio doors. Kate had been gone awhile and he knew her frustrations had driven her out the door. He’d like to run from his problems, too; unfortunately, they lived inside his head. Still, he couldn’t fault her for needing some time alone.

He stepped out onto the patio, his gaze immediately darting

down to the dock. As he stared at the Jet Ski on one side and his boat on the other, he wondered what he’d been doing before he fell. Was he about to go out on the water so late in the evening? Was Kate coming with him? Everything before the fall was a complete blank to him. He had no idea what they’d been doing prior to his accident.

Hell, he couldn’t even recall how he and Kate had started working together. And some family rule about not getting personal with staff members kept ringing in his head. He reached into his mind, knowing this was a real memory. The Silva family didn’t get intimate with employees. So had Kate come to work for him after they’d become a couple? Had she been so invaluable in his life that he’d wanted her to be his right-hand woman in his professional world, as well?

The questions weren’t slowing down; they were slamming into his head faster than he could comprehend them. He’d go mad if he didn’t get his memory back soon, or if he kept dwelling on something that was out of his control.

Damn it. Of one thing he was certain. Losing control of anything was pure hell, and right now he’d spiraled so far he hoped and prayed he could pull back the reins on his life before this amnesia drove a wedge between him and Kate.

Luc straightened as the idea slammed into him, pushing through the uncertainty he’d been battling. All that mattered was him and Kate. This was their time away, so all he had to do was enjoy being with her. How hard could that be? A private getaway with one sexy fiancée would surely be just what he needed.

A shrill ring came from the living room. Luc ran in and found Kate’s cell phone on one of the end tables. His mother’s name was on the screen. Odd that she would be calling Kate.

Without giving it another thought, he answered. “Hello.”

“Lucas? Darling, how are you feeling?”

His mother’s worried tone came over the line. Her familiar voice had him relieved that his mind hadn’t robbed him of that connection.

“Frustrated,” he admitted, sinking onto the worn accent chair. “I have a hell of a headache, but other than that I feel fine. Why did you call Kate’s phone?”

“I didn’t want to bother you if you weren’t feeling good, or if you were resting. I spoke with Kate last night, but I needed to check on you today.”

“There’s no need to worry, Mom. Kate is taking good care of me and the doctor was thorough. I just need to relax, and this is the best place for me to do that.”

His mother made a noise, something akin to disapproval. “Well, you call the doctor first thing if you start having other symptoms. I’m still not happy you’re not home. I worry, but you’re stubborn like your father, so I’m used to it.”

Luc smiled, just as Kate stepped through the door. A sheen of sweat covered her. Or maybe that was water from the ocean. Regardless, she looked sexy, all wet and winded. Would his need for her ever lessen? Each time he saw her he instantly went into primal mode and wanted to carry her back to bed.

“Nothing to worry about,” he said, keeping his eyes locked on Kate’s. “I’m in good hands. I’ll phone you later.”

He ended the call and rose to his feet. Kate’s eyes widened as he moved closer to where she’d stopped in the doorway.

“Were you on my phone?” she asked, tipping her head back to hold his gaze.

“My mom called to check on me. She tried your cell in case I was resting.”

Kate’s eyes darted around. “Um...is that all she said?”

Reaching out to stroke a fingertip along her collarbone, Luc watched the moisture disappear beneath his touch. “Yes. Why?”

“Just curious.” She trembled beneath his touch as her eyes locked back onto his. “I need to go shower. Then we need to discuss your schedule and upcoming events.”

Heat surged through him as he slid his mouth over hers. “Go use my shower. We can work later.”

She leaned into him just slightly, then quickly pulled back. Something passed through her eyes before she glanced away. As she started to move around him, he grabbed her elbow.

“You okay?”