A Royal Amnesia Scandal

by Jules Bennett

  Crossing to the switches, she killed the lights in the living room, leaving just the one from the kitchen on so she could still see him.

  “Does that help?” she asked, taking a seat beside him on the couch, relishing in the warmth from his body.

  He opened one eye, then the other, before he shifted slightly to look at her. “Yeah. Thanks.”

  When he reached over to take her hand, Kate tensed. This wasn’t real. The comfort he was seeking from her was only because he was uncertain—and he thought they were engaged.

  Oh, if they were truly engaged, Kate could hold his hand and not feel guilty. She could wrap her arms around him and give him support and love and...

  But no. She wasn’t his fianceé so thinking along those lines would get her nowhere.

  For now, she could pretend, she could keep her fingers laced with his and feel things for him in ways she never had before. This was no longer professional...they’d crossed that threshold when he’d captured her mouth beneath his.

  “I’ll be fine.” Luc offered a wide smile, one rarely directed at her. “Just stay right here with me.”

  Swallowing the truth, Kate nodded. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  She tried not to relish the fact that Luc’s thumb kept stroking the back of her hand. She tried to fight the thrill that he was looking at her as more than just an employee.

  None of this was reality. He was trapped in his own mind for now. She didn’t know if she should focus on the kiss earlier or the nasty knot on his head. Both issues made her a nervous wreck.

  The hour seemed to crawl by, but when Dr. Couchot finally knocked on the back door, Kate breathed a sigh of relief. Beneath her hand, Luc tensed.

  “It’s okay.” She rose to her feet, patting his leg. “We’ll figure this out and you’ll be just fine.”

  Dr. Couchot immediately came inside, set his bag down and took a seat on the couch next to Luc.

  “Tell me what happened,” he said, looking at Kate. Worry was etched on the doctor’s face. This man had cared for Luc since the prince had been in diapers, and held all the royals’ medical secrets.

  Kate recounted the events, omitting the fiancée bit, and watched as the doctor examined his patient while she spoke. He looked at Luc’s pupils with his minuscule light, then lightly worked his fingertip around the blue knot. With a frown, he sat back and sighed.

  “Have you remembered anything since I was called?” he asked.

  Luc shook his head. “I know Kate, but she had to tell me her name. I know I’m a member of the royal family because of my name, and I believe I’m the prince. I know this house is mine and I know I wanted to fix it up, but apparently I didn’t get too far, so I had to have just bought it.”

  All this was right. A little burst of hope spread through Kate. Maybe his injuries weren’t as bad as she’d first feared.

  “From what I can tell, you’ve got temporary amnesia,” the doctor stated. “I’m not seeing signs of a concussion and your pupils are responsive.” Dr. Couchot looked up at Kate. “I would like him to have a scan to be on the safe side, but knowing Luc, he’ll be stubborn and refuse.”

  “I’m sitting right here,” Luc stated, his eyes darting between Kate and the doctor. “I don’t want to get a scan. I’d have to go home and face too many questions. Unless I’m at risk for something more serious, I’m staying here.”

  Kate shared a look with the doctor. “What about if I promise to monitor him? You said there was no concussion, so that’s a good sign.”

  “Fine,” Dr. Couchot conceded. “I won’t argue. But Kate will have her eyes on you 24/7 for the next few days and I’ll be in contact with her. At the first sign of anything unusual, she will get you back to the palace, where we can treat you. No exceptions.”

  Luc nodded. “Agreed.”

  After receiving her instructions and a list of things to look for in terms of Luc’s behavior, Kate showed the doctor out.

  Once they reached the edge of the patio, Dr. Couchot turned to face her. “Make sure you don’t force any memories on him. It’s important he remembers on his own, or his mind could become even more confused and his condition could actually worsen. It’s a blessing he remembers as much as he does, so I believe he’s only lost a few months of his memories.”

  A few months. Which would explain why he didn’t recall the real fiancée or the fake pregnancy.

  “I’ll make sure not to feed him any information,” Kate promised. Smoothing her hair back, she held it to the side in a makeshift ponytail. “Can he see photos or listen to his favorite music? Maybe just subtle things that will spark his thoughts?”

  “I think that would be fine. Just don’t push all of that on him at once. Give this some time. He may wake tomorrow and be perfectly fine, or he may be like this for another month. Every mind is unique, so we just don’t know.”

  Kate nodded, thanking the doctor for coming so quickly. She watched as he made his way back down to the boat, where a palace guard was waiting. Thankfully, it wasn’t her father, but his right-hand man.

  Kate gave a wave to the men and took in a deep breath. When the doctor mentioned unusual behavior, did that include believing you were engaged to the wrong woman?

  Weary and worried, she stepped back through the doors. All her stuff was at the guesthouse, but she would need to stay here.

  Luc’s eyes were instantly on hers when she returned to the living room. That warmth spread through her once again as she recognized that look of need. She couldn’t let him keep this up. There would be no way she could resist him. And based on his reaction after that kiss, he wouldn’t be happy that he’d indulged his desire for her, no matter how good together they might be.

  The warning from the doctor played over in her mind. She couldn’t force memories, so for now she’d have to let him think what he wanted, until his mind started to cooperate.

  “Sit with me,” he whispered, holding his hand out in invitation.

  Kate cringed, wanting nothing more than to take his hand and settle in beside him. “I need to go get some of my things.”

  Lowering his hand, he frowned. “Where are your things?”

  Coming up with a quick excuse, she tried to be vague, yet as honest as possible. “I have some things next door at the guesthouse. Let me get them and I’ll be all yours.”

  Okay, she didn’t necessarily need to add that last bit, but it just slipped out. She’d have to think through every single word until Luc fully regained his memory. For now, she’d have to play along...and still try to maintain some distance, or she could find herself in a world of hurt when he snapped out of his current state. Getting wrapped up in this make-believe world, even for a short time, wasn’t the wisest decision. Still, he would need her during this time and they were on this island together. How could she resist him? How could she resist more touching, more kissing?

  “Why do you have anything next door?” he asked.

  “I was working there earlier.” Still not a lie. “Give me five minutes. I’ll be right back.”

  She escaped out the back door, unable to look at the confusion on his face any longer. If she got too far into the truth as to why she had things at the cottage, she’d have to come clean and produce the information his mind wasn’t ready for.

  As quickly as she could, she threw a change of clothes into her bag, adding a few essential toiletries. Everything else she’d have to smuggle over a little at a time, provided she stayed at the main house for longer than a few days.

  Her biggest concern now was the fact she hadn’t packed pajamas, assuming she’d be living alone. She stared at her pile of silky chemises in various colors. There was no getting around this. She didn’t even have an old T-shirt to throw on for a sleep shirt.

  With no other choice, she grabbed the pink one and shoved it in her bag before heading back to the main house. There was no way she could let Luc see her in this chemise, but how could she dodge a man who thought they were engaged? Most likely he assume
d they slept together, too.

  Kate froze on the path back to the main house. There was no way she could sleep with Luc. None. If they shared the same bed, she’d be tempted to give in to his advances.

  As the moonlight lit her way back, Kate was resigned to the fact that things were about to skyrocket to a whole new level of awkward.

  Four

  Kate glanced over her shoulder, making sure she was alone as she slipped back out onto the patio to call her mother. There were times in a woman’s life she just needed some motherly advice, and for Kate, that time was now.

  “Darling!” Her mother answered on the second ring. “I was just thinking of you.”

  “Hey, Mama.” Kate leaned against the rail on the edge of the patio, facing the doorway to make sure Luc didn’t come up behind her and overhear things he shouldn’t. “Are you busy?”

  “Never for you. You sound funny. Everything all right?”

  Not even close. Kate sighed, shoving her hair behind her ear. “I’m in a bit of a bind and I need your advice.”

  “What’s wrong, Katelyn?”

  Her mother’s worried tone slid through the line. Kate swallowed back her emotions, because tears wouldn’t fix this problem and they would only get her a snotty nose and red eyes. Not a good look when one was shacking up with one’s sexy boss.

  “Luc fell earlier.”

  “Oh, honey. Is he okay?”

  “Well...he has a good-sized goose egg on his head. And he has temporary amnesia.”

  “Amnesia?” her mother repeated, her voice rising an octave. “Katelyn, are you guys coming back to the palace? Do his parents know?”

  “I actually called them before I called you. Dr. Couchot was just here and he’s assured us that Luc is okay, no concussion or anything. He isn’t sure when Luc will regain his memory, but he’s confident it’s a short-term condition.”

  “I can’t even imagine how scary this must be,” her mother commented. “What can I do to help?”

  “Right now Luc and I are staying here as planned,” Kate stated, her eyes darting to the patio doors on the far side of the house. Luc stood there for a moment, looking out at the ocean, before he turned and disappeared. “The doctor said keeping him relaxed and calm is best for now. Luc had wanted to get away, so staying here is still our best option.”

  “I agree. So what else has you upset? If the doctor has assured you this is temporary, and you’re staying there as planned, what’s wrong?”

  Pulling in a deep breath, Kate blurted out, “He thinks we’re engaged.”

  Silence settled over the line. Kate pulled her cell away from her ear to make sure the connection hadn’t been cut.

  “Mom?”

  “I’m here. I just need to process this,” her mother stated. “Why does he think you’re engaged?”

  “He’s only lost the past few months. He knew I was familiar, but at first he couldn’t place me. When I told him my name, he assumed we were engaged. I was worried and didn’t say anything, because I wanted the doctor to look him over. Dr. Couchot said not to feed Luc any information, because giving him pieces of his recent past could mess up his memory even further.”

  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...”

  Luc waited for her to elaborate, but she closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh. When her head drooped a little, Luc dropped his hand from her chin and squeezed her shoulder.

  “Are you afraid to be with me because of the memory loss?”

  Her lids lifted, her dark eyes searching his. “I’m not afraid of you, Luc. I think it would be best if we didn’t...you know...”