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?”