“No. The only people who know are my parents.”
His mind started turning. Her parents worked for his parents. Memories of them in his house flashed for an instant.
“Scott and Maria, right?”
“Yes.” Kate tilted her head up to meet his gaze. “You’re remembering.”
“Not fast enough,” he muttered. “Go on.”
Settling her head back against his chest, Luc wondered if it was easier for her to talk if she wasn’t looking right at him.
“I was born in the States,” she went on. “Georgia, to be exact. My parents adopted me when I was six. I only have vague memories of being there, but it’s always held a special place in my heart.”
Luc listened, wondering where she was going with this and how it all tied back into what was happening between them now.
“My parents ended up moving to Ilha Beleza to work full-time at the palace. They used to just work at the vacation home back in Georgia. Your family has one off the coast.”
Closing his eyes, he saw a white house with thick pillars extended to the second story. A wraparound porch on the ground floor had hanging swings that swayed in the breeze. Booker and a young Kate running in the yard...
Yes, he remembered that house fondly.
“Since I’ve been your assistant, I’ve wanted you to visit that orphanage, the one I came from, but we’ve butted heads over it.”
Luc jerked, forcing Kate to shift and look up at him.
“Why were we fighting over an orphanage?” he asked.
She shrugged. “I have no idea why you won’t go. To be honest, I just think you don’t want to, or you didn’t want to take the time. You’ve offered to write a check, but I never can get you to go there. I just felt a visit from a real member of royalty would be something cool for those kids. They don’t have much and some of them have been there awhile, because most people only want to adopt babies.”
Luc glanced around the sparsely furnished room, hoping for another flash of something to enter his mind. Hoping for so
me minuscule image that would help him piece it all together.
“Is this why we were arguing before I fell?” he asked, focusing back on her.
“Not really. I tried bringing it up again, but you blew it off.” She let go of his hand and got to her feet, pacing to the open patio doors. “We were arguing because we’re both stubborn, and sometimes we do and say things before we can fully think them through.”
He could see that. Without a doubt he knew he was quite a hardhead, and Kate had a stubborn streak he couldn’t help but find intriguing and attractive.
“When your memory comes back, I want you to know that everything I’ve ever done or said has been to protect you.” Her shoulders straightened as she kept her back to him and stared out the doors. “I care about you, Luc. I need you to know that above all else.”
The heartfelt words, the plea in her tone, had Luc rising to his feet and crossing to her. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he kissed the top of her head.
“I know how you feel about me, Kate. You proved it to me when you let me make love to you, when you put my needs ahead of any doubts you had.”
She eased back against him. “I hope you always feel that way.”
The intensity of the moment had him worried they were getting swept into something so consuming, they’d never get back to the couple they used to be. Even though he didn’t remember that couple, he had to assume they weren’t always this intense.
“What do you say we take the boat and go into town?” he asked. “Surely there’s a market or shops or restaurants to occupy our time. We need to have some fun.”
She turned in his arms, a genuine smile spreading across her face. “I was going to suggest that myself. I haven’t shopped in forever. I’m always working.”
She cringed, as if she just realized what had come out of her mouth.
“It’s okay,” he told her, kissing the tip of her nose. “I’ll make sure your boss gives you the rest of the day off. You deserve it.”
* * *