Smacking his palm on the table hard enough to make it rattle, Luc cursed, then balled his hands into fists. Kate jumped, taking a step back.
Kate started to step forward, but he held up a hand.
“No,” he ordered. “Don’t say anything. There’s nothing you can do unless you want to tell me everything, which goes against the doctor’s orders.”
The hurt look on her face had him cursing. She was just as much a victim in this as he was.
“Kate, I didn’t mean to lash out at you.”
She shook her head, waving a hand. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not.” Closing the gap between them, he pulled her into his arms. “You’ve been here for me, you’ve done so much and I’m taking out my anger and frustrations on you when you’re only trying to protect me.”
Kate wrapped her arms around his waist. “I can handle it, Luc. It’s partially my fault you’re in this position, anyway. If we hadn’t been arguing, if I hadn’t made you so angry you went down to that wet dock, none of this would be happening.”
Luc eased back. “None of this is your fault. At least pieces of my life are finally revealing themselves, and I’m sure it won’t be long before the rest of the puzzle is filled in.”
Kate had sacrificed so much for him. Yet he hadn’t heard her tell him once that she loved him. Luc eased back, looking her in the eyes.
“Why are you marrying me?” he asked, stroking her jawline with his thumbs.
Her body tensed against his as her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
“Do you love me?” he asked, tipping his head down a touch to hold her gaze.
Instantly, her eyes filled. Kate’s hands came up, framed his face. “More than you’ll ever know,” she whispered.
Relief coursed through him. He didn’t know why, but it was imperative to know her true feelings.
“I want to do something for you.” She placed a light, simple kiss on his lips. “Tonight I’m going to make your favorite dinner. We’re going to have a romantic evening and there will be no talk of the amnesia, the wedding, the work. Tonight will just be about Kate and Luc.”
Wasn’t that the whole point of this getaway? She cleverly circled them back around to the purpose of this trip. One of the many reasons he assumed he’d fallen in love with her. She kept him grounded, kept him on track.
Tugging her closer to him, he nuzzled her neck. “Then I expect one hell of a dessert,” he growled into her ear.
Eleven
She had to tell him. There was no more stalling. The anguish, the rage that was brewing deep within Luc was more than she could bear. No matter what the doctor said, she had to come clean, because Luc getting so torn up had to be more damaging than just learning the truth.
And the truth beyond this whole messed-up situation was that she loved him. She hadn’t lied when he’d asked. Kate had fallen completely in love with Luc and to keep this secret another day just wasn’t acceptable.
She put on her favorite strapless green dress and her gold sandals. With her hair piled atop her head, she added a pair of gold-and-amethyst earrings.
A glance down at her hand had her heart clenching. He’d given her a ring. She wore a ring from a man she loved, yet he truly had no idea who she was.
At this point, she didn’t recognize herself. She’d never been a liar or a manipulator. Yet here she was, doing a bang-up job of both.
Even with the patio doors open, the house smelled amazing with their dinner of fish and veggies baking in the oven. No matter how the evening ended, Kate wanted one last perfect moment with Luc.
Her mother would be relieved that Kate was finally telling the truth. What would Luc’s parents say? Would they insist she be fired? Would they dismiss her parents from their duties as well, as she’d feared all along?
No matter the ramifications, Kate had to do the right thing here.
She headed to the kitchen to check the progress of dinner. When she glanced out toward the ocean, she noticed the darkening skies. Another storm rolling in. How apropos. Hadn’t this entire nightmare started with a storm? For once in her life she wasn’t looking forward to the added turmoil from Mother Nature.
Luc stood on the patio with his phone. Kate had no idea who he was talking to, but whoever it was, their call would be cut off soon due to this crazy weather.
Nerves settled deep in Kate’s stomach. She wanted nothing more than to go back in time and have a redo of the night Luc fell. First of all, she never would’ve argued with him. If he didn’t want to do the orphanage visit, fine. She’d been beating her head against that proverbial wall for nearly a year and he’d never given in. Why had she assumed he’d grow a heart all of a sudden and go?