Page 184 of Modern Romance December 2025 5-8

He had to drive.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. How awful would agreeing be?

‘Lukas?’ He was giving Katherine his attention before he had even realised that it was her voice that called him. He wanted so badly to kick everyone out of this room and take her on the table. Show her how crazy he had been going since they got into that helicopter yesterday. This woman who was intelligent and beautiful. And who had just had her career threatened. If he said no, would he be jeopardising her career again? He knew how much it meant to her, because he knew how much his own meant to him. Their reasons were so similar.

Instead of hurting her he could help her.

And he could have a month with her. Extend the pleasure a little longer.

Yes.

His body cried out.

‘I’ll do it.’ He was nauseous.

‘Great,’ Robert said but Lukas wasn’t looking at him. Not at any of them, but Katherine. ‘So now you will leave with Kat out the front of the building.’

‘Yes, that will result in pictures on the internet for sure,’ Erin agreed. ‘It’s best that we waste no time.’

‘We have photographers stationed strategically as well to ensure there are a number of them,’ Jennifer informed them.

‘Enough.’ Lukas brought his hand down on the glass table making everyone flinch. ‘I’ve agreed to your plan but that’s all you’re getting out of me. None of you get to dictate anything further to me or to Katherine, am I clear?’

‘Be reasonable,’ Robert pleaded.

‘All of you get out,’ Lukas said to the others.

‘Lukas…’ He heard Scott’s voice. The disapproval that he couldn’t give a damn about.

He looked only at Katherine. ‘I said get out. Leave us.’

He heard the shuffling. The footsteps. The snick of the door shutting. Once they were alone he got out of his chair and went to Katherine, taking her hand and making her stand before him.

The urge to touch her was too great, he couldn’t stop himself from running his hand up her arm, over her shoulder, cupping her cheek. His thumb caressed her porcelain skin.

Are you okay?he wanted to ask.Are you sure you want to do this because I don’t, he wanted to say, but he didn’t. He couldn’t. The future of their careers was hanging over their heads. What choice did either of them have if they wanted to hold on to their dreams?

Katherine seemed to understand what he wanted to say.

‘It won’t be forever,’ she whispered.

‘It won’t.’ But it felt like they were talking about so much more than this plan. They had another chance to be together. Weeks this time. Hours and hours to indulge the chemistry that was still so potent Lukas had to fight to stop himself kissing her here. But he would have to kiss her, and there would be pictures. His life that he had worked so tirelessly to keep private would be advertised for the world to see.

How could one person want something so badly and so utterly hate how they were getting it?

He was selling out his principles to keep his racing career alive. For a bit of time with Katherine. His father had always taught him to stand up for his beliefs, but he’d caved. What would he think of Lukas if he could see him now?

CHAPTER TEN

Lukas sat oppositeKatherine in his private jet. She had said very little since they had left Aero. In fact, when he had said they would be travelling to Monaco to spend the time there, she had put up very little fight. Instead, she had seemed lost in thought.

That was fine. Once they got to his home, they would have the privacy they needed to talk. So for now, he gave her the space she needed.

Not that much space.

His jet had eight leather seats. Plus, he had a bedroom at the back of the plane hidden behind a polished wall. He could have sat anywhere else, but he didn’t want to. He wanted to be around Katherine. Needed to be close to her. She didn’t bring him peace. No. She made him feel like he was attached to a live wire. She focussed all his attention on her. Consumed him. Andthatwas as close to peace as he got.

He led her by the hand to the waiting helicopter that would fly them to Monaco when they landed in Nice. Even while they buckled themselves in, he didn’t let go. He didn’t want to. It was only a seven-minute flight but with her hand in his and their shoulders brushing, Lukas was thrown into a dimension where every minute dragged for hours and yet somehow, he hadn’t realised they had landed until the doors opened.