Page 194 of Modern Romance December 2025 5-8

‘I think you do but you don’t want to think about the reason. It’s okay, Katherine, I understand.’

He had it wrong. There was nothing to think about.

‘I need to shower,’ he said.

He didn’t ask for her to join him, neither did she follow him when he left the room. She was left in the beautifully decorated lounge, alone, confused, heart racing for no explicable reason.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

When Lukas hadsaid ‘boat’ Katherine hadn’t been sure what to expect. Yes, she had seen pictures of him on board—taken by paparazzi with their telephoto lenses—but the truth was that while she loved fast cars, she knew virtually nothing about boats. This one was bigger than her apartment, and far more luxurious too. But it wasn’t anywhere near as fast as she had expected it to be. Lukas threw himself out of planes, raced cars, went skiing and mountain biking; she expected that to translate to the water.

‘You seem surprised.’ He looked amused.

‘It’s slower than I thought it would be,’ she confessed, hugging her arms in her thick cable-knit sweater. Lukas stood at a large silver wheel, steering the boat easily, with Katherine at his side. They were going out just far enough to be alone, which was why they were up on the fly bridge and not inside at the main helm.

‘I come out here to get away from everything. I don’t need it to be fast, I need it to be calming.’ Lukas stopped the boat, mooring them at a point out on the water from which Katherine could see all of Monaco. It was a completely different place during race weekends. Now it looked spectacularly beautiful, calm, peaceful. Though it would never again be peaceful for her.

Now every future trip would be full of memories of Lukas.

His arms snaked around her waist.

Just an appearance, Katherine. This was his idea.

‘Let’s go down to the rear deck.’

His lips trailed up her neck causing a rush of excitement within her but her body reacting so readily to him also saddened her.

Are you wanting more from Lukas?

Before, she would have said ‘no,’ a flat out honest refusal. But she didn’t know anymore.

He led her down to the rear of the boat furnished with plush couches around a fixed table.

‘Have a seat, I’ll be right back.’

From the couch she kept her eye on the principality, guessing from this distance where his apartment would be. Maybe she was growing too attached. Maybe she should leave. Lukas knew what her deal was. She couldn’t change her mind on relationships, so he would understand if she made an excuse to go back to London.

After promising to stay for Christmas?

She didn’t want to hurt him and pulled out a small gift box from her handbag.

‘What’s that?’ Lukas asked, placing a plate of fruit on the table.

He sat close to her and her hand automatically went to his thigh as if she couldn’t stand to not touch him. His hand closed around hers, keeping it there. Beneath the table where no one could see. No photographer would spy such a small, private show of affection. And it confused her more.

She placed the box in front of Lukas. ‘Your birthday present.’

With his free hand, he pulled away at the ribbons and opened the box. She watched him pull out a crystal snowflake ornament.

‘Seemed appropriate.’

He grinned. ‘I’d say so.’ With the ribbon the snowflake was attached to threaded around his middle finger, Lukas picked up the plate and stood. The sea breeze ruffled his light brown hair and plastered his sweater to his torso. ‘Come with me.’

Lukas turned to walk through the glass doors, waiting for her just inside and shut them as soon as she was through.

‘I thought we had to make a public appearance. What are we doing?’

‘This is just for us, Katherine.’ He took her hand and she paid no attention to the luxurious living area or the rooms they passed on the way to the main cabin, which was decorated in dark woods and soft lighting.