She tried to pay little attention to what happened outside the car as Lukas drove the short distance to the Monte Carlo casino, but she couldn’t not notice the number of phones in hands that followed them as they drove by, and when they reached the valet and exited Lukas’s car.
Katherine was always on the other side of the media and now, just as Lukas was watched and snapped and recorded every moment he wasn’t in his home, so was she. She wasn’t sure she liked it all that much. Yes, she was in the public eye, but it was never, ever like this.
She felt Lukas’s arm around her shoulders and gave him a small smile. She really hadn’t appreciated his patience before.
‘You look beautiful,’ he said.
‘Thank you.’
‘Ignore them.’
Her steps slowed. ‘What?’
‘Keep walking and I said, “Ignore them.”’ His arm drew her tighter to him. More protectively. And when she looked up, there was a look in his eyes that took her breath away. ‘The longer this goes on, the worse it’s going to be. Cameras are going to follow you everywhere. The best thing you can do is ignore the attention.’
They reached the grand entrance to the casino where people the world over wished to visit but only a handful ever would. Lukas tilted Katherine’s chin up and she gazed at his face. At the determined expression.
‘And you can trust me to protect you.’
Katherine’s throat went dry. Had he really noticed her discomfort with the attention she received? Attention was something she craved but never asked for. Now she was getting it in spades, so why was it bothering her?
‘I—’
‘Can protect yourself? I know you can, but this is something you’re unprepared for. This kind of attention is invasive. It’s not curious; it’s entitled.’
‘How did you…’ Katherine wasn’t sure what she was asking.How did he know? What was he really saying?
‘There was attention that I craved and never received too, Katherine, but I knew this—’ he tilted his head in the direction of flashing cameras ‘—wasn’t it.’
Lukas understood her like no one else. If they stood out here any longer, the world would witness her getting emotional and she didn’t want them to see her like that. Never mind that such a display would get the tabloids going crazy, because that was the unfortunate side effect of playing it up for Aero TV. The tabloids were having a field day.
‘I think we should go inside.’
He smiled. ‘That is probably a good idea.’
‘So we’re gambling tonight,’ Katherine said in a light tone she forced when they climbed the stairs and walked through the historic doors.
‘No.’
‘Okay…then what are we doing at a casino?’
‘Being seen and not heard.’ His smile held a secret.
‘You know what, I’m not even going to ask. Lead the way.’
Lukas noticed Katherine struggling with being in the public eye at this level. This wasn’t anything like her job and he knew how violating it felt. Yes, she’d agreed to this, but it didn’t mean she deserved to feel that way. He could help her. Was helping her. He was protecting her by bringing her into his home, taking her shopping where they would have constant reprieves whenever they went into the high-end stores, and bringing her here where the clientele was so exclusive. And that was why he took her into a restaurant.
‘Bonsoir,’ an elegant hostess greeted. ‘Bienvenue.Your table is waiting, Mr Jäger. Please follow me.’
Lukas placed his arm around Katherine’s waist, holding her close as they followed the hostess through the stunning frescoed restaurant and into a cozy private corner near a window. The tables around them were empty. A reserved sign on each of them.
He held the chair out for Katherine and once she was seated, rounded the table to his own. The hostess handed them menus and left.
‘Did you reserve all these tables?’ Katherine asked. ‘Is that how you made sure we wouldn’t be heard?’
‘I’m a selfish man, Katherine. I want your attention focussed solely on me.’ A lie it was more convenient to tell, because the truth was that he wanted to spend all the time he could with her alone. He wanted her smiles and her candid honesty and her passion. He wanted them to be trapped in a bubble where he could lavish his attention on her and in return she would wholly want him. But wanting that much was a secret because she was only with him to save her career and enjoy some no-strings sex.
‘I don’t think that’s true,’ she said, leaning towards him. ‘I don’t think you’re selfish. I think you were made to feel that way but really, you’re generous and kind and protective.’
