Get a grip. She’s probably just relieved to see a friendly face. Who knew what she’d faced on the way home.

How should he greet her? They had an audience, but would she want him to keep up the charade? Was it a charade anymore? But as she neared, Lucas forgot about pretense. Kate’s eyes looked weary, her face strained. He wanted to ease her worry, soothe it away with a touch.

Lucas took her bag, then set his palm alongside her face, making eye contact. He leaned close and pressed a kiss to her lips. His only thought was to comfort her.

She gripped his arm like it was a life preserver, returning the brief kiss.

When he pulled back, he draped his arm over her shoulder. “Let’s get you home.” He looked over her shoulder where Herb stood against the wall, watching.

By the time they reached the car, Kate had grown distant, remote. Did she think his kiss was for show? The ride to the house was quiet. Kate, her hands clutched together in her lap, her feet crossed at the ankles, seemed lost in thought. She stared out the window instead of facing him. Lucas felt her slipping away more each second.

“What can I do?” he asked, desperate to help, desperate to keep her.

There was a long pause, and he wondered if she’d heard him through the chaos of her own thoughts.

He braked at a stop sign, then accelerated. Was she shutting him out already? Hadn’t they become more than just business partners? They’d shared a life these past three months. A life that meant everything to him.

“There’s nothing we can do but wait,” she said, still looking out the window where the glaring sun cut harsh shadows across the ground. “And hope the rest of the media won’t hop on board and make it into the scandal of the year.”

Even so, the news was out. Lucas didn’t know much about publishing, only the little bit he’d gleaned from Kate, but it seemed her publisher wouldn’t be interested in promoting her career after a scandal. Her readers wouldn’t be too keen on her either. It didn’t seem fair to crucify her for one decision. Bryan was the one who’d dumped this mess in her lap. Where was he now, when the chips were falling?

Lucas pulled into the drive and turned off the truck. When Kate didn’t make a move to exit, he faced her, propping his knee on the cracked vinyl seat between them.

“We have to tell your family.” Kate looked over the hill to where his parents’ rooftop peeked above the sea oats.

“I already did.” His dad had watched the segment. Lucas had gone over and told the rest of them in person.