“We’ll get back to that in a moment,” Nancy continued. “What were the terms of the arrangement?”

Lucas’s mouth tilted in a smile as if remembering the moment. “There had to be an escape clause. We agreed to remain married for a year.”

“Was there a contract between you? Financial arrangements?”

“It wasn’t like that. We knew each other well enough to trust one another. We kept our finances separate.”

“And no money exchanged hands?”

A pink flushed climbed Lucas’s neck. He looked like a bashful schoolboy. “She didn’t pay me for the honor of being her husband, if that’s what you mean.”

Nancy’s smile made it clear she was captivated by Lucas’s charm.

“Can you define your relationship with Dr. Kate prior to the wedding? Were you lovers, friends . . ?”

Lucas ran his fingers between his neck and collar. “No, we weren’t lovers. I guess you could say we were friends. We spent quite a bit of time together when I renovated her space into an office and apartment. She lived and worked above my shop, so we saw each other frequently.” His smile tilted. “Kate probably would’ve said we were acquaintances. I think I got on her nerves a bit.”

“You say that like you enjoyed it.”

Lucas smiled. “Little bit.”

Kate squeezed the cushion on the back of the recliner, unable to take her eyes off Lucas.

Nancy continued. “You’ve denied being paid to marry Dr. Kate, and you’ve hinted that the reason you gave her was false.” The camera cut to Lucas’s face while Nancy stated the question. “Why did you stand in as her groom?”

Lucas looked down at his lap, his smile faltering. He swallowed.

Kate wondered for a long moment if he was going to freeze as he had so long ago on a school gym stage. She found herself pulling for him, wanting to help him formulate an answer.

But then he spoke. “I wanted to help her. If you’d seen her after that phone call—she was panicked. Afraid. Hurt.” Lucas shrugged. “I wanted to help.”

“Why?” Nancy asked.

Kate leaned forward, her breath on hope’s threshold.

He gave a sad little smile. As his head tilted down, his hair fell forward, partially covering his eyes. Then he looked back at Nancy. “I love her,” he said in a throaty voice.

Kate sucked in her breath. She stared into his familiar face and felt an ache behind her eyes. He loves me? He married me . . . because he loves me? But his parents’ marriage—

The camera stayed on Lucas even though he stopped talking. He was clearly uncomfortable, like he wanted to squirm right out of the starchy suit.