Million-Dollar Amnesia Scandal by Rachel Bailey Read Free Book Online

lost my memory, it’s more convenient for you than me. You have this time to prepare, but I’m in the dark and will be scrambling once my memory returns.”
    A flicker of unease moved in his chest. “The easiest thing all around would be for your memory to return—” he emphasized the words to show he still hadn’t made up his mind “—so that we could discuss the matter in full, and you could sign the contract I had made up.”
    â€œDoes one hotel mean so much to you?” She cocked her head to the side. “I lost count of the number of hotels your company had listed in that report.”
    â€œOne hotel means more than you can understand at the moment.”
    â€œWhy?”
    The last thing he would do was hand her knowledge of his vulnerabilities. He wouldn’t tell her that losing this one hotel could mean the difference between keeping the entire company and losing it to his half brother. He picked up a napkin, roughly wiped his hands and threw it onto the table. “Are you ready for a tour?”
    She blinked slowly, as if analyzing his change of topic. Then she stood. “Lead the way.”
    Â 
    Seth watched April look around the commercial kitchen, focused on her growing frustration. It’d been a similar situation when he’d shown her the concierge desk and the indoor pool. “What is it?”
    â€œI think I’ve stayed in this hotel before,” she said, turning in a slow circle.
    He shook his head. “Guests don’t have access to the kitchen. And I double-checked with Oscar in case Jesse brought you here to inspect the property before you signed the document—he would have been notified if a celebrity had been here, regardless of whether he was on shift or not. He assures me you haven’t entered the building during his eight years as manager.”
    â€œThere has to be some connection.” She rolled her full bottom lip between her teeth and he felt an almost irresistible urge to capture that lip between his own teeth.
    He swallowed hard and focused on her question. “It could just be photos and Jesse’s descriptions.”
    â€œWhat if I worked here?”
    The corners of his mouth lifted in an ironic smile. “You’ve been a star since you were thirteen. I hardly think you’ve have time to bus tables for us.”
    â€œCould I have performed here?”
    â€œWe’re not big enough for someone of your caliber. You pretty much burst onto the scene overnight and have been playing big venues since.”
    â€œBut it doesn’t make sense. Why is this place more familiar than anything else about my life? Even if I’ve been a guest and somehow sneaked into the kitchen, that doesn’t explain why it has more impact than photos of my own home.”
    Her forehead frowned in confusion bordering on distress, and he wanted to draw her into his arms, to soothe her. He rubbed a hand across his chin. Could she be this good an actress?
    He let out a long breath. “I don’t know. Let’s keep going. Maybe something will click.”
    She nodded absently as Seth led her out of the main building and through the grounds. He paused for a moment to smell the fresh, salty air. The grass beneath their shoes was neatly trimmed, but the grasses along the rugged shoreline were longer and they swayed gently in the sea breeze.
    He loved the Lighthouse Hotel. Most of the hotels the company owned were in cities, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life. Others were on perfect white beaches, filled with tourists sun baking and playing in the surf. But this hotel had its own vibe—secret, mysterious, wild.
    The ground was a little uneven, so, knowing she’d barely been able to walk a week ago, he slipped an arm around her waist to steady her. April looked up quizzically, assessing his intent. “You’re still not steady on your feet.”
    She nodded, looking down as she walked,