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

moment he’d seen her in the flesh had been growing too fast, too high. He wanted nothingmore than to lift her in his arms and kiss that full bottom lip, to coax her into kissing him back.
    Would she kiss him despite finding her attraction to him “problematic”?
    He closed his eyes and bit back a groan. This woman could jeopardize his entire inheritance. He had to keep the fragile alliances he’d built on Bramson Holdings’ board of directors, and if Ms. April Fairchild had her way and he lost the Lighthouse Hotel, he’d lose their faith. He wasn’t sure he had enough votes to become the next chairman, even if he retained the hotel, but he would give it everything he had.
    And as far as he knew, she could be playing him. There wasn’t much he hated more than being made a fool of the way Jesse had been by women. The way his mother had been by his father, a man who loved her. April could have awoken in that hospital bed and seen an opportunity to delay things and buy time for her legal team.
    The reasoning sounded weak. And the feel of her body pressed against his was still so overwhelming—the smell of fresh apple in her hair, the weight of her, as if she lay above him in bed….
    He’d make himself crazy if he waited another instant. Gritting his teeth, he swept her into his arms and continued up the stairs.
    She opened her mouth to object, but must have seen the set of his face, because she fell silent.
    The sooner Ms. Fairchild regained her memory—or admitted to having it—the better. The minute that happened he’d negotiate his hotel back, and then he was either walking away with his sanity intact…or taking her to his bed.
    Â 
    April relaxed into Seth’s strong embrace. This was the second time he’d carried her. She knew she shouldn’tlike it so much—but she had to admit she did. There was something very safe about being held by him. It wasn’t just his physical strength; there was a core of inner strength that she could feel as surely as the fabric of his shirt under her cheek.
    They reached the glassed-in platform at the top and he gently stood her on her feet. The curving vantage point had two well-padded deck chairs positioned to take in the view, and she sank gratefully into the comfort of one, relaxing her burning muscles.
    Seth didn’t join her. He held the inside rail and leaned in toward the glass surrounding them, almost touching it. She could only see his profile, but even from that she could see the alertness in his gaze, the hunger.
    â€œThe Lighthouse Hotel means more to you than just being an asset in your portfolio, doesn’t it?”
    He didn’t turn, but the stiffness in his back spoke volumes. “My father would bring us here for holidays when we were young.” The understatement in his words sang its own tune—the loved illegitimate son.
    â€œWas it his favorite hotel?” she asked gently.
    Still looking out to sea, he shrugged one shoulder. “Its attraction was it was far enough away from his real family, and secluded enough to not cause too much scandal.”
    He said the words matter-of-factly, but there had to be pain there, to be someone’s dirty little secret. Granting him a modicum of privacy for his pain by not pursuing the topic, April dragged herself to her tired legs and joined him at a nearby window. “It’s beautiful here.”
    â€œYes,” he said, but he sounded lost in his own thoughts.
    She looked from the rugged coastline, where the waves crashed onto the rocks that reached above them, to the woods that surrounded them on three sides. She could hear music—a piano and a guitar. And there were voices, aman and a girl singing in harmony. The words of the song drifted to her, as if on the wind, and a feeling of peace descended.
    â€œWhat is it?” Seth’s urgent voice came from close beside her, even though she hadn’t heard him