Free Million-Dollar Amnesia Scandal by Rachel Bailey Page B

hand on her mother’s arm. “Really, Mother, there’s no need…”
    Seth nodded, then called over the concierge. “Mrs. Fairchild is checking in. Take her to reception and have her booked into our best available suite.” Then he murmured extra instructions more quietly and April was distracted by her mother grabbing her elbow again.
    â€œDon’t worry, darling,” she said with an overly bright smile. “I’ll look after you. Everything will be fine now that I’m here.”
    April nodded because her mother was expecting her to, but unease sat deep in her chest. She tried to rationalize it away—this was the woman who’d raised her—but the awful reality was that the only person she felt comfortable with, could let her guard down with, was a man she knew she shouldn’t trust, the man who merely wanted the hotel from her.
    She thought back to the video of her father, to herreaction to him, and wondered if she’d ever felt the same emotional pull for her mother, or had she always felt differently about her parents?
    The concierge in his dark green uniform guided her mother away, and Seth moved closer. “Are you okay?” he asked as he scrutinized her face.
    A smidgeon of family loyalty appeared and prevented her saying anything about her mother, so she smoothly changed the subject. “What were the extra instructions you gave to the concierge?”
    â€œI told him to have reception put her at the other end of the hotel from us.”
    April bit down on her lip to stop the laugh, and saw the answering twinkle in Seth’s eyes. She glanced over at the woman in question, standing across the room, making the receptionist’s life difficult with what were no doubt a list of demands.
    Then she looked back to Seth, still standing so close. “But why go to that much trouble? You didn’t need to check her in—I was just about to tell her I was fine and she could go.”
    â€œBecause she was right,” he said quietly, still watching her mother, face inscrutable.
    Bemused, April thought back over everything her mother had said. “That I can’t make decisions for myself?”
    He turned to face her, bringing himself near enough to feel the intoxication of his warm breath on her cheek. “That you’re in a vulnerable position and you could use someone to look out for you.”
    â€œAm I in danger from you?” she asked in a low voice.
    â€œMaybe you are.” His eyes fixed on her mouth for a long moment, and her lips came alive, as if he’d grazed them with a finger. “And maybe I’m in as much danger from you.”
    He turned on his heel and strode from the room, leaving April watching him go, her lips still tingling from the touch of his gaze.
    Â 
    Seth rapped on the interconnecting door that led directly to April’s suite and felt his pulse pick up at the prospect of seeing her. It was early, just past 6:00 a.m., but he hadn’t seen her alone in two days. Her mother clung like a vine.
    At first he’d accepted that it was for the best. She was safe from his voracious need, and her mother would be the better person to help April regain her memory….
    He frowned, realizing that he believed April did need to regain her memory. In fact, he couldn’t remember when he’d last doubted her—not only had she not slipped up once, but he knew now that she had too much integrity to be playing a farce. She’d been telling the truth the whole time.
    He straightened. Regardless of her honesty, the time he’d given her alone with her mother had gone on long enough.
    He was here to do a job. It was time he regained his hotel.
    Setting his freshly made demitasse of espresso on a table nearby, he rapped on the internal door again, louder this time. Being close to her, knowing he couldn’t have her—wouldn’t let himself—was intolerable. But it would stop today. He