Chasing Memories: The Forevermore Series, Book 2 (6 page)

Chapter Nine

India took one final look in the mirror. She nodded at her reflection. Calm, cool and in control, not the neurotic psycho from this morning, thank you very much.

The black, straight-leg pants and lemon yellow, three-quarter-sleeve jacket she wore presented the perfect business image. The persona she’d aimed for, because yes, she needed to keep her meetings with Lucas on a professional level. No more getting personal.

Turning away, she slipped her feet into low black pumps, grabbed her purse and briefcase and headed downstairs.

Five minutes later she found Lucas sitting behind a massive oak desk speaking with someone. It couldn’t be one of Javier’s crew. Not dressed in a pair of black trousers and a short-sleeved shirt. Maybe a member of the hotel staff, or Lucas’s assistant? Something tugged at the back of her mind. Did she know him? Did they meet during the two months she couldn’t remember? The man shifted in his seat and she caught a partial view of his profile. Patrician nose, sharp, chiseled jaw.
Definitely familiar.
Maybe she’d seen him in passing yesterday after she’d arrived. She hadn’t been paying attention to the people around the hotel. Instead she’d focused on her designs and how they’d fit in with the existing architecture. Yes, she must have seen him around. Regardless, she didn’t want to interrupt their discussion.

Her gaze traveled around the room while she waited. It had been her experience that you could tell a lot about a person from how they decorated their home and work space. She hadn’t pegged him for plain and boring. The Lucas who’d kissed her in Los Angeles certainly hadn’t been, so why did his office give off a sterile vibe? Light wood tones, neutral-colored walls, and a plush tan carpet. Not one photo sat on his desk and nothing hung on the walls. Even the blandest settings could be personalized by adding a potted plant or two, and a pop of color always made a room feel warm and welcoming. Lucas had none of those elements. Why?

Her cell buzzed. India stepped into the hall, fished inside her purse and pulled out the phone. She checked the caller ID to make sure it wasn’t Victor. “Hi, Mom, what’s up?”

“Sophia and Dante are here for a visit. Can you come over for dinner tonight?”

“No, I’m afraid not.” India hadn’t told anyone, including her family, that she’d accepted this job in Miami. While she loved them to pieces, they could be a tad overbearing at times. They’d call her night and day to make sure she was all right. Although they meant well, sometimes they drove her up a wall. And she didn’t want the news getting leaked to the press. Not that her parents or brothers would do so intentionally, but she couldn’t take any chances.
Call me paranoid.
“I’ve got a business meeting tonight and can’t reschedule.”

“Oh, okay, sweetie.” Disappointment punctuated every word. “I’ll let Sophia know. She wanted to speak with you regarding bridesmaids’ dresses.”

India was shocked when Sophia asked her to be in the bridal party. She hadn’t expected it. Even though she was Dante’s only sister, they barely knew one another. “I’ll give her a call when I get a chance. I’ve got to go now, Mom. Love you.”

“Love you, too. Take care, sweetie.”

A stab of guilt knifed through India. Maybe she should tell her?
No.
She didn’t want to give Margret another reason to worry. Margret already worried enough about India since the accident. “I will. Bye now.” India ended the call and returned to Lucas’s office. The other man had left. She knocked on the open door to get his attention.

“India.” A smile formed on Lucas’s face.

Heart thudding, pulse pounding, India almost swooned.
No, no, no. Damn it.
Where had the calm, cool and collected professional she’d been a moment ago gone? One grin from Lucas, and she’d flown the coop. Lord, what was it about him? Charming and witty men were a dime a dozen in her world, but none made her insides turn to mush the way he did.
Get a grip!

He stood. And oh, dear Lord…so much for getting herself together. India hadn’t noticed the suit he’d been wearing earlier when he’d come to her room, but, boy oh boy, did she notice it now. Charcoal-gray pants hugged lean, narrow hips. He’d shed the jacket, and his fitted, crisp, white dress shirt framed sturdy, broad shoulders and large, hard pecs. A dusting of dark hair peeked out from the rolled-up sleeves displaying strong, muscular forearms.
Oh my.
Oh my, Oh my.

The memory of his callused hand draped across her bare upper arm as they sat on the edge of her bed earlier this morning sent tingles running down her spine and made her stomach do somersaults.
Definitely swoon-worthy.

“Come in, India.”

India pulled her jaw off the ground, straightened her shoulders and strode with purpose to the seat in front of the desk. She sat, and placed her things on the floor beside her. Crossing her legs, she offered Lucas what she hoped passed for a congenial, professional smile.

“I have the drawings you requested yesterday.” He pointed to the round table on the opposite side of the room.

“Great. Where can I set up to work?”

“At the conference table.”

India waited a beat, and when he didn’t elaborate she asked, “Where is the conference table? I mean in which room?” She hadn’t seen any business meeting rooms when Lucas had given her the tour yesterday.

“It’s right behind you.”

India jerked her head around. He wanted her to work here? In his office? She swallowed past the sudden lump at the back of her throat. Work alongside Lucas? All day? How the heck was she supposed to manage that? She wouldn’t be able to concentrate. Already the heady scent of his spicy cologne tantalized and teased her senses. She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath.

“India?”

Her eyes snapped open. She turned her head back to him. “Yes?”

“Go ahead. Make yourself at home. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Right.” She stood, gathered her things and crossed the room. With deliberate care, she set out a graph pad, compass, protractor, pencil and ruler in front of her, then took a seat and positioned herself with her back to him.
Out of sight, out of mind—right?

Wrong!
Three hours later she’d made little progress with her design layouts. Her mind kept wandering. To Lucas, and her growing attraction to him. Her head understood she shouldn’t get involved, but her body didn’t want to listen to reason. To last night’s dream—nightmare, or whatever the images floating around in her subconscious represented—and the terror she’d experienced. Lucas had been right. Something in her subconscious scared the living crap out of her. What, she didn’t know, and that frightened her, too, but not enough to start seeing a shrink again. She’d met with one while going through her drug rehab program. He’d treated her like a lab rat, prodding, poking, and analyzing every word, every reaction. She shivered.

She needed some air. Needed to clear her mind. Rising, she stretched her tired muscles.

“If you’re ready for a break, I could use one, too.”

His voice startled her.

“What do you say we go and find something to eat?”

Lunch sounded great. She’d only managed a couple of bites of the delectable apple turnover Lucas brought her earlier. Her stomach rumbled. Loud enough for Lucas to hear. Heat invaded her cheeks.

He flashed one of his devastating smiles, and right on cue, her insides turned soft and gooey. Of course they did.

“Sounds like a yes to me. Do you like sushi?”

She
loved
sushi. “Sure.”

“Come on, I’ll drive. I know a great restaurant.”

“If it’s not far we can walk.”

Lucas laughed. Her heart did a crazy little flip.
Shit.

He gestured to the window. “It’s raining. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to get wet.”

“Me either.” India grabbed her purse and followed him out.

“Why don’t you wait in the lobby? I’ll bring the car around.”

“Okay, thanks.” Kind, considerate, thoughtful, compassionate. What wasn’t there to like about this man? Liking the person you worked for was better than the alternative, but lusting after him… No siree. She didn’t mix business with pleasure. Ever. This lunch was purely work related. It was. Absolutely.
Yeah, and money grows on trees.

India made her way to the entrance in front, and stepped out under the portico. Rain pounded down around her. She hated when it rained, especially when the skies opened up and the water came down in buckets. It made her uneasy. Her stomach lurched.

A minute later, Lucas pulled a black Z4 BMW convertible under the covered entrance. He got out and opened the passenger door. India sat. Lucas closed her door, and then returned to his side and slipped behind the wheel.

“Nice car.”

“Thanks.”

“Do you take the top down much? I bet the wind on your face feels amazing.”

“It’s too hot to drive with the top down around here, especially at this time of year.” He proceeded to the exit and then pulled out onto the main road. “Did you get to see the sights yesterday?”

He’d been going to show her around before she ran out on him, and there hadn’t been much time after her frenzied trip to the airport. “No, not really.”

“I’ll take you.” He arched his brows. “Assuming you still want me to show you around.”

“Sounds good.” And there went her mouth again, spewing words without the least bit of consideration for what the rest of her might want. Socializing with Lucas was a bad idea. No doubt about it. Why couldn’t she remember that?

“Great. The rain should clear later this afternoon. We can head out then.”

Good Lord, what had she gotten herself into?

A loud clap of thunder boomed. India almost jumped out of her seat. She shivered. They couldn’t get to the sushi bar soon enough.

“You okay?”

“Yes, of course. The noise startled me, that’s all.”

“You’re a little pale.”

A tremor ran through her. “I don’t like driving in this weather.” It made her anxious as hell. A bolt of lightning flashed. Thunder cracked and rumbled.
Damn it. Just want to get there and go back inside.

“Holy shit.”

A red Corvette zoomed by and tried to pass them on the right. Lucas blared the horn. The car pulled back into his own lane and sped away.

“Sorry about that.”

“Not your fault. It’s that idiot’s. Why do people drive crazy in weather like this?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.” Lucas continued to drive, then slammed on the brakes. The car jerked and skipped.

India screamed. Ahead, the same vehicle barreled toward them. On the wrong side of the road. The driver must have spun around on the slick asphalt. She stared out the windshield, wide-eyed. The Vette shimmied from side to side as it raced toward them.

Lucas pulled the steering wheel hard. The Z4 skidded. India flew back against the cool leather, then flung forward as he righted the car. The seatbelt stopped her from hitting the dash.
Gonna die if the other car doesn’t get out of the way.

Images filled her head. Traveling in a car. Blinding, bright light. Torrential rain.

Oh God, oh God, oh God.
Her heart pounded. She began to sweat. The trembling started in her hands and radiated throughout her body until every inch of her shook violently. “No, no, not again,” she moaned.

“I want you to breathe, India. We’re not going to die.”

How could she when something had a vise-grip hold on her throat?

“Come on. Stay with me. Nice and even. You can do it.”

She concentrated on his calm, soothing voice. Let it wash over her, surround her. The choking sensation eased.

“That’s it. Nice and easy. Deep, steady breaths.”

She drew in another, and then another until her breathing returned to normal. Slowly, as if coming out of a thick fog, her senses returned, and she realized Lucas had averted the disaster and guided the Z4 to the side of the road, out of harm’s way.
Thank you, Lord.

“You okay now?”

She nodded. “I’m sorry about that.”

“No worries.”

“How did you avoid a collision? The guy, or girl, was heading straight at us.” She shuddered.

“The driver was a he—some kid from what I could see when we passed him.” Lucas turned his head and pointed out the back window.

The sports car sat on the side of the road a short distance behind them.

“And I didn’t have to avoid anything. He regained control long before he came close to hitting us. I only pulled over to make sure you’re okay.”

Shit.
Professional, along with calm, cool and collected had flown out the window at the first sign of trouble. Lord, what an impression she’d made thus far. “Thanks.”

“You remembered something, didn’t you?”

Her startled eyes met his. “A quick flash, but how did you know?”

“You said, ‘no, not again’.”

“I was traveling in a car during a horrific downpour.” She frowned. “But that’s all I remember.”

“Can you tell me who was driving?”

“I don’t know. I can’t see.”

“There was a terrible storm the night of your accident,” Lucas whispered.

Her mother had told her the same. Were the visions in her mind just now flashes of memory? She couldn’t be sure.

Damn it, damn it, damn it.
India wanted to scream, or throw something, anything to quell the uncertainty roiling around inside her. This waiting for her brain to remember the lost time was driving her bonkers.
If
she regained her memory. And that was a big if. With retrograde amnesia, she might never recall any of what happened during those two months.
No.
She wouldn’t consider that outcome. Pockets of memories had already surfaced, and she had every reason to believe the rest would return. At some point in time, but when, she had no idea. “I’m not very hungry any more. Do you think we can go back to the hotel?”

“No problem.”

Lucas pulled the Z4 under the portico at the main entrance to the Acquati ten minutes later. She opened the door herself, not waiting for him to come around and hold it for her. She wanted—no, needed—to get out of this car. Now. “I’ll meet you back in your office in a few minutes. I need to get my laptop from my room.” Work—she’d concentrate on her designs for the rest of the day. And order delivery for dinner. No way would she venture out until the weather improved.