Million-Dollar Amnesia Scandal (11 page)

Macy's face transformed into complete sympathy. “I'm so sorry to hear that.”

“I'm sorry to hear that, too,” Ryder's voice rumbled. “And Seth is looking after you?” Ryder was watching them with mild curiosity.

Seth pulled her another fraction of an inch closer,
tension radiating from his body. “April is an old friend of the family. She's spending some time here to recuperate, and I'm keeping an eye on her until she feels stronger.”

Ryder's face didn't change but Macy smiled. “I'm glad you have someone you can trust.”

April's stomach dipped. There was that word again—
trust.

Seth moved toward the chairs. “Would you like to take a seat? The staff have outdone themselves putting on a brunch spread for us.”

They all moved and took seats along a rectangular table—Macy and Ryder on one side, and Seth and April on the other. The brothers were directly across from one another and April had the sense of two caged lions circling. Each of them took a plate and began to fill it with food.

Seth spoke as he took a pastry from a platter. “What have you found out about this JT Hartley?”

Ryder shrugged. “Probably the same as you. He's in property development. Came from the wrong side of the tracks, brought up by a single mother. Snagged a scholarship to Yale and started building his fortune soon after graduation.”

Seth offered April a tray of small cakes as he replied to Ryder. “His mother once worked in a secretarial pool at Bramson Holdings. We can't find out if she ever had direct contact with Warner, but it's unlikely. She worked seven floors down from his office.”

April nibbled on an apple cupcake, feeling very out of place hearing this privileged information. She'd imagined that she and Macy might leave once the conversation got down to business. Then she realized something that made her stop chewing. Seth trusted her. She'd often wondered whether she could trust
him,
but having her sit in on this meeting showed his faith in her discretion and judgment.
A smile danced around her lips, so she took another bite of cake to conceal it.

Ryder poured Macy a cup of tea, then himself a cup of coffee from a pot. When he handed it to her, a look passed between them that lasted less than a second but held a world of affection, respect and love. Seth was wrong. Ryder and Macy were a love match.

Ryder turned back to his half brother. “I had a call from Pia Baxter, the executor, on the way out this morning. Hartley's attorney is asking for a DNA sample from both of us to prove his client's paternity.”

Seth made no effort to hide his contempt for the request. “He can ask. I'm not helping his claim.”

Ryder nodded. “He's obviously confident if he's asking for DNA.”

“I have to admit,” Seth said, sitting back in his chair, resting an arm along the back of April's, “I didn't believe him at first. But maybe Warner did have an affair before he married your mother or before he met mine. Of course it's more feasible that his mother has spun him a tale. Otherwise, why now? Why not come forward when Warner was still alive?”

Ryder finished chewing a mouthful before replying. “Unless he did and Warner sent him packing.”

“Frankly,” Seth said, leaning forward, “even if he's got the right DNA, I have no intention of splitting this company further. Warner had every chance during JT Hartley's thirty-seven years to include him in a will, and he didn't.”

Blinking slowly, Ryder subjected Seth to a lazy assessment. “What do you propose?”

Seth met his half brother's gaze head-on. “We take a united stand. We can't fight battles on two fronts at the same time, run the company, and expect to win everywhere.”

Ryder's brow rose. “What would a united stand entail?”

“We call a truce in our roles at Bramson Holdings and the board in the short term. Until the JT Hartley problem is resolved. We fight him together. Then we resolve the rest between ourselves.”

Ryder sat back and folded his arms over his chest. “You think we can work together in a truce?”

One corner of Seth's mouth turned up. “As I said, short term. We have a handshake deal, agree to the terms and then the entire deal is voided when Hartley walks away empty-handed.”

Nodding slowly, Ryder unraveled his arms. “I could work with that. But—” he cocked an eyebrow “—I'll still win Bramson Holdings once our deal is voided.”

Seth chuckled. “Good luck with that.” Then his face sobered and his voice became forged steel. “But this fight is between you and me, always was. I won't tolerate a new player on the scene who thinks he can stake a claim to something we've worked for since we were teenagers. I don't care who he thinks his father was—I have too much invested.”

April froze inside. This Seth was a different man than the one she'd come to know—except, perhaps, the version of him she'd met in the hospital room. How could he be this ruthless, this cold-blooded toward a man who may prove to be his brother? Something in her chest shriveled and died.

“Agreed,” Ryder said.

Seth pulled a legal pad from the end of the table and took the silver pen from his pocket. “Let's talk terms.”

M
acy's chair scraped back as she stood. “April, I'd love to see the little beach over there, if you could show me.”

“Of course,” April said, collecting herself. She'd been transfixed, following the negotiations between the brothers—her world shaking as she watched the transformation of Seth into a cold-blooded businessman—and had forgotten the role he'd brought her to play. Seth slid her a quick smile of approval and she returned a more tentative one before leaving with Macy.

Macy chatted casually about the scenery until they reached a small patch of sand that met the water between the more rocky land edges. “I'm sorry if I dragged you away, but your face lost its color and you looked like you could do with some air.”

April's stomach swooped. Had her horror been written on her face? Had Seth seen it? She drew a shaky breath and said, “Thank you.”

Macy slipped off her shoes and sat on the knee-high, grassy embankment that edged the beach. April followed suit, wiggling her toes in the cool sand. “I guess I'm just a little tired.”

The light breeze toyed with Macy's hair and she tucked some wayward strands behind her ears. “I can't begin to imagine what you're going through. You must feel so lost. Is there anything I can do?”

“I don't think anyone can help, but I appreciate the offer.” April looked over at Seth talking to his brother and silently acknowledged that, despite her assertion to Macy, Seth had been instrumental in recovering the few memories she'd regained—he'd provided the information on her background that had helped her remember her father, then had found the videotape that had given her back her musical knowledge. And he'd made her stay at the hotel possible that had prompted flashes of déjà vu, which was surely bringing her closer to remembering everything. For his help, she'd be forever grateful.

How could she feel so many conflicting emotions about one man?

She turned back to the other woman and shrugged. “I just need to remember.”

“This might seem forward—” Macy kicked a little puff of sand in the air “—especially considering the delicate nature of Ryder and Seth's relationship, but I'll leave you my number. I've been living in Australia and don't really know anyone here anymore, so I could use a friend myself. Though to be frank,” she said as a blush stole up her neck, “I've never had too many friends, no matter what country I'm in.”

Shoulders relaxing, April began to feel at ease and smiled. The only other person she'd felt comfortable being with since she'd woken was Seth. Although most
of their time together probably couldn't be described as “comfortable.” Another contradictory emotion she felt about the man.

Still, it was nice to find someone else she could let down her guard with a little. “At least you know what your social situation is,” she said. “I might be terrible at making friends—I have no idea.”

Macy laughed, a sweet sound, like birdsong. “I somehow doubt that. But seriously, ring me if there's something I can do. Even if it's just to chat.”

After plucking a blade of grass, April twirled it between her fingers. “Would you answer a personal question?”

“I'll try.”

She'd been watching Ryder and Macy when they all sat down under the marquee, and had been curious about the nature of their relationship. Seth suspected Ryder had clinically proposed to Macy for her stock in Bramson Holdings. But April had seen more between them.

She twirled the blade of grass one more time then released it to the breeze. “You and Ryder,” she began, “you seem to be in love.”

Macy smiled widely. “Very much. Though I can still hardly believe it.”

“Why not?” April tucked her feet underneath the edges of her dress.

“I didn't think we'd make it, not until just recently. I had my own issues, but Ryder…” Macy trailed off, and they both looked back at the brothers, heatedly debating some point of their temporary truce.

April swallowed hard, remembering Seth pushing her to rescind her claim to the hotel—after they'd just made love. “I think perhaps neither of them escaped their childhoods unharmed.”

“Seth, too?” Macy asked sympathetically.

April bit down on her lip and nodded, eyes still on the men.

“One thing's for sure,” Macy finally said, “their father really did a number on them both. I hope it works out with Seth the way you want.”

Works out? April couldn't breathe in past the air trapped in her lungs. Nothing would “work out” between her and Seth, she understood that now like never before. She would be dreaming to consider otherwise—even for a fraction of an instant. Right this minute, Seth was across the lawn, protecting his company from threats. She'd watched him—he'd been merciless, and she couldn't deny
she
was a threat. What was his plan for
her
after she'd rejected his last solution? She was suddenly cold. This was the wrong place to be. With him.

It was time to leave.

As soon as she'd survived today.

She turned to Macy and summoned a smile. “Have you been to New England before?”

Macy looked out to sea and closed her eyes, as if smelling the salty scent on the breeze. “No, I grew up on the West Coast, and I've been in Australia since I was eighteen.”

“I don't think I've been to Australia—at least no one's mentioned anything about me going there,” April said with a self-deprecating laugh. “Tell me what it's like there.”

Macy's voice filled with enthusiasm as she spoke about her adopted country and April listened, fascinated. When Seth and Ryder began to walk across the grass toward them, she was still engrossed, and checking her watch, realized an hour must have passed.

When they came closer, Seth's eyes zeroed in on hers and she held back a quiver of awareness—and the wince as
her heart cracked a little further, knowing she'd be leaving him soon.

Continuing as hostess, she and Seth walked their guests back to the hotel's entrance, all engaged in small talk about the scenery and the weather, and waited with them while the valet retrieved Ryder's car. When the valet returned, Ryder held out his hand and Seth took it, and they shook firmly. But both men remained guarded, and April knew the moment they'd dealt with JT Hartley and this truce was cancelled, they'd be lunging for each other's jugulars again. It was sad, but maybe rivalry and mistrust was how it needed to be between them—it was all either would accept from the other. All they would accept from themselves.

Macy and April's goodbye was warmer, but then, they had nothing riding on the outcome of the brothers' battle.

Seth watched them go and then turned to her, face still unreadable, as if he couldn't let go of the role he'd slipped into for the meeting just yet. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.” She looked over to the grassy embankment where she'd made a vital decision only an hour ago. “Seth, there's something I need to tell you.”

He dug his hands into his pockets. “I have to make a couple of calls to set the new plan into motion. Can it wait fifteen minutes?”

Her belly squirmed at the thought of having to wait until she could say the words aloud, but the cowardly part of her was happy to delay, to scrounge any remaining time here. “Fifteen minutes is fine.”

“Where will I meet you?” he asked, glancing inside. His mind was clearly on the Bramson Holdings calls he wanted to make.

April cast her gaze from the ocean to the green lawns to the wilder woods at the edge of the grounds. This would be
her last afternoon here and there was one place she wanted to see again.

“I'll be waiting in the lighthouse,” she said, and walked away.

 

April scaled the stairs of the disused lighthouse with a heart heavier than the stone surrounding her, but with only mild strain to her muscles. It was amazing how quickly her body's strength was returning. Would she heal as quickly on the inside? Her memories still hadn't returned, and now she was about to create two new holes inside her—one in the shape of the Lighthouse Hotel and the other in the shape of the man who filled her thoughts and dreams. The man her body craved.

When she reached the glassed-in top, the sparkling ocean stretched into the distance, endless, timeless. It had been there before she was born, and would be there long after she was gone. The time her lost memories covered was insignificant against such a scale, yet they'd caused so much trouble, not only to her, but to her mother, to Seth and to others.

The faint sound of Seth's footfalls growing louder on the concrete steps seemed to create a beat in her mind that echoed the marching of time. Time she was wasting here in this escape from reality. In a fairy tale.

When he came into view from the winding staircase, the beat in her mind became more chaotic to match the spike in her pulse. He was a picture of harsh masculine beauty, with his dark hair ruffled by the breeze outside, his navy blue eyes bright in the reflected light, and the breadth of his shoulders emphasized by their compact surroundings.

How would she be able to tear herself away from him to leave?

He stood in front of her, hands low on his hips. “You had something to tell me?”

“Actually—” she paused, biting down on her lip “—I have something to ask you first.”

“Ask,” he said, voice deep and solemn.

Crossing her arms under her breasts, she looked up and met his gaze. “Watching you with your brother, talking about your family empire, I realized how important it is to both of you. You'd do anything to protect it, including neutralizing the threat JT Hartley is posing.”

He nodded warily. “Of course.”

A shiver raced down her spine and Seth slipped his arms from his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. Though she hadn't shivered from the cold, his jacket was still warm with his body heat and she couldn't bring herself to give up one of the last connections she'd have to him.

“Thank you,” she said and pulled it around her like an embrace, giving her the strength to say what needed to be said. “I'm also a threat you've been trying to neutralize.”

Face pained, he glanced from her out to the horizon. “I won't deny that there's pretty much nothing I wouldn't do to secure the hotel.”

“I thought so,” she whispered past a parched throat. “But you
know
there's something between us.” He turned back to her, eyes fierce. “Don't pretend what you felt in my arms wasn't real.”

Even now, heat swirled through her limbs, down low in her belly, and that was merely from his proximity. She knew with one touch he'd have her alight. And the same flammability had been in his eyes from the start. “I won't deny it, but—” she drew in a long breath “—what I can't work out is where that desire ends and ‘neutralizing a threat' begins. Do you even know where that line is?”

He closed his eyes and gripped the rail till his knuckles were bloodless. “No, not always,” he rasped.

Her shoulders slumped forward, absorbing the blow that she'd known was coming, but which rocked her nonetheless.

“I'm leaving in the morning, Seth,” she said as gently as she could, not wanting it to sound like a fit of pique or a punishment. It was just what had to happen. “I should have followed the doctor's suggestion to start with, and gone home to familiar surroundings, but at least I'm doing it now.”

His entire being was so tense that he looked ready to fracture. Still gripping the rail, he turned his head to look at her through haunted eyes. “There's no need for you to go.”

“Seth—”

A shudder ripped through his body and he looked down at his hands on the rail as he cut her off. “You're right. You should go. I'll regret saying this later, but you should go.”

It took everything she had not to go to him, to ease the tension in his features, in his shoulders. To ease her own pain.

Instead, she took the smallest of steps back. “I'll stay in touch about the hotel, and I promise I'll keep trying to regain my memory.”

“I don't doubt it.” He smiled, a sad curve of his mouth. “My legal team will let you know of any developments in their work to check the validity of your contract.”

“I appreciate it.” She removed her arms from the sleeves of his jacket and held it out, but when he reached for it, his hand closed over hers and held.

“Can I offer you one final piece of advice?”

The heat from his palm was close to scorching. She swallowed hard before she could speak. “Of course.”

He took the jacket with his other hand, not releasing her fingers, and threw the garment haphazardly over one shoulder. Still clutching her fingers tight, he said, “Take everything your mother says with a grain of salt. I'm afraid her fifteen percent stake in your career is affecting her advice. Just—” he winced, clearly uncomfortable delivering the warning “—be aware.”

She gave an awkward, curt nod. Ironically, her mother had told her earlier in the day that Seth wasn't to be trusted, something he'd now confirmed. At least he'd admitted as much, and she respected his honesty.

One thing was sure—
everyone
had their own agenda, something they wanted from her. Her chest constricted painfully. She was truly on her own.

Seth scrubbed his fingers through his hair, leaving it rumpled, but he didn't seem to notice or care. “When will you go?”

“In the morning,” she said, her voice breaking. She paused to gain control before continuing, “I'll tell Mom when I go back inside, and then pack tonight to get an early start tomorrow.”

“I wish you well, April,” he whispered, then pulled her to him. She could barely breathe, but she held him as fiercely, before breaking away and running back down the stairs.

She had to get away. Before he saw her cry.