Chasing Memories: The Forevermore Series, Book 2 by Anna James Page A

hotels in the area. He’d left it too late for today, but he could get her started on the rest of the week. He made a mental note to look for Javier next. They’d need to stop all work until the guests checked out tomorrow. They’d lose another day, but it couldn’t be helped.
    Once in the lobby, he stepped out and approached the check-in counter and gave Penny a smile. At least he tried to smile, but judging by the deep frown lines grooving her otherwise smooth complexion, he’d probably flashed more of a grimace.
    “I heard about what happened today. Is India all right?” Penny asked, concern radiating in her hazel eyes.
    “No major injuries, but she’ll be sore for a few days. How many rooms have we got booked tonight and through the rest of the week?”
    Penny frowned. “None. Brett instructed me not to take any more reservations for the rest of the week due to the construction crew working two shifts a day to complete the remodel for the restaurant.”
    Why? They’d cordoned off the construction areas. It shouldn’t have been a problem. Was there something going on he didn’t know about? “When did he tell you this?”
    “I don’t know, about a week ago.”
    When he’d been in San Francisco dealing with Grams’s death. God, had only a couple of weeks passed since he’d laid her to rest? Lucas shuddered. With Brett handling everything, did he forget to mention it? Or, maybe he had, and Lucas hadn’t heard him? There’d been arrangements to make, the police to deal with and…the gut-wrenching, knife-twisting grief clawing at him. Not going there.
    “Was Brett wrong?”
    “No. In fact, given what happened today, he had perfect timing.”
    “I’ll say. At least we didn’t have any guests walking around up there when the accident occurred.”
    “No one on the second floor?”
    Penny nodded. “They’d all checked out. Well, except for India, but she’s not an actual guest.”
    “India’s was the only room occupied on the second floor?”
    Penny nodded. “Yes.”
    If there weren’t any other guests, then only India would have a reason to go up there. Had whoever rigged the platforms to fall been out to hurt her?

Chapter Thirteen
    Bright lights flashed behind her, piercing the darkness. They blinded her for a moment. India’s heart hammered hard as if she’d run a mile in ten seconds flat. Blinking furiously, she tried to readjust her vision as they traveled down the slick roadway. Outside, the rain beat down, and a heavy San Francisco fog enveloped them.
    Lights grew brighter. “Great. Just great,” she murmured. The last thing they needed tonight was some asshole who couldn’t tell the difference between fog lights and high beams following too close behind. Lord, her nerves were already stretched wire thin. If the guy behind them didn’t slow the hell down, they’d snap.
    “He’s going to kill us both if he doesn’t back off. These roads aren’t built for speed on a night like this.”
    India trembled. “Don’t say that.”
    The car jerked right, and she gasped. “No, we’re going the wrong way.”
    They slowed at the curve. The other car sped up. He was about to hit them. “Oh my God,” she screamed.
    India’s eyes snapped open. Her heart thudded. Blood roared in her ears. She gulped in deep breaths, trying to get herself under control.
    She peered around the room trying to get her bearings. Tall chest of cherry wood drawers, matching ladies’ bureau, massive oval mirror. Lucas’s guest bedroom. How long had she slept? She glanced over at the bedside clock. Seven a.m. Good grief, almost twelve hours.
    “You okay?”
    India jerked her head toward the deep, baritone rumble. Lucas stood, poised in the open doorway in a pair of old, faded blue jeans slung low on his hips. And nothing else . Lord, have mercy. She stared at him—no, ogled would be a better description for what she lay there doing, because, yes, her mouth gaped open. She drank in those hard, brawny shoulders.