Her Three Entrepreneurs [The Hot Millionaires #8]

by Zara Chase

  Bay didn’t pause to examine his feelings because, against all the odds, they didn’t frighten him. Perhaps that was because, unlike a lot of the women he’d met over the years, she wasn’t trying to cling. Whenever that happened to any of them, they ran for cover because they weren’t ready for commitment. But this time Bay wasn’t going anywhere. At least not until he and the guys had explored Athena’s sensuality and made her aware of what she could be.

  Perhaps not even then.

  Hell, what am I thinking?

  “And you’re an expert on the subject, I suppose.”

  Athena’s sultry voice recalled his attention. “Naturally.”

  “Do you have any idea how arrogant that sounded?”

  He laughed. “Just telling it like it is. Anyhow, I didn’t hear you complaining about the quality of the service.” He canted his head and smiled down at her. “Remind me again. How many times did I make you climax?”

  “Oh, all right. I suppose you were adequate.”

  “Adequate!” He grunted the word, trying not to laugh as he raised a hand. “That’s just the sort of remark that’ll earn you a good spanking. I’ll have you know that I don’t do adequate.”

  “Actually, I hate to say this and stoke your already overinflated ego, but I think there’s a lot more to you than meets the eye.”

  He grinned. “Baby, you’ve seen it all.” He spread his arms wide, giving her a clearer view of his nakedness. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already.”

  “I don’t mean physically. You’re obviously a high achiever.”

  Bay shrugged. “We are what we are.”

  “Yes, but you’re still very young to be so successful. You made it sound so easy when you said you stopped managing a club and started your own, just like that.” She wrinkled her brow. “Have you always been driven to succeed?”

  “I was raised in Virginia. My old man was a coal miner, and that’s the future he had planned out for me.”

  Athena shook her head. “That would have been a terrible waste.”

  “That’s what I thought, too, just as soon as I was old enough to see things clearly for myself. My dad was old before his time, weakened by all the hard labor. But he was content with his work and never hankered for anything better. He made a home for us all and went fishing on weekends, and that was enough for him. I knew from an early age it would never do it for me. I started getting good grades at school, fought with the old man to let me go to college, and went on from there.”

  “Is your dad still alive? He must be really proud of your achievements.”

  “Yes, I guess all my family are proud, but they never ask me much about it. I’ve offered all my siblings positions in my clubs, but they’re not interested.”

  “They probably enjoy being part of their community. Some people like routine. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

  “Yeah, I know.” He shook his head. “I just don’t understand their lack of ambition, that’s all. Anyway, my dad’s retired now. The only difference that it’s made to him is that he now fishes just about every day.”

  “Not everyone wants to change the world.”

  “True. I have two sisters and a brother, all still in Virginia. The girls are married with kids. My brother works in the mine, and so do my sisters’ husbands.” He shuddered. “That could have been me.”

  “Presumably they’re happy.”

  “Yeah, that’s what depresses me.”

  “Why?” She leaned up on one elbow and looked down at him, frowning. “Surely you’re pleased with your achievements?”

  “I guess, but something’s missing. That’s why I keep striving for more. It’s partly why I agreed to start something up on this side of the pond.”

  “The international entrepreneur,” she said without a trace of irony.

  “Sounds stupid when you put it like that.” He smiled up at her. “I’ve never told anyone that before, not even the others, although I suspect they’ve guessed.”

  “You three are pretty tight.”

  “We are. We’re each trying to prove something to ourselves, in our different ways.”

  “In work and in play.”

  “Speaking of which,” he said, pushing her back against the pillows and looming over her, “are you willing to let the three of us show you the ropes?” He smiled. “And I mean that quite literally.”

  “Yes,” she said, not even pausing to think about it. “Absolutely.”

  “We have no end of toys we can introduce you to.” He grinned and flicked a finger across one of her nipples. “Lady, we’ll drive you wild.”

  “Not here you won’t. Gramps will probably be home again soon.”

  “Yes, let’s hope so. But you’re not tied to the place twenty-four seven, are you?”

  “No, but if Gramps is convalescing, and someone’s out to harm him, I can’t leave him alone.”

  “We’ll find out who that is soon enough.”

  “How?”

  “Well, we have that appointment with the bank manager tomorrow, remember.” She nodded. “Marty’s gonna tell your friend Jennings that we’re in negotiations with your grandfather to purchase this place.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “Why?”

  “I dunno, exactly. Call it a hunch.” Bay paused to formulate his argument. “The bank has supported you for years, and then, out of the blue, they pull the rug. Who would have the authority to do that?”

  “Locally, just Jerry Jennings, I suppose. But it could be that the youth I spoke to was telling the truth and the bank’s head office has instigated a new policy.”

  “Possibly, but if that’s the case, you would have gotten more warning.” Bay shook his head. “I get the feeling that Jennings is personally responsible for cutting off your funding, which would explain why he wouldn’t see you himself. And if he is, then he must have a personal reason for doing so.”

  “You think he’s trying to get us out of the farm?” She frowned. “Why?”

  “I have no idea. That’s why I’ve asked Marty to put the cat amongst the bankers, so to speak.”

  “Even if he is involved, he never would have authorised an attack on Gramps.”

  “Shush, go to sleep.” He snuggled down and pulled her with him. “We need to be up before your workers get here, and I assume they’ll arrive at some ungodly hour.”

  Athena nodded. “Afraid so.”

  He kissed her deeply and then watched her profile as her features gradually relaxed. Her breathing became deep and even, and she was asleep in seconds.

  * * * *

  Athena woke feeling totally at peace with the world. Even thoughts of her grandfather’s condition failed to dispel her good mood. She couldn’t remember when she’d last slept so well. Stretching her arms above her head, she felt soreness in her nipples. It brought their activities of the night before crashing back, and she grinned like an idiot. That grinning was short-lived when she realized she was still in Bay’s bed.

  Alone.

  The space next to her was empty, the sheets stone cold. It was barely light. How long had he been up? Her disappointment at his speedy exit was acute. Talk about insulting.

  Idiot! What else do you expect?

  What she’d actually hoped for was to be woken with demands for a repeat performance. It had been the last thing on her mind before she fell asleep, using his broad chest as a pillow. It was the most comfortable pillow she’d ever known. Athena shook her head, telling herself to get real. He obviously had different priorities.

  Those priorities became apparent when the smell of frying bacon drifted up the stairs. He was cooking her breakfast. When had someone last done that for her? How did he know that she was ravenous? She glanced at the clock and gasped. It was six thirty. Max and George would be here at seven.

  She leapt out of bed, had a two-minute shower, pulled on the first clothes that came to hand, and dashed downstairs.

  “Morning, sleepyhead,” he said, glancing up from the stove and grin
ning at her. “Okay?”

  She was temporarily unable to say a word. He was so drop-dead gorgeous, even first thing in the morning, that he took her breath away. Her own eyes were still puffy with sleep, and she was well aware that she looked far from her best first thing. The same couldn’t be said of him, damn him! He had been so considerate last night, thrilling her with his dominating ways but always mindful of her comfort. He’d spoken as though he and his buddies would take her several steps further along that road, and she’d actually believed it. But in the cold light of day it seemed impossible.

  Bay Marshall was the only man she’d ever met who could increase her pulse rate and get her motor running just by standing at a stove, frying bacon.

  He was also totally out of her league.

  Get over yourself, Athena.

  “Starving,” she said. “Good job you woke up. The guys will be here soon.”

  “That’s what I figured. I’d best keep out of sight until they set to work.”

  Athena wanted to object. She wasn’t afraid to be seen with him, but he obviously had issues about being seen with her.

  Okay, message received loud and clear.

  “Yes, they’ll be finishing up bringing the hay in, so they won’t be anywhere near the house for most of the day.”

  Athena noticed that Bay had already let Rowan out. Just as well because Athena had forgotten all about him.

  “I’ll just pop out and feed the chickens,” she said. “Max can check on the rest of the livestock when he gets here.”

  She returned to the kitchen a few minutes later, Rowan at her heels.

  “I assume you’re going to see your grandfather at the hospital,” Bay said, placing a huge fry-up and mug of fresh coffee in front of her.

  “Thanks,” she said, taking the seat opposite him and tucking in. “Yes. If they allow him to come home, then I’ll bring him back. If not…well, I haven’t thought that far.”

  “They won’t let him out yet,” Bay said. “He has a fractured skull, remember.”

  “Yes, but he might insist upon discharging himself. He can be very stubborn.”

  “I’ll come into town with you and wait at the hospital. If he tries to leave against doctor’s orders, then we’ll find a way to stop him.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “Yeah, I do,” he said, sending her a lazy, sexy smile that went straight to her pussy.

  Damn, now I’m leaking all over my clean panties.

  “By the time you know what’s happening with your grandfather, Marty will have met with your friend Jennings. Perhaps then we’ll have a better idea of what’s going on.”

  “Hello, are you there?”

  “Shit!”

  Bay jumped to his feet when an attractive woman put her head round the door.

  “Athena, I saw you on the television, heard about your grandfather, and…Oh, hello.”

  Athena’s heart sank. Of all the times for her mother to put in an appearance.

  “What are you doing here, Molly?” Athena never referred to her absentee mother any other way.

  “I might ask you the same question,” she said, her eyes lingering with undisguised interest, and a little wariness, on Bay.

  With no choice open to her, Athena was about to introduce them, but Bay took control of the situation. That shouldn’t really have surprised her.

  “Hi,” he said, holding out a hand. “I’m Bay Marshall. I’ve been hired as protection for Athena until her grandfather recovers. I take it you’re her mother.”

  “Yes, I’m Molly Lloyd.” She thrust out her hand, clearly still assessing Bay, her eyes darting between him and Athena. “And I look upon Athena as more of a sister.”

  Probably because you’ve never been a mother to me.

  “Pleased to meet you.” Bay shook her hand. “And your timing couldn’t be better. I’m about to take Athena into town to see her grandfather. If you want to help, you could hold the fort here.”

  “Oh, but I can take her. You’d be better off staying here and warding off further attackers. I’d like to see my father for myself.”

  “Sorry, my brief is to guard Athena, not the property. Besides, Mr. Lloyd is in intensive care and only permitted one visitor.”

  That his one visitor could only be Athena went unsaid.

  “How is he?” Molly asked. “What happened here anyway? Who broke in?” She glanced around, clearly in a highly agitated state. Athena had never seen her express so much concern for her father before, but then he’d never been clobbered hard enough to fracture his skull before either. Perhaps she did feel something for someone other than herself after all. “I assume it was just a burglary that went wrong. Well, it must have been,” she continued without waiting for a response. “What other reason could there possibly be?”

  “We don’t know yet,” Athena said.

  “But the police must have some idea. No one’s safe anywhere nowadays, not even in the country.” She tutted. “I was so worried. You have no idea.”

  “We really ought to make a move,” Bay said.

  “All right, but you’ll be back soon, won’t you?” Molly put on such a good act as the caring mother that even Athena was almost fooled by it. “I was so worried about my baby that I dropped everything and came right on over as soon as I heard.”

  But why? And why wasn’t she flirting with Bay? Usually she was like a dog with a bone when a man took her fancy. She would have had to be blind not to appreciate Bay’s attributes, especially when he turned on the charm, as he’d done with Molly as soon as she stepped into the kitchen. Athena frowned. Could it be that Molly really was so worried about her dad that she had changed the habits of a lifetime?

  “I take it you know how the farm runs,” he said to Molly with an easy smile. “What with having been brought up here.”

  “Oh yes, but George and Max don’t really need to be told what to do.”

  “Nevertheless, I’m sure they’ll appreciate your being here. A friendly face in times of crisis is always welcome.”

  Athena suspected that her mother, who never pleased anyone except herself, would now do precisely as Bay asked. How that would help them she had yet to conjecture, but she had to admit that it was nice to have someone else take control for a change.

  Bay poured Molly coffee and asked her if she would like some breakfast.

  “Not that,” her mother said, turning up her pert little nose at the remnants of Athena’s fry-up, making her feel like a pig for having devoured it. “I never eat fried food.”

  “That’s why you stay so slim, I guess,” Bay said, winking at her.

  Athena simmered at this exchange. Had Bay taken a personal interest in Molly? She could only be a few years older than Bay and, unlike Athena, always took care of her herself. Even at this ungodly hour, she wore full war paint and tight-fitting clothes that showed off her trim figure.

  “I must say I’m surprised that my father had the presence of mind to call you in, Bay,” she said, frowning. “Surprised but pleased, of course. If he was unconscious, how could he have done that?”

  “What makes you think he was unconscious?” Athena asked.

  “Well, you did. You said on the television that he’d been severely attacked, so I just assumed—”

  “He made the arrangement for me to come in before he was attacked,” Bay said. Athena was surprised at his ability to think on his feet and sound so convincing. She shouldn’t have been. Self-made men lived by their wits, didn’t they?

  “Oh, but why did he feel the need?”

  Bay shrugged. “You’ll have to ask him that. All he told me was that he was concerned about security on the farm. Odd things had been happening, apparently.”

  “What odd things?”

  “Well obviously someone had it in for him.”

  “So you don’t think this was just a break-in then?” Molly seemed very agitated now. “Who could have done it?” she asked, not appearing to expect an answer.

&
nbsp; “Unfortunately we couldn’t get here before Mr. Lloyd was attacked,” Bay said, “but at least we can protect Athena.”

  “We?”

  “I have partners.”

  “I still don’t understand why he felt the need for protection.” Molly shook her head. “That doesn’t sound like my independent father.”

  “When did you last see him?” Athena couldn’t resist a little dig.

  “Yes, point taken, but even so—”

  “He’d received some threats,” Bay said vaguely.

  “You’re American.” Molly glared at Bay with open suspicion. “Weren’t the people you were accusing of trying to get Blackridge American, Athena?”

  Athena shrugged. “What’s that got to do with anything?”

  She glowered at nothing in particular. “It’s a strange coincidence.”

  “Right, Athena,” Bay said. “Since we can leave the farm in Molly’s capable hands, we might as well get going.”

  “Okay then, let’s go.” She canted her head and shot an apologetic look Rowan’s way. “Not today,” she said to him, carefully ruffling his ears and avoiding his cut.

  “George and Max don’t know about me being here,” Bay said to Molly. “Not that they’re suspects, but it’s best that only a trusted few know about this arrangement.”

  She nodded. “I won’t say anything. Send your grandfather my love, poppet, and tell him I’ll see him soon.”

  That’ll make him feel a whole lot better.

  “Don’t worry about me,” she said, waving them off. “I shall meditate for an hour. My karma’s all over the place since I heard about the troubles here.”

  “What do you make of her turning up?” Bay asked as he drove Athena’s Jeep away from the farm.

  “I have absolutely no idea.” Athena shuddered. “All I do know is that when Molly turns up, it almost always leads to trouble.”