Her Three Entrepreneurs [The Hot Millionaires #8]

by Zara Chase

  “Hell, I see what this means now,” she said. “If the bank calls in our loans, then they’ll own a major part of this farm.”

  “Exactly,” Dex said, grinding his jaw. “They would vote to sell and there wouldn’t be a damned thing you could do about it.”

  “You’d get part of the proceeds,” Bay added. “But not much. You can bet your life that Foster wouldn’t release the land for building purposes until after the bank took possession.”

  “The bastard!” Athena looked fit to burst with anger. “He’s supposed to be Gramps’ friend, and all the time he was planning to defraud him.” She tried to stand up, but with three pairs of male hands preventing her, she didn’t stand a chance. “You should have told me before. We need to confront him.”

  “What good would that do other than to tell him we know what he’s doing?” Marty asked.

  “Well, I don’t know. Something”—she waved her arms about, clearly too angry to think straight—“anything.”

  “I have someone watching Foster,” Dex said. “As soon as he and Jennings make contact again, we’ll know.”

  “How will that help?”

  “I doubt whether the two of them dreamed this little scheme up alone,” Bay said. “Someone put them up to it, and we need to know who all the culprits are.”

  “Whoever attacked Gramps, you mean?”

  “Possibly,” Dex conceded.

  “Why did they do that?” she asked. “The bank holds all the cards, so there was no need.”

  “Which is why we think the two things may not be connected,” Marty said.

  “What, two different lots of people want us out of here?” Athena scowled. “Why?”

  When none of them answered her, her scowl deepened. “What you’re not saying, is that you think someone intended to kill Gramps,” she said plaintively. “Why would they?”

  “That’s what we need to find out,” Bay said, patting her shoulder. “It’s also why we won’t leave you alone until we do. I don’t mean to frighten you, Athena, but you could be a target, too.”

  “I’m not frightened,” she said, the light of battle shining from eyes that had been darkened from violet to navy blue by the sheer force of her anger. “What I am is mad as hell.” Her voice caught. “When I think of poor Gramps, lying in hospital with a fractured skull, I feel ready to commit a few murders of my own.”

  “We know.” This time is was Marty who gave her thigh a reassuring stroke. “We’ll get whoever’s behind this, I promise you.”

  “Jennings will try to see your grandfather as soon as he’s moved out of the ICU and can have visitors,” Bay said. “He’ll want to know if he really has agreed to sell to us.”

  “Good job we warned him about that then.” She sighed. “I ought to thank you,” she said softly. “Without the three of you, I—”

  “Don’t give it another thought,” Bay said, standing up. “We hate injustice.”

  “Always have,” Marty agreed, standing also.

  “Are you going?” she asked, not sounding too happy at the prospect.

  “We are, but Dex will stay and keep you company for the rest of the night. It wouldn’t do for the three of us to be seen here in the morning.”

  “I suppose not.” She reached up and kissed them both. “Thanks for…well, for everything,” she said.

  “Our pleasure.” Bay pointed a finger at Dex. “Don’t let her out of your sight for a second, buddy.”

  “Count on it.”

  Dex followed them downstairs, let the dog out, and then locked and bolted the door once the hound had done what he needed to do. He went back upstairs and found Athena just where he’d left her, sitting in the middle of the messed-up bed, looking distraught.

  “Come on, sweetheart,” he said, holding out a hand. “You’re not ready to sleep yet, are you?”

  “I don’t think I could. There’s so much stuff going through my head right now.”

  “Then I have a better idea.”

  She slipped her hand trustingly into his, and he led her down the hall to the old-fashioned bathroom. The claw-footed tub was very large and very deep. He’d already found out that the ancient boiler was surprisingly efficient and produced an abundance of hot water. Dex turned on the taps and poured half a bottle of fragrant relaxing soak into it.

  “Come along then,” he said when he judged the bath to be full enough and the water temperature just right, “I’ll scrub your back for you.”

  He climbed into the tub and helped Athena in after him. With his back against the porcelain, he spread his legs and Athena sat between them, her back against his chest. She expelled a deeply contented sigh when the water seeped into her.

  “Better?” he asked, kissing the top of her head, feeling fiercely protective and ready to do whatever it took to make her feel better about herself.

  “Hmm, much.”

  Dex picked up a sponge and a bar of soap and gently washed her back.

  “Lean forward, babe, and let me wash your important bits. Don’t worry,” he added when she hesitated, “I’m not going to force myself on you.”

  “Spoilsport!”

  Dex chuckled. “You’ve had enough for one night. What you need right now is to be cosseted.”

  “I could get used to this,” she said when he’d finally finished washing her and she had resumed her position between his legs, using his chest as a pillow.

  “No objections from this end.”

  “Tell me how you finished up in partnership with Bay and Marty,” she said, her voice drowsy yet inquisitive.

  “Not much to tell.”

  She must have sensed the tension in his body and turned to look at him.

  “Sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to be intrusive. It’s just that Bay told me a bit about himself, and Marty filled me in on his own disreputable past. I wondered where you fitted in, that’s all.”

  “You’re probably better off not knowing,” he said tersely.

  “Now I’m really curious.”

  Dex let out a slow breath, playing for time as he wondered what to do. Anyone asking about his past usually got told to fuck off. It was none of their damned business. Problem was, he wanted Athena’s respect, like he hadn’t wanted anything for a long time. If she knew the truth, she’d probably run a mile. But it wasn’t possible to build a relationship on a pack of cards, and Dex wanted more than just a fling with Athena. He’d never felt this way about any woman before, which was probably why the scary prospect of tying himself down suddenly seemed damned appealing. He was pretty sure that Bay and Marty felt the same way, which must be why they’d told her about their own pasts.

  Dare he risk it?

  Hell, it was that or live on tenterhooks, just in case she found out.

  “Bay and I are from the same town,” he said, when he could no longer avoid saying something.

  “Oh, did you? He didn’t mention that.”

  “Well, we were different people back then, and our paths didn’t cross much. He was focused on getting out of Dodge. I was equally determined not to finish up down the mine, but unlike Bay, I didn’t have a plan. I guess I was a bit of a tearaway.”

  “Most kids are at that age.”

  “Yeah well, I got in with a bad crowd. Things got out of control, and the owner of a gas station got beaten up pretty bad.”

  She turned to face him again, curiosity rather than censure in her expression. “Don’t expect me to believe you had anything to do with that.”

  That was the last reaction he’d expected, and she couldn’t have surprised him more. “Why do you say that?”

  “You don’t have it in you to behave that way. I can tell. Oh, I know you were just a kid at the time, but there’s something basically good inside you, and you’d never deliberately harm someone.”

  “Thank you.” His relief was palpable, and he demonstrated it by kissing the back of her neck. “You’re right, I didn’t. In fact I tried to break up the attack by grabbing the baseball bat
out of the hands of the ringleader, which is when the police turned up. They assumed I’d instigated the attack, none of my so-called buddies denied it, the guy who was attacked didn’t see who did it, and I went to prison for three years.”

  “For something you didn’t do.” Her expression was full of sympathy. “That’s so unfair.”

  “Yeah, but it was a wake-up call. I got my act together inside, did a college degree in communication technology, and took just about every computer class on offer, deciding it would be my future when I got out.”

  “Which is what you do for Bay now?”

  “Yes, but that didn’t happen straight off. I thought I’d be able to find employment, but no one wants to take on an ex-con, especially when he was supposed to have beaten an old man half to death.” Dex shrugged, feeling a kind of relief from talking about it to someone who appeared to believe him. “My family disowned me, and I was living hand to mouth in a halfway house when I happened to bump into Bay one day. He was there for some sort of family reunion but still working at a leisure club. We got chatting, my story came out, he believed me, and the rest, as they say, is history.”

  “You sound surprised that Bay believed you. Why wouldn’t he?”

  “Not many people did.” Dex shrugged. “They’re always ready to think the worst.”

  “I believed you.”

  “Yeah,” he said, flashing a soft smile. “You did. Thank you for that.”

  The water had turned cold. Dex stood up, helped her from the tub, wrapped her in a large towel, and gently dried her off.

  “Come on, sweetheart. You need to get some sleep.”

  He took her back to her own room, not wanting her to sleep on the soiled sheets they’d played on earlier. He pulled back the covers and she hopped obediently between them. Her naked body turned him on, but he turned away so she wouldn’t notice.

  “Night, sweetheart,” he said, bending to kiss her.

  “Bay said you weren’t to let me out of your sight,” she reminded him with a sweetly innocent smile.

  Dex growled. “I’m trying to be noble here.”

  “There’s plenty of room for two.”

  Dex climbed into the other side of the bed and pulled her into his arms. “Just so that you know, I am not going to fuck you,” he said, trying to make it sound as though the idea appalled him. “You need to get some rest.”

  He wasn’t sure if she even heard him. She curled up on her side, rested her head on his shoulder, and appeared to fall asleep immediately.

  * * * *

  Athena was woken the next morning by Dex’s bristly chin rubbing against her face, and the feel of his erection pressing against her thigh.

  “Hmm,” she said, opening her eyes and smiling at him, “that’s a nice wake-up call.”

  “And it’ll have to keep, I’m afraid, because it’s getting late.”

  She glanced at the clock. “Oh hell, so it is. You should have woken me earlier.”

  “You looked so peaceful that I couldn’t bring myself to.” He threw back the covers. “Tell you what, I’ll make breakfast while you see to your workers. That okay with you?”

  She thanked him with a kiss and leapt out of bed. An hour later, she’d talked through a few problems with George and Max and saw for herself where they were with the outstanding tasks. She’d managed to keep them away from the house, so they didn’t get to see a second strange man with her on consecutive mornings. She didn’t need George getting all possessive on her again.

  When she returned to the kitchen, Dex provided her with a soft, fluffy omelette and crisp fried bacon, fresh juice, and coffee.

  “Thank you, Dex.” She leaned across the table and fused her lips with his. “I think I might keep you here for a whole month.”

  “Only a month?”

  As soon as she finished eating, Athena phoned the hospital. She was cheered to learn that her grandfather had had a good night and had been moved to a normal ward.

  “That’s good,” Dex said when she told him, pulling out his cell phone and relaying the news to the others.

  “They said he’s very grumpy,” she said, smiling. “That’s got to be a good sign.”

  “Come on,” Dex said. “I know you’re anxious to see him for yourself. If you’re ready we’ll go to the hospital. The others will meet us in the same place as yesterday.”

  * * * *

  “You look a lot better today, Gramps,” Athena said in that artificially cheerful voice that people tend to use in hospitals.

  Actually he looked awful, she thought despondently—pale, tired, and every one of his seventy-five years. The bandage round his head didn’t help matters and terrified her every time she looked at it. If he’d been hit just a fraction harder, if Athena had been delayed and not gotten back to the farm when she did, then they probably wouldn’t be having this conversation.

  “I’m right as ninepence,” he said, his voice sounding as weak as he looked. “I’m hoping they’ll discharge me today. If not, I’ll discharge myself.”

  “And I’ll bring you straight back again,” she said severely. “You’re not well enough to leave yet, Gramps.”

  “You can’t manage the farm on your own, darling.”

  “I’m not on my own. I’ve got Max and George.”

  “And those hunky Americans looking after you,” he added, a trace of the habitual sparkle returning to his eye. “No wonder you don’t want me queering your patch.”

  She felt herself blushing. “Gramps, how could you say such a thing?”

  He chuckled, which turned into a cough. “Thought so,” he said smugly. “About time you had a bit of fun. Perhaps I will stay here until they chuck me out after all.”

  Before Athena could respond, she sensed someone else hovering close to the bed. She didn’t know whether to be more surprised or angry when she saw Jerry Jennings there, clutching a bag with fruit in it. Gramps had only been moved that morning. He certainly didn’t waste any time.

  “Peter,” Jennings said heartily. “How the devil are you feeling? You gave us all quite a scare for a moment there.”

  Athena stood up. “I’ll leave you to it and stop by later, Gramps.” She would be physically ill if she stayed in the same room with Jennings.

  “How are you coping, Athena?” he asked.

  She pretended not to hear him, feeling like a badly behaved schoolgirl when she left the ward, gave way to an impulse, and ran down the corridor. Dex was leaning casually against a wall, waiting for her. He appeared to have attracted the attention of several nurses, who hovered round him like flies to a honey. She wanted to shoo them away and tell them to find their own hunk. Except Dex wasn’t hers, she reminded herself with a heavy heart, any more than Bay and Marty were.

  “Hey,” he said, straightening up when he saw her coming. “That was quick. Everything okay?”

  The nurses shot her envious looks and dispersed.

  “I seem to have upset your fan club.”

  “Oh them, they were just passing the time of day.”

  “I’m sure they were.” Athena rolled her eyes. “Jennings is in there with Gramps.”

  “He didn’t waste much time.”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “Come on then, let’s go to the café and wait for the others. I don’t want Jennings to see us together.”

  “Shouldn’t we wait and see what Jennings does when he leaves?”

  “It’s okay, our guy will be watching.”

  “Well,” she said reluctantly, “if you’re sure.”

  They’d only been in the café for a few minutes when Dex’s cell rang.

  “Okay, Bay,” he said. “We’ll be right there.”

  “Come on,” he said, throwing some coins on the table to cover the cost of their coffee. “Jennings went straight from seeing your grandfather to that same pub.”

  Dex drove quickly to the pub, which was only a short distance away. It was almost empty at this early hour, with just a few cars in the
parking lot, including Bay’s Jaguar. He and Marty emerged from it when Dex pulled up.

  “He went inside a few minutes ago,” Bay said, kissing Athena, “and Foster and another guy went in almost straight after.”

  “Do you know who he is?” Marty asked, showing Athena a picture on his cell phone.

  Athena looked at it and gasped. “Now it makes a weird sort of sense,” she said with a slow, angry shake of her head.

  “Who is he, babe?” Bay asked.

  “He lives in the village. He’s Paul Foreman, one of Max’s sons.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Why would he get involved?” Athena asked with a perplexed frown.

  “Money,” Bay said succinctly, taking her arm because she looked too shell-shocked to stand up under her own steam.

  “I don’t see how or why Jennings and Foster would need him,” she said. “With Jennings in control of our finances and Foster to handle the planning, what need do they have for Max’s son?”

  “Let’s go and ask him,” Bay said, steering her toward the pub’s door.

  “I look forward to it,” she said through gritted teeth.

  “Stay back for now, sweetheart, and let me handle this.”

  The three men were sitting together in a concealed alcove, talking very quietly. Bay walked right up to them.

  “Morning, gents,” he said.

  They all looked up. “Do we know you?” Jennings asked.

  “Nope, but we know you.” Bay sat at their table without being invited.

  “You’ll have to excuse us,” Foster said, looking worried. “This is a business meeting.”

  “Then why wasn’t I invited?”

  “Athena!”

  All three men half stood up, almost knocking the table over. Jennings looked shocked, Foster perplexed, Paul Foreman downright scared.

  “What do you think you’re playing at, Paul?” she asked aggressively.

  “I… That is, it’s none of your business.”

  “Like hell it isn’t. If you think you can intimidate and scare my grandfather off his own land, you have another thing coming.”