Their Seductress [The Hot Millionaires #1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)
Page 1
The Hot Millionaires #1
Their Seductress
Paige Fairfax is devastated by the murder of Ellie, her employer and close friend. She flies from England to Florida for the funeral, only to be confronted by Isaac Drake, her late boyfriend's twin brother who holds her responsible for his death.
In spite of their mutual antipathy, Paige and Isaac are drawn to one another and join Ellie's right-hand man Nick Fuller in a steamy three-way love fest. Frustrated by the lack of progress in the police investigation into Ellie's death, they set a trap for the three main suspects, and Paige plays the part of seductress, hoping to lure the culprit into saying something incriminating.
Things don't go according to plan, and Paige finds herself trapped in a perilous situation that threatens her own life. Isaac and Nick rush to her aid, determined not to lose the woman they both love. But will they be in time to save her?
Genre: BDSM, Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre
Length: 60,013 words
THEIR SEDUCTRESS
The Hot Millionaires #1
Zara Chase
MENAGE EVERLASTING
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting
THEIR SEDUCTRESS
Copyright © 2012 by Zara Chase
E-book ISBN: 978-1-61926-782-4
First E-book Publication: June 2012
Cover design by Les Byerley
All art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
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All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
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Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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THEIR SEDUCTRESS
The Hot Millionaires #1
ZARA CHASE
Copyright © 2012
Chapter One
“Can we get that for you, ma’am?”
“I can manage, thanks.”
Paige kept moving, waving aside the two overenthusiastic baggage handlers. It had taken half an hour for the blasted bag to appear on the carrousel. No way was she letting it go again just so she could ride the shuttle to the main terminal without dragging it along behind her. She could feel the two guys eyeing her butt as she wheeled her bag away and almost smiled for the first time in what felt like forever. It was good to know that the world outside her private grief was still functioning so predictably.
A large pair of sunglasses covered half of Paige’s face as she strode through the arrivals hall. They weren’t there to offset the fierce glare of the Floridian sun. She hadn’t stepped foot outside yet, and it could be pouring with rain for all she knew. The shades were to conceal eyes red-rimmed from crying. She had sobbed her way through the nine-hour transatlantic flight from London, oblivious to the stares from her fellow passengers and concerned offers of help from the flight attendants. She just wanted to be left alone to wallow in her misery.
Each time she thought about the reason for her unexpected trip, her breath caught in her throat, the hollow feeling in her gut spread to the rest of her body, and the tears went into free fall. Her boss, mentor, and dearest friend was gone from her life forever, snatched away in her prime, just like Doug had been. It felt as though everyone she cared about was being taken from her in the cruellest way imaginable. It felt personal, and Paige wasn’t sure she was strong enough to withstand the pain—not when she was still mourning the loss of Doug.
Tears of grief and self-pity leaked from the corners of Paige’s eyes, blurring her vision. Ellie hadn’t been struck down by an incurable illness, a traffic accident, or a heart attack. Paige might have come to terms with her loss if that had been the case. But this? Ms. Ellie Carter, flamboyant publicist, media darling, dominatrix extraordinaire, and widow of multimillionaire Greg Carter, had been brutally murdered in broad daylight in her own office.
Paige reached the bottom of the escalator at Tampa International Airport, sniffed back a fresh onset of tears, and looked about to see if she recognized anyone waiting there. Ellie’s lawyer had broken the terrible news over the phone before the media got wind of it, sent her a business-class ticket to Tampa, and told her she’d be met. That was all she knew. She would have come anyway, simply to attend the funeral, but she was now curious to know why Lawson needed her here.
“Ms. Fairfax, over here.”
Paige recognized the large black man in a chauffeur’s uniform pushing through the gaggle of people congregated just inside the automatic doors. He was from a firm that had often driven Ellie. What the hell was his name?
“Ms. Fairfax, it’s Paul.”
Of course. “Hello, Paul. Thanks for meeting me.”
“No problem.”
He took her bag and led her to the elevators. “We’re just up a few floors in the parking garage. Damned cops won’t let you stop even for a moment outside.”
“Airport security, what can I say?”
“Yeah, you’re right. Paranoid don’t begin to cover it.”
The elevator arrived, and Paige stepped inside, grateful for the distraction of Paul’s mindless chatter.
“It’s a dreadful thing,” he said, stowing Paige’s case in the trunk of a black Lincoln Town Car
and opening the rear door for her. “Ms. Carter being taken like that, I mean. We’re all, like, totally shocked. She was a real nice lady. Always had time for everyone.”
“Yes, she did.” Paige sank into the soft leather seat with a heavy sigh.
“Who’d wanna kill her?” Paul asked, steering the big car round the exit ramp and hitting the freeway. “It don’t make no sense.”
“No, it certainly doesn’t.” Paige closed her eyes. “Where are we going?” she asked.
“I was told to take you to Ms. Carter’s residence on St. Pete Beach.”
Paige had suspected as much. “I see. Is there anyone else there?”
“I wouldn’t know about that.”
Paige assumed that Nick would be around. He was the captain of Ellie’s yacht, amongst other things. Nick could turn his hand to just about anything and was trusted by Ellie to carry out all manner of negotiations for her that had little to do with the marine industry. Since the yacht was moored on Ellie’s private dock at the end of the garden and since Nick lived on that boat, where else would he be? Paige didn’t know if she was more reassured or agitated at the prospect of seeing him again. She blushed when she thought of the circumstances under which they’d last met, disgusted with herself when she felt dampness seeping through her panties. How could she even think about sex when her friend had just been brutally murdered?
“Mr. Lawson’s office asked me to pick you up and to tell you that Mr. Lawson will call to see you at the house the day after tomorrow.”
“Oh, I see.”
Why not tomorrow, she wanted to ask, frustrated by the thought of any delay. She urgently needed to grill Lawson and find out what was going on.
“They keep talking about the murder on the news. All the big networks are on it, but they don’t seem to know nothin’ new. All they keep sayin’ is that Ms. Carter was bludgeoned to death in her office during the lunch period two days ago.” Paige winced. “I ask you, how could that happen and nobody notices?”
“You’ve got me there, Paul.”
“If you ask me the police should—”
Paul continued to regale Paige with his opinions about the inefficiency of the police, the futility of the crime in question, and any other random thoughts that sprang into his head. Paige let him witter on, not bothering to dredge up answers because Paul clearly didn’t expect any.
Before she knew it they’d crawled through the homebound traffic and pulled up outside the palatial waterside home that Ellie had so loved. Paige glanced up at the familiar façade, remembering some of the good times she’d spent there with Ellie. The healing, the laughter, the tears. The sex. Nervous suddenly and filled with a strange premonition, Paige wanted to run away.
“Here we are then, miss.” Paul opened her door. Paige took a deep breath and swung her legs onto the ground. “I guess you’re expected,” he added when the front door opened.
Six foot of hard muscle sporting a shock of dirty-blond hair and piercing blue eyes dulled by grief stood in the aperture. Nick wore a pair of tight-fitting cutoff denims and, unless his habits had changed in the few weeks since she’d last seen him, nothing beneath them. His chest was bare, giving Paige an up-close view of that toned six-pack he worked so hard to maintain. He was tanned a deep brown with no lines anywhere to spoil the appearance. Nick wasn’t big on clothes.
“Paige.”
He held out his arms, and she threw herself into them, burying her head against that broad shoulder of his, tears ravaging her face once again. He ran his large hands up and down her back, soothing her like a child, muttering endearments until the tears finally abated.
“It’s okay, baby. We’ll get through this.”
“It’s not okay, Nick.” Paige wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Nothing will ever be all right ever again. Without Ellie I don’t think I can face—”
“Come on inside, and we’ll talk about it,” he said. “Put her case in the hall, Paul, and then you can be off.”
She stood feeling frail and alone whilst Nick detached himself and tipped Paul.
“Thanks, Ms. Fairfax,” he said, touching his cap and leaving quietly.
“Do they know anything yet?” Paige asked Nick when they were alone again.
“Nope. No one saw anything, no one heard anything—”
“How can that be possible?” Anger nudged Paige’s distress aside. “Dozens of people work there. I know it was lunchtime but surely—”
Paige became aware of a presence looming over her and stopped talking. She was strangely reluctant to turn her head and see who else was at the house. When she could no longer avoid doing so she thought she was hallucinating. Doug, her beloved Doug, stood there. Euphoria swept through her. She’d lost Ellie but regained Doug. Six foot two, thick black hair spilling across his collar, silver-gray eyes glinting with…Hell no, her mind was playing tricks on her. Doug was dead. Dead! Ellie was dead. Everyone who meant anything to her was dead. This had to be someone else.
“What the fuck’s she doing here?” demanded Isaac Drake, Doug’s twin brother.
Chapter Two
“That went well,” Nick said, glowering at Isaac and simultaneously holding on to Paige, like he really believed she was too weak to stand on her own two feet.
Isaac curled his upper lip, leaving his contemptuous expression to do the talking for him. All the while his eyes continued to bore into Paige Fairfax’s lovely profile, his anger in danger of spilling over. This was all he needed. Not only did he have to deal with the loss of Ellie when he was still grieving for his brother, but it appeared he was now supposed to be civil to the woman who was indirectly responsible for that brother’s death.
“Did you know she was coming?” he asked through tightly compressed lips. “You might have said, and I’d have made alternative arrangements.”
“You didn’t exactly give me a chance,” Nick shot back at him. “You only got here ten minutes ago and haven’t been off your phone since.”
“Yeah well, this place ain’t big enough for us all. I’ll be on my way.”
“Don’t leave on my account,” Paige said acerbically.
“Why else would I go?”
“Children, children!” Nick finally released Paige and waved his hands in the air in an exasperated gesture that silenced them both. “Just remember why we’re here.”
“Like I could forget,” Isaac muttered.
“Why are we here?” Paige asked. “All I know is that I got a call from Lawson breaking the devastating news, then an e-ticket arrived for a flight to Tampa, and Paul delivered me here. I have absolutely no idea why.”
“You and me both.” Isaac shot her an evil glare.
“Lawson’s coming to see us here tomorrow morning,” Nick said.
“Paul said the day after.”
“Why, got something more important to do first?” Isaac asked, tossing a caustic glance at Paige. “Fancy hitting the shops or something?”
“Go and bother someone else. I’m not in the mood.”
“Ellie’s instructions were quite specific, apparently,” Nick said. “She required the three of us to be here to meet him.”
“Typical Ellie,” Paige said, cracking the merest hint of a smile. “Dramatic and secretive even in death.”
“We owe it to her to stay under the same roof tonight without killing each other.” Nick threw a warning glare Isaac’s way. “Once we find out what Lawson wants with us, then we can move on.”
“Are you sleeping in the house?” Paige asked Nick.
“Yeah, babe, I’ll play referee.”
“Thanks, but I’m a big girl. I can—”
“No sweat. I’ve put you in the blue room. You know where it is?”
“Sure. I’ve used it before.”
He grinned, lightening the heavy atmosphere with an easy smile. “Like I could forget.”
She smiled back at Nick, reliving some shared experience that excluded Isaac. A bolt of pure jealousy that infuriated Isaac s
hot through him. He hated Paige for what she’d done to Doug. Hated her. If she had a history with Fuller, what was that to him?
“Hold that thought, Drake,” he muttered to himself, “and don’t let her looks get to you. She’s poison.”
“I’ll bring your bag up for you,” Nick said to Paige. “I’m right next door if you need me. Isaac’s down the corridor.”
“I know which door to avoid then,” she said in a sweetly sarcastic tone that made Isaac grind his teeth. She was the one in the wrong. She had no place goading him.
“Get freshened up, hun,” Nick said as he toted Paige’s bag up the sweeping staircase that led to a spectacular galleried landing overlooking the main living accommodation. “When you’re ready we’ll have a drink or six and something to eat.”
“The drinks sound good,” Isaac heard her say as she followed Nick up the stairs, “but I’m not so sure about food.”
Isaac watched her cute rear end as she ascended the stairs. Not because he wanted to but because he was a red-blooded male, and that was what red-blooded males did, regardless of how they felt about the owner of said butt. When she disappeared from view he stood in the magnificent lounge with its full-length windows directly overlooking the water, staring at the million-dollar view without seeing it, trying to make some sense out of this crazy situation. Ellie never did anything without a reason, but hell if he knew what she was up to this time.
“What is it with you two?” Nick asked when he returned, reaching for a bottle of bourbon. Why did Isaac get the impression that Nick already knew the answer to that? At a nod from him, Nick poured two healthy measures. If Isaac stood any chance of getting though this evening without putting his hands round Paige’s pretty little neck and throttling her, he’d need the temporary solace that only came from a bottle.