Her Three Entrepreneurs [The Hot Millionaires #8] (10 page)

“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.

“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.”

“She was suspicious of me and seemed awfully interested to learn who attacked your grandfather.”

“Well, I guess even she has some finer feelings. Don’t read anything more into it than that. She’s never shown much interest in the farm and has nothing to gain from it if it’s sold.”

“Well, at least we know where she is now. I prefer my suspects to be in one place.”

“How can she be a suspect?”

“No idea,” he said, grimacing. “Yet.”

“How’s your grandfather?” Marty asked, sliding into a seat opposite Bay and Athena in the café close to the hospital, where they’d agreed to meet.

“They’re keeping him in,” she said, “and he’s not happy about it.” She gulped, stirring her coffee so frantically that it slopped over the edge of the mug. “He has a linear skull fracture.”

“Which is good, as skull fractures go,” Marty assured her. “It’s the least serious type and will fix itself over time.”

“Yes, but he has a blood clot on his brain, which is what concerns his doctors.”

“Don’t worry too much, sweetheart.” Marty gently removed the spoon from her fingers, before she could distribute the entire contents of her coffee mug over the plastic tablecloth. “Not if they aren’t doing surgery.”

“They’re putting him on anticoagulant drugs and are monitoring his situation. They’re worried that if the clot doesn’t disburse it might cause a stroke.”

“They would be,” Bay said, “but if they don’t feel the need to operate, then there’s no immediate cause for concern.”

Marty examined her features, which were taut with worry. But there was something else there, lurking beneath her discomposure. Marty had seen eyes glowing that way too often to doubt the reason for it, and flashed an enquiring glance Bay’s way. He responded with a smug half smile that told Marty all he needed to know. Not that he should have doubted it. Bay alone with an attractive female all night was only ever going to end one way. The thing was, would he and Dex get to play, too? Bay’s smile broadened and he nodded, just once.

Way to go!
Marty’s dick stood to attention, and his eyes lingered on the outline of Athena’s impressive tits through the fabric of her top. Marty was a breast man through and through, and the prospect of getting his hands on Athena’s tempting assets had now passed from fantasy status to downright urgent.

“No, that’s what the doctor told me,” she said, staring through the window, her eyes suspiciously moist, “but I can’t help fearing the worst. Gramps is no longer young.”

“He’s in the right place,” Marty said, covering her hand with his own.

“How did you get on at the bank?” Bay asked in an abrupt change of subject.

“Dex’ll be here any minute. I’ll tell you then, save going over it twice.”

Marty had no sooner said the words than Dex burst through the door, scattering envious female glances in his wake as he made for their table.

“Hey.” He leaned in to kiss Athena’s brow. “How’s your granddad?”

Athena repeated the dispiriting news about her grandfather’s condition.

“Tell us about the bank,” Bay said when she ran out of words.

“In a word, it was interesting.” Marty pushed his chair back so that he could cross one booted foot over his opposite thigh. “It’s left me with a lot of unanswered questions, and grave suspicions about Jennings. He was businesslike to start with and keen to attract our business. Then I mentioned that our organisation was in final negotiations with your grandfather to purchase Blackridge Farm, Athena, and he couldn’t hide his surprise.”

“Well, he wouldn’t,” Athena reasoned. “Gramps tells him everything.”

“But it was more than just surprise,” Marty said contemplatively. “I’d say he was definitely worried about a deal that ought to have made him salivate. I mean, the bank would stand to profit twice over if it handled the funds for the purchase on our side and then dealt with the proceeds on your grandfather’s behalf.”

“There wouldn’t be much left, once we’d discharged our debts to the bank.” Athena frowned. “Anyway, that makes no sense. Jennings being worried, I mean.”

“Even so, I went with my gut,” Marty said. “I figured that if I’d rattled his cage, if he’s somehow involved in what’s happened to your granddad, then he wouldn’t be in it alone. He just didn’t seem the type. Anyway, I left the bank and waited outside. Jennings came out ten minutes later and made straight for the local pub.”

“I expect he takes lunch there,” Athena said. “Most people do. It’s about the only place in the village that does decent food.”

“No, he didn’t have food on his mind,” Marty said. “Besides, it was too early for lunch. The good thing about old English pubs is the low ceilings and dark corners. He didn’t see me follow him in, partly because he didn’t look at anyone else in the place.”

“Too self-obsessed,” Bay suggested.

“Probably. Anyway, it looked like he was waiting for someone, and a few minutes later another guy came in, all suited and booted. They spoke in low voices for about ten minutes. Whatever they were talking about, it required lots of hand waving and gesticulation. It was more of a disagreement than a conversation, from the looks of things. I couldn’t get close enough to hear what they said, but I did manage to get a picture of the other guy when he left the pub.” He produced his cell phone and showed Athena the picture. “Any idea who he is, babe?”

Athena studied the picture carefully. “Not a clue,” she said. “Don’t think I’ve ever seen him before.”