Read Her Three Entrepreneurs [The Hot Millionaires #8] for Free Online

asked. “And what are they doing here?”
    “Friends.”
    “What do they want?”
    For some reason that she couldn’t explain, Athena didn’t feel inclined to introduce the guys to George. His predatory stance had taken her by surprise, reinforcing the wariness that always intruded in her dealings with her grandfather’s employee. Had he always assumed he had some sort of responsibility for her, or was he just being protective in the absence of her grandfather? She supposed he had a right to be suspicious of strangers given what had occurred that day. Even so, she didn’t need his help and wasn’t prepared to let him dictate to her.
    “How’s the haymaking going?” she asked instead.
    “It’s all done.”
    “Max managed to fix the thresher then?”
    “Yeah, but I’m not sure it’ll hold up for next season.”
    That was the least of her worries right now. “Thanks then, George, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “I’m not leaving you here with this lot,” he said forcefully, folding his arms stubbornly across his chest. “Not after everything that’s gone on.”
    “We’re leaving anyway,” Bay said, draining his mug.
    Athena flashed him a grateful smile. She figured it wasn’t in any of the guys’ makeup to be told what to do. Fortunately they didn’t suffer from feelings of inferiority and chose to leave without engaging in an embarrassing pissing contest that George would have been bound to lose.
    “So am I. I’m going to see Gramps,” she said, ushering George in front of her through the door and actually locking it behind her. “Thanks again for today.”
    “I don’t like seeing you with this lot,” he said, rubbing his chin stubbornly.
    She touched his arm. “I’ll be fine.”
    “Did you notice?” Bay said to her as they stood outside and watched George climb into an old truck.
    “Notice what?”
    “He didn’t once ask after your grandfather. All he seemed to care about was you.”
    Marty nodded. “Makes you wonder, doesn’t it,” he said.
     
    * * * *
     
    Bay tried to make himself comfortable on a plastic chair in the hospital’s waiting area while Athena visited her grandfather. He was never going to succeed, and when his buttocks lost all feeling he gave up, taking a walk down the corridor to the vending machine. He got himself a can of soda and popped the tab, leaning against the wall as he sipped at it. All the while, he worried away at Athena’s problems, trying to figure out what they’d missed. There had to be something.
    He didn’t get far because the moment he thought about Athena, it got personal. The feel of her breast, pressed against his biceps as he held her while she cried. The scorching determination in her eyes when she learned of the bank manager’s duplicity earned his respect. Her apparent disinterest in the three of them—an unusual enough occurrence to get his attention—made her an irresistible challenge.
    Athena Lloyd was an intriguing mix of intelligence and susceptibility, sensuality and single-minded resourcefulness. He’d never met anyone quite like her before and was determined to get to know her better. He needed to satisfy his curiosity about her hidden depths, regardless of the outcome to her difficulties.
    After what seemed like an eternity, she appeared in the waiting area, brushing fresh tears from the corners of her eyes.
    “How is he?” Bay asked.
    “Sedated. They were right, he didn’t know I was there, but at least I got to talk to the doctor.”
    Bay placed a hand on the small of her back and guided her toward the exit. “What did he say?”
    “He wants to hold on to him for a couple of days more and run some tests.” She managed a weak smile. “He won’t like it, but I’ll tie him to the bed if necessary.”
    Funny, I’m having similar thoughts about you.
    “Did they say what they think is wrong?” Bay took her keys from between her slack fingers and opened the passenger door to her Jeep. “I’ll drive,” he said.