1-Chloe-Kate-Bella Read online

  Catherine North sat at a desk to the side, reading through the pages, her head shaking. She leaned back a few minutes later, glancing around at her friends.

  “He’s a snake with an office. But…on the upside, we have the key word he used on her. Evidently he programmed her to respond to that word, in turn, doing everything ordered by Stephen Wetherly until the cancellation word was used, the same word again.”

  “Revenge against his father…first for making him adopt Chloe then for keeping the company out of his hands,” Kate leaned against the wall and slid to the floor.

  “Simple and sweet, yes,” Bella pulled her phone out and looked at the latest pictures from Chloe. “She’s safe….Simon blocked her father on the phone and they have another week in Europe.”

  “Can it be undone?” Kate asked the question everyone wanted an answer to.

  “I’m not an expert on hypnosis,” Catherine admitted. “But I can find us one. Give me a couple days to work on it. As usual, ladies…you definitely liven up my life.”

  Kate, Bella and Nyssa watched her leave the loft office. Then they turned on each other. They knew what they were thinking. Kate closed her eyes and pulled out her phone.

  “Alright. We start by talking to Simon. Let him break the information to Chloe,” she said quietly, tapping the number he’d given her and waiting patiently.

  Leaning back on the lounge chair, sipping an icy glass of licorice flavored drink, Simon Oliver lifted the phone with the slow ease of someone on vacation.

  “Hello, Kate…how’s rainy Seattle?”

  “Oh, you know…foggy, mostly…how’s Chloe?” She asked, working her way to the topic.

  “Scaling the side of a cliff face overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The only thing saving my sanity, is she’s wearing a safety wire,” Simon said flatly, looking over and watching the brilliantly colored shorts climbing the rock face.

  “That’s our Chloe.”

  “You didn’t call to check on us, Kate. I know you better than that,” he said simply. “What happened?”

  It was thirty minutes later when Simon closed the phone and slid it back into his pocket. He’d been glad when Chloe impulsively jumped into the ocean, forgetting she had her phone in her pocket. It now sat somewhere on the ocean floor. But now he found himself doubly glad. He drained the frosted glass and stared at the stark beauty of the blue sea around them for a long, long time.

  Sam entered the cottage, fingers up and pulling his tie free. He’d spent the afternoon with two separate corporate human relations people wanting to book the lodge for seminars. Negotiating with them had been interesting. He knew what comparable places around town charged and he knew what Bella wanted to achieve. She received tax breaks because of her training status and could afford to undercut. It still amazed him how simple and profitable her business plan was.

  “I just talked to Jerry,” Sam crossed the room and stood behind her. She’d been staring at the trails leading behind the lodge and around the lake. His hands settled on her waist.

  “I like them. Amy will make a great store manager,” Bella leaned into the strong arms, closing her eyes and sighing. A soft, contented sigh.

  “Do you think we should have talked about that? The gift shop…”

  “I’d been planning it for several months. I just wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to put in it,” she explained simply. “Amy helped me with that. Divided into thirds, coffee shop, flowers and gifts. We’re going to show case some nice local crafts people.”

  “You won’t consider a partnership?” Sam felt the tension when she moved to face him.

  “Why is it important?” Bella drew her tongue around her lips, gazing at him thoughtfully. She had an idea why…not that he was accustomed to being a boss, but more he didn’t like being treated as “just” an employee in her eyes. Not since things had altered more than a bit in their personal lives.

  Sam blinked in surprise. He’d expected an argument. He’d expected a protective stance about it being ‘hers’ and ‘hers’ alone. So much for in-depth manager training, his brain responded sarcastically.

  “There are times we won’t agree on something, Sam. An equal partnership would only bring tension to us, as a couple. I…I’m not sure you understand that I don’t want this lodge to be just a money making operation.”

  “This is your way of trying to change lives,” Sam said slowly, recalling the many conversations he’d listened to between the three women. He mentally smacked himself. It was never about having power over him as owner to manager. Not for Bella.

  “The kids from the vo-tech schools…rarely do they come from safe, loving homes. Rarely do they have self-confidence or self-esteem. They’ve had the will to dream beaten out of them sometimes. This is the kind of place they need to learn in, the kind of place they need to be mentored in. A place where it’s okay to have wild dreams and goals and no one will demean you for them,” Bella raised her palm slowly, drawing one finger down along his jaw. “Do you remember being that age? All the obstacles well-meaning adults threw at you, but never took the time to actually listen to you?”

  “I want to sign up for some counseling classes with the university,” he said slowly, his hands settling on her waist and urging her closer. “I’ve had talks with two of the kids already. I…I had no idea I was being seen as a mentor until then.”

  “That’s why, for the moment, I don’t have individual managers, Sam,” Bella offered a slightly crooked smile. “I’m not sure I knew how to explain my intent here when you first…barged in and took over.”

  “I didn’t…alright, I might have,” he admitted reluctantly.

  “I’m not sure you need classes, but that’s your choice. I know there’s a natural mentor inside you, I’ve seen it when you talk in the staff meetings. These kids aren’t the professionals you’re accustomed to, but I think a lot of them have aspirations and incredibly good instincts,” Bella began trailing a series of kisses along his jaw. “I believe a lot of them want to please and want to succeed. Someone just has to believe in them. And even more importantly, I have to be very careful the people I choose because they’ll want to be like them.”

  “You’re distracting me,” he murmured, the heavy feeling growing in his groin when her teeth nipped lightly on his throat.

  “You don’t seem to mind,” she answered, fingers lightly tripping the buttons of his shirt open. “I love the feel of you…your scent…you’re so warm to touch.”

  “You have an incredible effect on my temperature,” his hands stayed at her waist, but his feet began moving them towards the bedroom. He liked their living area, but not the idea of making out in front of thick large glass windows.

  “Hmm…can I help it if you’re intoxicating?” Bella stepped out of her heels at the bedside, her fingers toying with the buckle of his belt.

  A low growl left his lips when her fingers closed over an erection that went immediately rigid at her touch. He stepped back, feet kicking his shoes off and hands working the tiny buttons on the front of her blouse. He had some thought in the distance that one day, he’d show her the finesse of their lovemaking. Then she touched him, and it all flew out the window.

  “What the hell…” Sam’s body froze as she stood up and slid the pencil skirt down her long legs. “Since when…” He knew his brain glazed over at the sight of the corset beneath her clothes.

  “I bought it as a surprise…kind of to celebrate our two weeks together,” Bella offered a cheeky grin and turned slowly, enjoying the groan deep in his throat at the backside view. “You like?”

  Sam was vaguely aware that his hand had closed on the foil packet. He felt the padded bench seat in front of the window against his kne
es. Her hands were hot against his flesh, the sensations coursing through him wild and alive. She took the packet from him, groaning when her fingers closed around him. Softly teasing, her fingers stroked and were followed with the heat of her mouth. He knew he’d stopped breathing. His head went back to thump against the window. His fingers clenched in the loose blond hair, not holding, not forcing but when her mouth touched him in the most intimate way, he gave himself over to the lightening crashing around them in the darkness.

  He heard her whisper against his body, felt her breath and lost himself to the simple request.

  “Come for me,” she ordered, gentle fingers tightening and her tongue teasing him, swallowing his explosion and taking a great feminine pride in the long, drawn out masculine cry of triumph.

  Bella straightened slowly, sheathed him with the condom and climbed onto his lap, hot searing moisture paved his way into the snug, demanding grotto.

  Sam gripped her hips, groaning anew when she set a pace. Plunging slightly and backing off, riding him and bringing his body awake despite all odds. He helped her breasts free of the top of the corset, capturing one swollen nipple between his teeth and suckling while his other hands strummed over the swollen, taut clitoris. He felt her body tense, felt her shove herself hard against him; felt himself buried deeply within her and heard both their cries of release.

  Somehow, Sam managed to move when she slipped carefully from his lap. One eye opened and watched the twitching behind head into the bathroom. He felt part of his body twitch in response, ignored it and followed her after he heard the shower start. A soft humming came from inside the mass of steam. A pleasant sound that brought a smile to his face as he found his jeans and shirt.

  He was bare foot and pulling food from the fridge when she wandered into the kitchen, fingers bundling up her hair and wearing one of those simple sweater dresses she liked. He was afraid to ask what was underneath it. Despite what his body was telling him, he knew there were limitations.

  “I have to ask…”

  “Yes?” Bella dropped ice in her glass and filled it with water for a long, slow swallow. “You’re wondering if that seduction was to distract you from the topic of the evening.”

  “Was it?”

  “Actually, that seduction was simply because I find you intellectually and physically appealing to the feminine side of me,” Bella laughed at the blank look on his face. She sat back on one of the high stools, head cocked in thought. “Okay…so here’s my counter proposal, Sam Franklin. I’ve been running things since inception. I am working on…on adjusting my thinking and behavior…I honestly do not know what I should and should not discuss with another person before I proceed.”

  “Huh…” Sam pulled a stool across from her and began eating the potato salad.

  “Did every owner talk to you about every change they wanted to implement?” She asked carefully, choosing another container and fork, munching on the cold sweet and sour chicken bits. Crunchy peppers and pineapple disappeared hungrily.

  “My main issue is I don’t want to be blind-sided,” he responded honestly. “We have to provide a united front to the employees.”

  “But neither one of us would like that. So…how do we proceed? There are bound to be times where one of us is just too busy to remember to mention something that’s in the works. Perhaps the key here is for us to learn not to take it personally, and be honest. That it isn’t about power or control, it’s about what’s best for the staff and lodge.”

  “Sometimes, Miss Jeffries…you are too smart to be believed,” Sam met her smile across the counter. “It’s about our trust for each other,” he added easily.

  “I really don’t see it as a problem. If you stop and think about it, you’re getting the staff trained to turn to you with all the issues of the lodge. Unless it has to do with the kitchen and dining area. Slowly all past commitments or issues I’ve made will come to a stop and things will move forward. The main issue then will be you consulting me about changes,” Bella swung one leg slowly. “Yes, it is about trust.”

  “As a well-trained manager accustomed to handling owners,” Sam came slowly around the counter, watching the gleam of interest in her eyes.

  “Handling?”

  “A far reaching term,” he assured her seriously. “I will do my best not to over step my boundaries,” he traced one finger along the column of her throat. “Two week anniversary, huh?”

  “Hmm…”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Sam had seen Kate and Dylan arrived shortly before nine, greeting Bella and going with her into the dining area. He was walking to join them when Chloe and Simon entered, looking disgustingly tanned for the onset of fall in the northwest.

  “Hi, Sam!” Chloe waved and bounced past to the dining area.

  He poured some coffee and pulled a chair to the large table, watching the women closely. Something was off, he decided, a dark look in Kate’s eyes that was hard to miss. Especially when Chloe was handing out souvenirs.

  And Simon, Sam decided, looked very uncomfortable.

  Kate leaned over the table during a lull in the conversation, glaring pointedly at Simon.

  “You didn’t tell her.” The words were pushed between her teeth one at a time.

  “It was a little tough to work it into the honeymoon conversation that her father was a bona fide control freak, piss poor father and over all disgusting human being!” Simon hissed back, suddenly aware of the eyes on them.

  Chloe had seen and felt the tension. In Simon towards the end of their trip and in the lodge, with her friends. She leaned back in her chair, her gaze sliding from one to the other. Hands went up, palms out and one brow arched expectantly.

  “Okay…so that’s nothing new. What is going on, guys? The tension in this room is giving me a headache.”

  Bella stood up slowly. “I think we should go in the office. Seriously, Chloe.” She moved toward the back, stopping at the desk to speak to June. “If an Isabel Braden shows up, send her to my office.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Chloe looked around the room at them once and then once again, stopping on Simon. “What were you supposed to tell me?”

  Kate and Bella exchanged looks.

  “We had a kind of break through while you were gone, Chloe,” Bella began slowly.

  Simon picked up speaking with a long breath.

  “Four years ago when you were in your father’s house, he claimed he had a doctor come visit you. Well, Nyssa looked through his financials and he did, but it wasn’t about food poisoning. It was a hypno-therapist.”

  Chloe stared at him for several long, quiet minutes before she pushed up from the sofa, pacing the large office, digesting the words she had heard.

  Simon expected her hands to be flying through the air and it made him very nervous that they simply hung at her side.

  “Chloe…I don’t know how to…how to NOT want to protect you.”

  “A hypno-therapist,” she repeated quietly, narrowed lashes watching Kate and Bella closely, slim fingers curling into tight fists at her side. “Do you know who?”

  “We know who and we got your medical records from his office,” Kate said. “You were right about there being a missing piece. Something to explain Wetherly’s behavior, his confidence and even arrogance when it came to his ability to retain control of the company.”

  “You were his secret weapon, Chloe,” Bella said gently.

  “He programmed me?” Her voice came out in a low, low hiss. “Like a…a machine? A robot?”

  “Chloe, he used you. Your grandfather evidently made it clear that he wasn’t leaving his shares to him and he used you to work ar
ound that,” Bella stated quietly, her heart aching when she saw the glistening behind the pale lashes.

  “He programmed me?” She repeated, her head shaking in amazement. Simon moved to her side, leading her to the sofa and holding her against him for only a moment before she shot to her feet, turned and disappeared out the side door.

  Simon was up and headed for the door at the same time as Kate and Bella.

  “No, she’s mine now…I’ll take care of her, I promise,” he said softly, striding after Chloe.

  He didn’t call out to her. He saw her enter the temporary ballroom and went in very quietly after her. A bit of his heart cracked when he heard the gentle sobbing hidden among the many plants and temporary trees.

  She was on one of the large stone benches, knees drawn up and arms wrapped around them. Her face was turned toward the fall colors outside the windows but he knew she wasn’t seeing a thing past the sense of betrayal she felt inside.