Seduction by Design Read Free Page B

Serendipity can be held responsible for the actions of one lone bee, who was only doing what comes naturally to bees. I will, however, see that the flowering shrubs are sprayed one more time before the park closes for the season to prevent something like this from happening again.”
    As he talked, he paced around the office, hands in his pockets, studying with infinite interest the posters and notices tacked to the wall. Hailey sat petrified at the typewriter. What had she said to this man? Had she been rude? Yes, she had been. She had deliberately withheld information about his daughter. She had made him walk all the way from the Sidewinder to the center of the compound. God, she’d be lucky to have her job this time tomorrow. He might fire her right now.
    “What I
do
have to consider carefully, however, is how my employees responded to an emergency situation. I’d be derelict in my responsibility to Serendipity’s guests if I didn’t, wouldn’t I?”
    For the first time since he had identified himself, Hailey spoke, and her voice was little more than a croak. “Yes, you would,” she agreed dismally. Here it comes, she thought. He’ll either chew me out and put me on probation or he’ll dismiss me outright.
But he’d been damned provoking!
she defended herself righteously.
    Bracing herself for his lecture, she was surprised when he went toward the door of the treatment room and tapped lightly. “Faith? Are you all right now? I’m still waiting for that ride on the Sidewinder.”
    The door opened and a chagrined Faith walked out. Tyler Scott smiled at her gently and chucked her under the chin. “Hi. You had me worried. Are you feeling better now?”
    “Yes, Daddy. I’m sorry I acted so dumb. I was too … I mean … It was …”
    “No need to explain. Miss Ashton has done that for you. Thank her now, and let’s go. Unless you want to spend the rest of the day in the infirmary,” he teased.
    “No.” Faith giggled. She looked like she might reach around her father’s waist and hug him, but she didn’t. Instead, she turned to Hailey, who was still seated in the chrome and plastic chair with the squeaky casters as if she had been fixed there permanently.
    “Thank you, Hailey. Gee, I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come along. You’re super.”
    “Thank
you
for the compliment. I’m glad I was available. Do you think your stings will hurt you anymore before you get home?”
    “No, they don’t hurt at all.”
    “Watch them for swelling or additional redness. Some insect bites can be serious.” Hard as it was, she faced the flinty eyes that she could feel boring into her. “You may want to pick up some kind of analgesic ointment for her, Mr. Scott.”
    “Very good advice, Miss Ashton. What kind?”
    Hastily she scribbled the name of a salve on a piece of paper and extended it to him. Instead of taking the paper, his strong fingers wrapped around her wrist. “I’ll be in touch,” he said in a low, threatening voice. For emphasis, his thumb stroked upward and pressed the center of her palm. It wasn’t until he had taken the slip of paper with his other hand, that her wrist was freed.
    “Faith?” He opened the door and ushered his daughter out into the heat while Hailey shivered with a cold foreboding.
    How could she have made such an atrocious blunder? From the first time she saw Tyler Scott, he had irritated her. She
had
been rude to him. She
had
taken a perverse pleasure in increasing his anxiety. She
had
felt a smug satisfaction at making him walk when there was plenty of room for him to ride in the golf cart. Spitefulness didn’t usually characterize Hailey Ashton.
    She wrote the nurse a note explaining briefly what had happened and left the infirmary. Should she call the other department heads and warn them that their employer was in the park? No. She had already gotten Mr. Scott’s ire up. Until she heard from him, she’d keep a low profile and only hope that her