For some reason Hailey didn’t want to put a name to, she suddenly became hot and breathless. She ridiculed herself for acting as juvenile as Faith.
“It may be crazy to you, Mr. Scott, but to an impressionable, sensitive girl Faith’s age, it would have been devastating to … to show herself to you.”
“I’m her father,” he said, his impatience with female logic apparent.
“Even so, Mr. Scott. I know it’s hard for you to understand, but please try. Faith is very upset. She’s afraid you’ll be angry with her.”
He cursed under his breath and flung himself down on the sofa again. He stroked his stubborn chin several times with a frustrated hand. He was a man striving to understand something he had no experience of. When he looked up at Hailey again, she saw something softening in his steely gray eyes. “I guess I overreacted as violently as Faith.”
Hailey treated him to a real smile. “That’s understandable. Forgive me, but I asked Faith about her mother. She told me that you have recently lost your wife.”
“She wasn’t my wife.” Seeing Hailey’s sudden loss of color and the stunned expression on her face, he clarified his remark. “She was my wife when Faith was born, but we were divorced soon after. Faith lived with her mother all that time. Monica was killed in a boating accident several months ago and Faith came to live with me.” His hard mouth slanted in a self-deprecating smile. “I’m still learning about parenting, you see.”
Hailey glanced down at her hands, then shyly back up at him. “Single-parenting is an unenviable job for anyone. Under the circumstances I can see why you and Faith both would have adjustments to make.”
Why was she talking to this man so candidly about such a personal subject? Still, he had initiated it, hadn’t he? Dare she give him one more word of unasked-for advice? “Please remember one thing, there is nothing more patience-taxing, sensitive, or emotionally delicate than an adolescent girl.”
His thick brows lowered over eyes sparkling now with mischief. “Except an adolescent boy trying to make a move on an adolescent girl.”
Dark lashes momentarily screened Hailey’s green eyes. A blush colored her cheeks, so recently pale, with flattering color. Rather than meet his probing eyes, she turned back to the typewriter and, in a no-nonsense voice, said, “I must get back to my office, but first I have to complete this form.” She set the proper margin on the typewriter, then inquired tersely, “Your full name?”
“Scott. Tyler Scott.”
Her hands froze on the keys. Her mouth went as dry as cotton. Her heart leaped into her throat. Her whole body shook with a slight tremor.
In her peripheral vision she saw Tyler Scott get up off the sofa and walk around the desk to stand directly in front of her. Her upraised eyes took in the designer belt at his waist, his long, tapering torso, and impressive chest, the tanned column of his throat.
When her eyes locked with his as he stared down at her, she quailed under his triumphant expression. “That’s right, Miss Ashton,” he said softly. “I own this place.”
CHAPTER 2
The accident report form was ripped out of the typewriter without the benefit of the paper release. With an accuracy that would have made Wilt Chamberlain applaud, the viciously balled-up paper was sent sailing through the air into the dead center of a metal trash can.
“I think we can dispense with the mandatory report this time, don’t you, Miss Ashton?” he asked coolly. “After all, the accident forms eventually wind up on my desk and I already know the details of this incident. I hardly think 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 w
alk 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.”