The MD's Mistress / The Money Man's Seduction. Leslie LaFoy
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anxious gaze also fixed on Becca. “She overdid it, didn’t she?”
“What else?” Seth’s tone was wry. “I believe she thinks she’s indestructible…but…” He hesitated before adding, “She was magnificent.”
Becca blinked her eyes open. “I was no such thing,” she protested, scowling at him. “I didn’t perform the surgery.”
“Surgery?” Sue jumped on the word. “John performed surgery on the boy?”
Becca shook her head. “No, no, Sue. Seth did it, although John was prepared to do it.”
“But John’s not a surgeon!” Sue said.
“That’s why I did it,” Seth inserted. “I am a surgeon. But John would have tried.”
“Of course he would,” Sue agreed. “John is a devoted, caring…” The ringing of the phone stopped her cold. “I’ll get it,” she said, turning away.
“Is there any coffee, Sue?” Becca called after her. “I think I need a shot of caffeine.”
“Yes,” Sue called back. “I made a pot for lunch, but I’ll make a fresh pot as soon—”
“No, I’ll get it,” Becca said, interrupting.
“No, I’ll get it,” Seth interrupted Becca. “You stay here and rest. Where’s the kitchen?”
“Follow me,” Sue said from the dining room. “That’s where I’m going.”
“But…” Becca started to rise.
“Sit down and behave yourself,” Seth ordered, in his most I’m-the-boss tone, as he strode after the housekeeper.
Watching the back of his retreating form, Becca began to simmer. That…that…man, she thought. Who the hell did he think he was? Well, she continued in her mental rant, she wasn’t about to let him order her around. She no longer worked for him. He was not her boss.
Carefully rising, Becca stood still a moment. When her head didn’t whirl, or her stomach rebel, she smiled. Moving slowly, she took one step, then another. Ha! She could walk just fine. Take that, Mister-Big-Deal-I’m-The-Man-Surgeon.
Feeling proud of herself, which she admitted to herself was pretty childish, Becca sauntered through the dining room to the kitchen. Seth was standing at the countertop, pouring coffee into two mugs.
“You take orders much better in the O.R.,” he grumbled, turning to carry the mugs to the table.
“But we’re not in the O.R.,” Becca said, calmly, seating herself, “are we?”
He raised his incredible amber eyes.
She met his steady stare head-on.
Standoff?
“Doesn’t matter,” he said, after a long moment. Turning, he went to the fridge to get milk. “Considering your condition, I’m still in command.” Giving her a wry smile, he set the carton of milk on the table. “Do you use sugar?” As if he didn’t know.
“No, and what do you mean by my condition?” Becca asked, stunned by his blatant assumption. “What condition?” she stormed, in attack mode. “I’m a little tired. I’ll be fine. In fact, I’m feeling better already.” She pulled a cheery smile, but felt it didn’t quite come off. “That’s all there is to it. End of story.”
During their strained exchange, Becca could hear Sue talking on the phone, even though she couldn’t make out her words. Then she heard Sue cradle the instrument.
“Becca…I have sandwiches and a salad prepared and in the fridge for lunch,” Sue said in a rush as she approached the table. “And a chicken vegetable pie ready to go into the oven for supper.” She hesitated, smiled and rushed on. “Dr. Carter wants to see me…would it be all right with you if I went out for the night?”
Becca was already nodding her head, a smile shadowing her lips, certain Sue’s sudden attack of nerves could be attributed to John’s invitation…for the night, perhaps? The shadow materialized into a real smile at the thought. She had guessed Sue and John were interested in each other, and both were tiptoeing around making a bold move.
“Of course, I don’t mind. I’m tired, Sue, not half-dead. I’ll be fine.”
“Oh, thanks, sweetie.” Sue actually beamed. “I’ll just get my purse and—”
“Sue, wait a moment, please,” Seth said, interrupting her. “Before you leave, can you direct me to the closest motel or rooming house?”
“Rooming house!” Sue exclaimed. “Motel? I’ll do no such thing.” She swept the area with one arm. “Here’s this big house, and you’re thinking rooming house? Becca has the master suite down here, but there are four empty bedrooms upstairs.” She paused to breathe.
Becca jumped in. “Uh, Sue, I don’t think—”
“Now don’t tell me the owner will mind, honey,” Sue interrupted. “What that rich man doesn’t know won’t be hurting anyone.”
She glanced at Seth, who, to Becca’s way of thinking, appeared much too innocent-looking. “Now, before I leave, you go right out and get your gear from the car, then I’ll show you the place and you can take your pick of the rooms…all with their own bathroom, I might add.”
“Well…if you insist.”
Becca gritted her teeth at the humble note in his voice.
“I do.” Sue gave a definite nod of her head. “No, we do. Don’t we, Becca?”
No! Becca kept her lips tightly closed to contain the word of denial from bursting out of her mouth. “Yes,” she agreed, not too graciously. “We do.”
Seth smiled.
Had Becca been closer to him she might have smacked that victorious smile from his face. Wanting only to put some distance between them before she did something rash like face-smacking, she said, “Why don’t you get your bags so Sue can be on her way?”
He nodded, smile still in place. “Right.” Moving smartly, he headed for the door.
Becca heaved a soft sigh of relief. Still, Sue heard it. “You’re still tired. Why don’t you lie down for a bit? The sandwiches and salad will keep.”
“I’m fine, honestly.” This time Becca’s smile was genuine. “I promise if I start to feel any worse, I’ll rest.”
Sue smiled back. “Okay, and it might help if you’d eat a little something.”
“That sounds good to me,” Seth chimed in, strolling into the kitchen, suitcase in hand. “I haven’t eaten since early this morning.”
Hanging on to her fraying composure, Becca rose from the table, carrying the still full coffee cup. “Okay, you get settled in and I’ll serve lunch.”
“Good,” Sue said, heading for the archway into the dining room. “Follow me, Seth. I’m sure Mr. Moneybags won’t mind how long you stay.”
Oh, hell…hell…hell! Becca railed to herself. Just stay as long as you like, Seth. Have yourself a great time driving Becca to distraction.
Fuming, she dumped the now cold, bitter coffee into the sink and fixed a fresh pot. While the coffee brewed, she set about slapping place mats and napkins on the table, followed by plates for the sandwiches and small wooden bowls for the salads. She was setting the large bowl of mixed vegetable salad onto the table when Sue hurried back into the room.
“Seth will be down in a minute,” she said, grabbing her purse and heading for the door. “I’ll be leaving now…okay?”
“Yes, of course—go, Sue.” Becca made