Blue Clouds by Patricia Rice Page B

to finish this blasted chapter, he was waiting on an important call from the printing plant in New Jersey, and now he’d have to drop everything and spend the day driving to L.A. and back.
    â€œI don’t have time,” he growled. “Check my schedule and make a new appointment. I can’t go today.”
    â€œYou don’t need to go.” Impatience edged her voice. “Chad’s perfectly safe with us. I’ve turned on the voice mail, Nana will screen the calls at noon and pass any important messages to you with your lunch. I’ll type your chapter when we return this afternoon. Let it go, Wyatt.” Looking up at him, she tapped her foot with undisguised annoyance.
    He narrowed his eyes. He could throw her over his shoulder and heave her into the pool, he supposed, but she didn’t appear in the least concerned about her fate. Damned defiant little autocrat.
    Seth gritted his teeth and tried to summon all the caustic words he knew, but he stopped short.
    Amazed, he realized he was actually relieved that he didn’t have to go. He hadn’t had an entire day to himself since Chad’s birth, and certainly not since the accident.
    â€œChad hates doctors,” he called as guilt made him pause.
    â€œUnderstandably,” she agreed. “But I told him we’re going to Universal Studios afterward. He’ll get up and walk there if I don’t hurry.”
    Deflated, unable to argue with her logic, but fighting this separation from his son every step of the way, Seth shoved his hands into his pockets and glowered at the gleaming Rolls in the drive. “That car will break down before it gets halfway there.”
    â€œI’ll call your mother and have her send her driver,” she promised maliciously.
    â€œYou even have her eating out of your hand,” he muttered disagreeably. “If I asked for her driver, she’d insist she had to go shopping first.”
    Pippa smiled, and this time Seth was convinced the look in her eye was malicious.
    â€œShe has to go through me to reach you. I’ll have her sending me Godivas before the week’s out. I told you I was good.”
    Too damned good for his own good, Seth agreed silently, looking anywhere but at Pippa’s cheerful countenance. He understood women who whined and complained and flirted easier than he understood this willful leprechaun. What the hell was her agenda anyway? Everyone had one.
    But he couldn’t find hers. He’d had Dirk check to make certain she wasn’t one of Natalie’s minions, but Dirk hadn’t been able to verify that she’d flown here from Kentucky as she’d said. Natalie could possibly have hired her as a spy. He needed to be wary. Still, the personnel officer for the previous employer had waxed enthusiastic over her former employee, and he’d found no connection to Natalie anywhere.
    â€œI want a report before you leave the doctor’s office,” he informed her. “Call my private line.”
    â€œAye, aye, Captain.” Before he could halt her with further admonitions, she dashed out the door and down the steps.
    The silence of the house echoed in his ears as the car rolled away.
    For the first time in six years, he was totally alone.
    The eerie silence gave him an idea.
    Feeling sinfully free, Seth hurried down to his office and his favorite Mont Blanc pen.
    ***
    â€œAnd there was this monster tyrannosaurus! With blood dripping from its teeth. And we rode...”
    Seth tuned out his son’s excited chatter. The boy was wound so tight, Seth was amazed he didn’t spring right out of his chair.
    â€œDid the doctor give you anything to sedate him?” he asked wryly, directing his question toward his assistant , who was transcribing messages from his voice mail.
    â€œPhysical exercise,” she murmured absently.
    Chad growled, emulating a dinosaur and rattling his chair in accompaniment.
    Physical exercise, right,