Right by Her Side Read Online Free Page B

‘we’?”
    â€œIt’s the royal ‘we,’” she replied. “Because you’re a royal pain in the patoot.”
    He would have laughed, but he didn’t like giving her the satisfaction. Instead, he stalked past her.
    â€œWhere are you going, your majesty?” she called out.
    â€œHuman Resources. To get the necessary forms to have you fired.”
    â€œWithout me, you couldn’t find Human Resources, let alone fill out one of their forms.”
    â€œShrew.” He strode into the hall.
    â€œDespot.”
    Still moving, he raised his voice, determined to get in the last word. “Nag.”
    Her response reached his ears, anyway. “Oligarch.”
    That one stopped him. He retraced his steps and poked his head into her sanctum. “Oligarch? That’s good. That’s very good.”
    Claudine’s smile was smug. “Of course I am.”
    He snorted, then started to move off again.
    â€œTrent?” Claudine again.
    But this time her tone lacked its usual caustic edge, causing him to backtrack once more to meet her gaze. “Is something the matter?”
    â€œThat was my question.” Her eyes were serious, her expression kind. “Is there a problem I can help you with? All of us in Admin talked over lunch and we realize something’s bothering you. We’d…well, we’d like to help if we can.”
    Oh, hell. If Admin was talking about him… Next thing he knew, his competitors would get wind of hislack of focus and use it against the company. When he found himself distracted, then doodling, then drawing the concern of his domineering assistant and her henchmen, it was time to take a new tack in the negotiations.
    He sighed. “Cover for me, will you, Claudine? I might be out a couple of hours.”
    It was time to confront Rebecca Holley and demand—in concise, clear terms—what he wanted from her.
    Problem was, Trent thought a short car ride later, it was going to be hard to make any kind of demand to a woman sitting on the floor with a baby in her lap and a bigger kid hanging around her neck. Peering around a large poster announcing a children’s health fair in the hospital parking lot the following weekend, he watched her through the glass door leading into the crowded playroom on the Pediatrics floor. After another minute, though, he pushed open the door and walked in, because she was laughing and…and the happy expression on her face made him feel as if he hadn’t laughed since he was nine years old and Robbie Logan had gone missing while Trent was playing basketball in the rear yard.
    She glanced up as he strode into the room, the smile on her face dying. “Oh!”
    The last time he’d seen her, her face had been pale with fatigue and her eyes heavy with sleep, but now she looked flushed and alert. “Rebecca.” He nodded a greeting.
    She rose to her feet, cradling the baby in her arms. Trent noticed the little guy had two full leg casts and three teeth.
    â€œGawaa!” Three-Teeth said, waving a fat arm.
    Rebecca’s cheek touched the top of the baby’s head, a caress so natural he wondered if she was even aware of it. “This is Vince, one of my pediatric OR patients,” she said, then looked down at the other child she’d been playing with. “And Merry.”
    â€œNice to meet you,” Trent said, nodding again.
    Merry wiggled the fingers of her thin hand.
    Baby Vince made another wild gesture, a right hook that almost connected with Rebecca’s nose. “Gawaa! Gawaa! ”
    â€œRight back at ya,” Trent murmured, coming close enough to capture the contender’s little fist. The baby grinned at him, then took Trent’s hand to his mouth to gnaw on it like a bone.
    â€œOh, sorry.” Rebecca tried to step back, but Trent halted her movement by capturing one of her shoulders in his other hand. Beneath his palm, the small curve felt