Page 12 of Storm's Embrace

George and Jean Kirksey were wonderful grandparents to Zoë. They were quick to laugh, and even quicker to show their love. She honestly couldn’t imagine how her life would have been without them the past six years. They’d stood by her during her unexpected pregnancy and marriage to Donnie—a man neither had really cared for. Then later, after Donnie had abandoned them and Miriam had been struggling to make ends meet, they’d taken her and her daughter in.

Some parents might have held it over their children’s head, but hers hadn’t. They’d loved her and her baby through it, and had continued being her support until she was making enough working for Eli to get her and Zoë this little house near her family’s home.

“It was epic.”

Miriam watched with curiosity as Leah got up from her seat and dropped down beside her on the couch, and then surprised her by sobering and saying in a very serious, un-Leah-like tone, “This leaves you free to pursue Eli.”

Miriam let out a sighed and stared at her hands in her lap. “Why would I want to pursue him?”

“If you don’t, you’re crazy. The man is… He’s…” Leah let out a deep sigh. “I have no words.”

She frowned at her sister. “And why are you noticing him tohave no words?”

“I’m not. Not really.” A slow grin spread over her sister’s face, with her eyes taking on a mischievous twinkle. “But, come on, a girl’d have to be blind not to notice Dr. McHottie.” Leah nudged her with her shoulder. “And you’re not blind.”

“No, I’m not, but he’s dating someone. Deidre Bennett.” Miriam shook her head. “Besides, he’s my boss.” Something she’d repeated to herself ad nauseam since the first inkling of attraction had reared its ugly head. “So, he’s not going to show any interest in me.”

“Oh, he’s interested.”

“He’s not…” Miriam raised her brows and glanced at her sister. “Do you think so?”

Ever since the almost kiss Miriam had tried to dismiss from her mind, there’d been other times when she’d thought maybe—just maybe—there was something there. A look or a slight brushing of his hand over hers. Or maybe in the way he would stand almost too close to her at times. She’d even thought she’d caught him staring at her a few times, but he would always turn away before she could decide if he was.

Each time, she’d quickly dismissed any thoughts he meant more by any of his actions—real or imagined.

“Miriam, my dear, sweet,oldersister—”

“I’m notthatmuch older,” she said, giving her another look.

Leah shushed her. “Learn from my wisdom.”

Miriam sat away from her sister and held up her hand. “Wait a minute. What wisdom could you possibly have?” Leah opened her mouth, but Miriam pushed the hand she still held up out toward her sister. “Never mind. I don’t think I want to know.”

Leah chuckled, then continued as Miriam dropped her hand and settled back into the couch. “I’ve stopped by your office over the years and seen the two of you together. It’s always been business.” She shook her head when Miriam opened her mouth to interrupt. “But lately—and we’re talking the past few weeks, maybe a month or so—he’s been different when I’ve watched him talking to you.” She waggled her eyebrows. “When he’swatchingyou.”

“Uh, I don’t think so.”

“I know so.” Leah put an arm around her and drew her close. “You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed how his eyes follow you all the time. I mean, the man has a serious hard-on for your ass.”

“Leah,” she said with a frown, then ducked her head as heat crept into her cheeks.

“Don’t Leah me.” Leah hugged her and leaned her head against hers. “I want you happy. You deserve happy. And Sis,” she said, squeezing her tightly. “I think Eli could make you happy. So go in there tomorrow morning and let him know his interest isn’t one-sided.”

“I don’t—”

“I like Dr. Eli,” Zoë said, startling her. She and Leah broke apart and shared anuh ohlook before Miriam placed her focus back on her daughter, who smiled and said, “He’s nice.”

How long had she been listening?

Please, Lord, don’t let her have heard their whole conversation. All she needed was for her to say something to Eli the next time she saw him. It would be mortification times one thousand.

“That’s good, sweetie. He likes you too.”

“I know,” Zoë said, walking over to them with a bit of chocolate at the side of her smiling mouth. She climbed up onto the couch and squeezed her small body between the two adults with lots of oomphs and grunts from Miriam and Leah, and then let out a satisfied sigh. “Mommy?”

Miriam smiled at Zoe’s innocent, wide-eyed look, and then bent her head and rubbed her cheek against the top of her daughter’s head while breathing her in. She loved the scent of Johnson and Johnson’s. “Yes, baby?”

“What does put out mean?”

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