Page 13 of Storm's Embrace

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After Miriam had managed to scrape a hysterically laughing Leah off the floor the previous night and shoo her out the door, she’d spent the remainder of the evening explaining to her five-year-old how eavesdropping wasn’t acceptable behavior. Of course, Zoë—ever the literal child she was—informed her, “But Mommy, I don’t know any Eve’s. So how could I drop her?”

Note to self. Until Zoë is at least reading at a sixth grade level, speak in more simple terms.

It would save on her Tylenol bill.

Anyhow, by bedtime, they were off the subject of Eve and Zoë’s concerns about dropping her, as well as how the termput outwasn’t anything she needed to repeat, after, of course, clarification it was fine to use one or the other word all on their own. It seemed her daughter was concerned about how bad dishwashing liquid tasted and being in time out instead going on all the outings they had planned during Miriam’s vacation in two weeks’ time.

“Ms. Perry.”

Great. Just what I needed.

She lifted her gaze where she sat at her desk and gave the tall blond looking down at her a courteous smile.

“Ms. Bennett.” Miriam stood and did a quick assessment of the other woman, though standing still didn’t put them on equal footing. And, as usual, she was dressed in some kind of designer suit—the cost she assumed enough to keep Miriam and Zoë in food for a month. And she had not one hair out of place.

Does the woman ever look anything but put together?

Miriam straightened her plain blue skirt, but resisted the urge to smooth the sides of her hair pulled back in a ponytail. Having a small child, she usually tried to be as wash and go as possible. So, the simple hair style and manner of dress worked for her.

“Eli’s with a patient,” she told her when the other woman glanced past her to the inner office door.

“Hmm…” Ms. Bennett wrinkled her forehead for a moment, before smoothing her expression and rubbing a bent finger under her chin. “I was hoping he’d have a moment.” She quirked one perfectly arched eyebrow. “Or thirty, free.”

“Mondays are always busy here,” Miriam told her. “You know, parents waiting until after the weekend to make sure little Suzy’s cold isn’t walking pneumonia. Things like that.” She chuckled, but sobered when the older woman only gave her a slight smile—a smile that didn’t reach her striking green eyes. Okay, so, she didn’t like Miriam’s sense of humor. “Anyhow, we’ve been slammed today. But I can let him know you stopped by if you like.”

“No, that won’t be necessary.” She bypassed Miriam and went straight toward Eli’s office. “I’ll wait for him.”

Miriam followed after her. “Oh, but—”

“But what?” Ms. Bennett quickly turned to face her, stopping Miriam short. And for a split second, the other woman’s expression couldn’t hide her disdain before she covered it up with another smile. If you could call it that. “Eli won’t mind. I can assure you of that. Besides,” she said, turning her back on Miriam and taking the last few steps to his door, “he’ll want to see me since we didn’t get to spend the weekend together.”

Ms. Bennett pivoted and leaned against the closed door, pouting out her full lips. “Poor man missed me terribly.” The other woman gave Miriam a slow grin she could only describe as salacious before she opened Eli’s door. Then that slight look of distain crept back into Ms. Bennett’s expression as she gave Miriam an up and down assessing gaze as she stepped inside his office. “And you know how a man is when it comes to missing his woman.”

“I—”

Ms. Bennett cut her off by shutting the door in her face.

Miriam stood staring at the closed door and the plaque with Eli Storm, MD written across it. Ms. Bennett had been here plenty of times in the past, but she’d never been this bold.

“Is it safe?”

Miriam glanced behind her to find Renee, their receptionist, standing in her open doorway with her eyes darting around Miriam’s office.

“Define safe.” Miriam went back to her desk and sat in her chair.

Renee moved closer and leaned over Miriam’s desk, whispering again, “Where’d she go?”

Miriam nodded toward Eli’s closed door.

Wow, Renee mouthed before sitting down in Miriam’s visitor’s chair. “Should I have LaDonna let Dr. Storm know she’s here?” Being this Monday had been a particularly busy one, their nurse practitioner, along with their two nurses, Sallie and Pam, had had their hands full.

“No, I’ll do it.”

“You sure? I could probably catch him between patients. He should almost be finished with the well-baby check on the Henderson twins.”

Miriam was tempted. “No, I’ve got it. I’d like to see the babies anyhow.”

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