Page 21 of Storm's Embrace

It had been difficult, but Miriam had managed to resist the urge to squirm in her seat as the other woman's assessing gaze had lingered on her. It had left her feeling like she’d just been inspected like a prize horse or something, and found lacking.

From Ms. Bennett’s pleased expression, whatever she’d gleaned from her perusal must have satisfied her, as she’d said, “No, I guess you don’t. Do you.”

“I don’t wear a lot of makeup.” Miriam had wanted to give her own self an eye roll at stating the obvious.

“I can see that.” Ms. Bennett had given her another slow smile, while Miriam had hoped she would leave.

But Ms. Bennett hadn’t been in a hurry and had grabbed the headrest of Miriam’s chair with one hand, and then the opposite arm of the chair with her other one—holding Miriam’s gaze as she’d caged her in. “Just between us girls,” she’d said in a conspiratorial tone—her face coming within only inches of her own. “I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. You look…” Ms. Bennett’s eyes had flicked over Miriam’s face. “Sweet. Just right for some lucky young man who goes for that whole innocent and untried look.”

Miriam had opened her mouth to respond but Ms. Bennett hadn’t given her a chance. “Lucky for me, Eli’s not one of those men. You see, he’s the type of man who likes a bit of excitement and heat when it comes to his women.”

She’d sat stunned and wide-eyed as she’d processed the implication of Ms. Bennett’s words while her nose had twitched at the other woman’s cloying perfume. “So, he doesn’t reallydosweet. If you know what I mean.”

Miriam had only nodded and then had pressed her back into her seat and tensed as Ms. Bennett had leaned in closer and whispered in her ear, “By the way, don’t you just love a nooner?”

A shudder had run through Miriam as Ms. Bennett had let go of her chair with a slight push and straightened away from her with a smirk. “I hope we’ve cleared up anyquestionsyou might have had about…” Deidra had glanced at Eli’s door before she’d looked back at her with a challenging, narrow-eyed gaze. “Things.”

Miriam had had no idea what to say. Besides, it wouldn’t have mattered if she had, because Ms. Bennett had all but dismissed Miriam after that. The other woman hadn’t said another word or given her another glance as she’d grabbed her purse and turned her back on her before strolling out of Miriam’s office.

Miriam had kept her eyes on the backside of Ms. Bennett in her satin, light blue suit and matching four-inch heels gliding down the hall toward employee exit—her hips having a bit more sway in them than when she’d come in earlier. The woman didn’t bother to speak to anyone else on her way out either, not even stopping to acknowledge the loud, “Look, Mommy, it’s Elsa,” comment from the little girl getting weighed by Sallie in the alcove where they performed vitals.

She’d had to snicker, saying under her breath, “You’ve got that right, kid. You just saw an ice queen,” before breathing out a sigh of relief once Ms. Bennett had walked out the door.

“And now I know.”

Any questions about whether she’d had a chance with Eli, had been answered by the little show Ms. Bennett had put on. Miriam wasn’t stupid. The other woman hadn’t come right out and told her to keep her hands to herself where Eli was concerned, but there was no doubting her intent. Miriam had been truly and duly warned away from the man. And not only in words. The message sent in Ms. Bennett’s piercing green eyes had spoken loud and clear.

Ms. Bennett had also left little doubt in Miriam’s mind about what she and Eli had been doing behind closed doors. But it had surprised—and maybe disappointed her a little too—to know Eli had used his office to have anooneror any other time of the day sex.

Although, he had been on his lunch break.

But why the warning? It wasn’t like Eli was interested in her.

Speaking of Eli…

She swiveled in her seat and stared at the closed door again. They’d been in there for a good twenty minutes without a—

Eli’s door slammed open, and she jumped in her seat.

“No. There’s nothing to report.” Mrs. Garrison stomped out of Eli’s office with Jesse’s hand held firmly in one of hers and her other hand clutching some papers.

“Mrs. Garrison.” Eli followed her out. “Please—”

“I said,no!” The young woman turned to him with tears streaking her cheeks. “You can’t report something you don’t understand.”

“S’kay, mommy,” Jesse said, hugging his free arm around her leg.

Mrs. Garrison turned her eyes down at her child, and Miriam’s heart hurt at the look of confusion on the little boy’s face as he stared up at his mom.

“I know, my little man,” she said, smiling at him before wiping her face on her sleeve and visibly pulling herself together and facing Eli again.

“Dr. Storm, I appreciate what you think you’re trying to do, but I just…” She ran a trembling hand over her son’s curly head. “I can’t.”

Miriam tensed as Eli’s expression grow more and more stony with every reason Mrs. Garrison gave to explain away his concerns, finally ending with, “Why are you trying to ruin my life?”

Eli didn’t argue with her, though he did plead with her repeatedly to let him help her and her child. But it wasn’t Eli’s words that had Miriam about to cry. It was his sad, pain-filled eyes begging the young woman to listen to him.

To trust him.

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