Page 27 of Storm's Embrace

“Almost. I just need to shut down my computer.”

She closed her desk drawer and lifted her eyes in time to see Leah’s curious gaze going behind Miriam to Eli’s office door and then back to her. “Are you going to tell him goodbye?”

Miriam frowned. “Of course,” she said, before turning off her computer and standing and facing her sister. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Leah and their mother shared a look before her mom dropped Leah’s arm and took the few steps needed to take Miriam by the shoulders. “No reason, honey.”

Her mom’s knowing smile was almost Miriam’s undoing, so she cleared her throat and attempted an answering grin. “Why don’t you guys head on and get a table. Okay?”

“Sure,” her mom said, squeezing her shoulders. “We’ll see you at the restaurant.”

“But I want—“

“Leah,” her mom warned as she moved back over to her sister and took her hand. “She needs a few minutes.”

“She’s using hermom voiceso you’d better listen,” Miriam said, holding back a grin at Leah’s scowling face, and then wouldn’t have been surprised if her sister had dug in her heels when her mom started down the hall—practically dragging Leah behind her.

“Just don’t take too long,” Leah called out over her shoulder, her comment to their mom of, “I amnotbeing nosy,” drifting back to her. Her sisterreallyneeded to learn how to start using her inside voice.

“I thought I heard Jean and Leah.”

Miriam took a deep breath and turned toward Eli who stood in his office doorway. “You did. They just stopped by to make sure I was on my way before heading into town. We’re meeting for lunch on the square.”

“Oh.” Eli stepped further into the room and glanced past her shoulder and waved, and then met her gaze and smiled. “So, a whole week. What are you going to do with yourself?”

Try my best to get over you.

She didn’t dare tell him that, of course, saying instead, “Oh, Zoë and I have a full schedule.” She smiled thinking of all the things they had planned, starting with heading out before dawn in the morning for the long drive to Orange Beach with Zoë, her mom, and Leah for three days of beach-combing, go-kart riding, and eating all the seafood they could stuff themselves with. Her dad had declined going, saying he would enjoy the peace and quiet.

Eli held her gaze and didn’t comment right away. And for the first time since meeting him all those years ago, an awkward silence separated them as Miriam resisted the urge to walk into his strong arms. How would it feel for him to hold her?

Good grief. What was she thinking? She definitely needed to get out of there before she said something stupid like, “By the way, I love you and I think you’re making a mistake marrying Deidre Bennett.” She was surethatwould go over well.

“So—“

“I—“ Eli shook his head and said, “You go first.”

“I was just going to say…”

God,allthe things she wanted to say had been bottling up inside her now for days and the cork was about the blow. Thankfully her vacation couldn’t have come at a better time. Some time away and distance between her and the man she had to start looking at as only her boss again was more than needed. “I’ll see you when I get back. Oh,” she said motioning toward her desk, “and I’ve left notes for Lorraine.” The retired schoolteacher had filled in for her before, so she had no doubt everything would be fine with her running the office.

She hefted the strap of her bag over her shoulder and tensed when Eli stepped closer.

“WhatIwanted to say was, have a good time.” He gave her an unexpectedly heated look she didn’t understand, but one that curled her toes. Then her heart rate increased when he said in a tone so low she knew his words were for her ears only.

“I’m going to miss you.”

* * *

“And then your father ate the whole thing.”

Miriam joined in laughing with her mom and Leah over her mom’s latest story about her dad and his love affair with chocolate pie.

“I’m surprised he didn’t get sick,” Leah said, still chuckling. She took a sip of her sweet tea, then sputtered into her glass and coughed.

“Are you okay?” Miriam asked, reaching across the table and patting her hand. Her mom did the same, saying, “Throw your arms over your head and hold them there.”

“I’m okay,” Leah said on a wheeze, then coughed again while giving her mom a pinched look. “And I’m not throwing my arms in the air.” She cleared her throat and then leaned across the cloth-covered table, staring Miriam in the eyes. “Don’t look behind you.”

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